California or Bust, Part II :: Making My List, and Checking it Off!

Our first stop on our trek to Cali was Asheville, N.C. Now, this isn't exactly on the way to California, but I have one of the sweetest husband's in the world! Here's why:

On my 29th birthday, Mike bought this cake with these candles

Shortly thereafter, I made a list: "29 things to do at 29." The list is filled with things I want to do before I'm 30, that I haven't done in my 20's. I'm not going to share the list, but will share when I check something off of it. Some of the things are a bit ambitious, some are expensive and others should be a breeze to mark off. 

My mother did a wonderful job of instilling in me a deep love for all things Christmas: Christmas music, Christmas trees, Christmas smells, Christmas decorations and Christmas traditions. Everything from picking out our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, to attending the Christmas Eve service at church, to ham, seven-layered salad and going to a movie on Christmas day.....I love it all! So, one of the things on my list is to see the Biltmore House in all its glory, decorated for Christmas! 

My sweet husband, veered off the path to California so I could mark this off my list. How grand it was!!! We arrived just in time for dinner before the tour. We went to Antler Village at the Biltmore and dined at The Bistro: 

It was delicious!!! The portions were perfectly sized (I can't stand when they give you a huge portion that you definitely can't eat in one sitting!), the wine was outstanding (right from the Biltmore winery) and the food was superb...everything you could want from a meal!

We then went to the house for the 8:45 tour. It was magical! They had a flutist, harpist and violinist serenading us to Christmas hymns and carols as we entered the glass atrium (and later a women's choral group sang). Every fireplace in the house was lit, every room was beautifully decorated; it made you want to grab a glass of wine, good friends and settle in! I went to the house with my friend Adrienne when I was 14. I had forgotten a lot of it, but some of it came right back to me! The estate has grown a lot since I was there 15 years ago. It now has Antler Village which features restaurants and shops, a grand hotel, the Biltmore Inn, a winery and stables. It's definitely worth your while if you haven't been before. I can't wait to go back!

Unfortunately, they don't allow you to take pictures inside (I guess you'll just have to go see it for yourself), and we were a little rushed to get any pictures outside before we went in. By the time the tour finished, the estate was closing, so we didn't have time then either. They did allow us to use our night time passes to come back the next day (just couldn't re-enter the house). We walked through the rose garden (not a rose in bloom) and the Conservatory:

There were several of these poinsettia trees. I loved them!

The Cactus Room (or at least A cactus in the cactus room)

We walked around the outside of the house and got to see a lot of the things we learned about in the tour.

 Mike especially loved the gargoyles. Not particularly my favorite part.

The house's nickname is "The Lady on the Hill." She's magnificent!

Before leaving Asheville, we went back to Antler Village and ate at Cedric's Pub (named after the Vanderbilt's Saint Bernard). Amelia and Andy enjoyed it too!

This is a bronze statue of Cornelia Vanderbilt (the only child of George and Edith) throwing a ball to Cedric. Andy wanted her to throw the ball for him. He sat down and everything! Good boy, Andy!!!

They thought Cedric was a real dog, of course I was in tears from laughing so hard! Gotta love dogs!

Christmas at the Biltmore......Check.

Also on this visit to Asheville, Amelia and Andy stayed in a hotel for their first time (or at least first time since we had them, but I'm willing to guess first time ever.)

 I think they rather liked it!