Biltmore Estate & Antler Hill Village – Asheville, NC Day 2

We returned the next day to finish seeing the rest of the Estate Grounds and to look for a few birds that we didn’t see yesterday. We did see a Song Sparrow which we had hoped to find. There were a bunch of very young Cardinals & Eastern Towhees that were fun to watch.

We parked in the upper lot today so we could see the area called Diana. We spotted some birds and spent quite a bit of time up there before we walked down the grass to the Estate & Gardens. What a view up there!

 view from the top of the hill

we walked down the hill in the grass to get to the Estates

We wandered the Gardens until it was lunch time.

 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

 immature Cardinals 

 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

 water gardens

 Song Sparrow

 Pine Warbler

 immature Eastern Towhee

 immature Eastern Towhee

 immature Eastern Towhee

 Eastern Towhee

immature Eastern Towhee

We opted to eat at the Stables Café again as there was a dessert we wanted to try yesterday, but we were just too full. So, we split a sandwich and a bowl of soup and then the dessert. The soup and the dessert were both very good!

 Prime Rib French Dip

 Roasted Garlic & Potato Soup

 Flourless Dark Chocolate Roasted Peach Cake

We wandered a bit more around the gardens & hiked some trails up by Diana area before going back to the car to drive to the Antler Hill area. (about 5 miles away) This is the working farm side of the Estate. It also has 2 hotels and a cottage (with jaw dropping sticker shock per night $600 -$2,400 per night depending on the inclusions you choose). There are restaurants and entertainment. Most of the extra activities offered are in this area as well. There are carriage rides, Segway tours, biking, Fly-fishing, guided horseback tours, Land Rover experience, Sporting Clay School, River Rafting, Kayaking and Paddleboarding trips.

 Crow choosing the perfect berry (he discarded several before flying off with this one)

We toured the Winery and did the wine tasting. We each tried 6 different types of the wine they make there. We weren’t that excited about any of them, so we didn’t buy any to bring home.

 special functions are held at Lioncrest

 Deer Park

 Cedric's Tavern

winery

 manure car

 wine tasting room

 courtyard by the winery

 live music & The Inn at Biltmore in the background

 entering the farm area

 Blacksmith

 he has made a small leaf and is adding etching

 market tasting tent

a stop at the Creamery for ice cream before the drive home

 Biltmore Village is outside of the Estate Grounds and the building are all in this style. There was a Hardees and a McDonald's in these buildings. 

Cathedral of All Souls Episcopal Church

The weather was great both days and today was a bit warmer than yesterday and quite pleasant to be outside enjoying the beautiful grounds.

For dinner we finished our lunch from the day before.

We may only have 1 more good day to tour this area as the next couple of days after tomorrow are supposed to be cold, rainy and windy due to Irma. (not complaining as there are people that are truly devastated in the aftermath of this hurricane)

Tomorrow our plan is to visit a State Park and a City Park.