(I never posted this back in December but I had so much fun that I wanted to still share it with you. December just seemed to fly by.)
There is nothing better than just hanging out with a good friend EXCEPT if you get to hang out with that good friend, chatting, laughing, knitting, drinking good coffee AND spending two days with her at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. My good friend, Beth lives in Tennessee so I hopped a plane and flew 2 hours down to Atlanta, then hopped another plane for 22 minutes...yes, 22 minutes, flying into Chattanooga. We spent 2 days at her house where I got to knit, knit and knit some more, while we chatted away. We then took off for two days of fun at the Biltmore. We stopped and shopped along the way at many cute antique shops and we even found a yarn shop, where I picked up yarn for the new Rocky Coast sweater I plan to make this year.
I love to get yarn for projects I want to make while I travel. Then when I'm done with the project, it reminds me of all the fun I had....the best souvenir of good memories!
Here we are heading through the front gate house~
As you come around the final corner you see the Biltmore for the first time and it's beautiful.
There is a very large Christmas tree in the front yard and the whole drive is lined with luminaries~ AMAZING!
We arrived at the Biltmore a bit early so we sat outside, drinking coffee and talking with the other people that were waiting for their Candlelight Tour of the house too.
Most people were shivering and saying how cold they thought it was. I thought it was wonderful. It was about 52 degree and a beautiful starry night. Yes, I'm from Minnesota and 52 seems like great weather for December.
We toured the house by candlelight, enjoying all the charm of the house the way it looked in 1895 when the Vanderbilt family and their guests enjoyed their first Christmas eve together at the Biltmore Estate.
The next day we heading back to the Estate to enjoy another tour that went behind the scenes to see several more rooms and alot more history of the house.
We spent some time going throught the cute shops.
We eat lunch in the stable and tasted the delicious wine made at the Biltmore Winery. Yes, I brought a few bottles of Christmas wine~Yum!
If you ever have a chance to get to North Carolina be sure to stop at the Biltmore Estate. It's one amazing place!
A friend took me to the Biltmore when it was decorated for Christmas. This was several years ago. A special memory. The mansion was beautiful at that time of year with all the special decorations.
Posted by: Karen Beigh | January 20, 2012 at 01:54 PM
It was a simply wonderful time with you and love your pictures, they are better than any of mine! More fun trips in our future I am sure!!
Posted by: Beth | January 20, 2012 at 02:58 PM
I went there with my mom about 10 years ago before she died and just loved it! Everything is so beautiful and the food is wonderful! Thanks for bringing this memory back to me!
Posted by: Connie | January 22, 2012 at 01:29 PM