Tour America's largest private home, Biltmore in Asheville, during this 3 day/2 night trip. Immerse yourself in a daytime self guided audio tour of the House, learning about not only the history of the Vanderbuilt family home but also about the sheer number of decorations. Though not yet revealed for this year, the numbers will be similar for the 2026 Holiday Season. Last year's visitors enjoyed the splendor of a 35 ft. Fraser Fir raised by 50 team members in the Banquet Hall. The House Tour included 36 trees adorned with 10,100 ornaments and 45,000 lights. Additionally, 7,740 yards of ribbon and 205 wreaths, swags and kissing balls graced the rooms and hallways. Another important number adds to your experience this year. Following the morning House Tour, a certified Biltmore Ambassador guides our bus along part of the 8,000 acres of the Estate grounds sharing additional, fascinating stories about the family and self-sustaining farm operation. There will be a stop at Antler Hill Village. The Village connects the past through Historic Exhibits and Farmyard demos while embracing the present at the Biltmore Winery and modern shops and restaurants. Following your Biltmore experience, you will have a couple of hours to explore the shops and historic architecture just outside of your hotel door, located in the heart of the Downtown Asheville.

That evening, we enjoy a visit to one of the most iconic Historic Hotels of American, The Omni Grove Park Inn, for dinner and the National Gingerbread House Competition.  Following dinner, a stroll through the hotel celebrates the design, innovation and tradition of this amazing competition.  Each year contestants travel from 30 states and Canada and spend more than 500 hours constructing their entries.  

We enjoy another traditional Holiday treat experience on the way home, with a stop near Winston Salem for a tour and tasting at the famous Mrs Hanes Handmade Moravian Cookie Factory. These cookies have been created and enjoyed around the world for seven generations. To this day, they are still hand-rolled, hand-cut and hand-packed and you get to meet the cookie artisans "known as the Rockin Rollers" who make the cookie magic happen!

A personal note from Patty about the National Gingerbread Competition and Dinner. Each year, the host hotel of the competition, The Omni Grove Park Inn, requires group tour planners like myself to submit an application for visiting the hotel and competition on August 1st. I typically don't have confirmation of acceptance of my application until the end of August but the hotel staff knows me and I have never had difficulty securing our spot! If something changes and I cannot get confirmation of this event it will be replaced by another evening event such as Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum and the price will be adjusted. I will update trip participants as soon as I get confirmation. If the Gingerbread Competition is an important itinerary feature to you and I do not receive confirmation, you will have an opportunity to cancel your trip registration prior to the final payment due date.

Following the payment of the final balance, trip refunds are only possible if the trip organizer or trip participant are able to resell the trip to another guest.

The trip is best enjoyed if participants are comfortable with standing, walking and navigating stairs. Not all rooms of the Biltmore House are accessible. Anyone limited to visiting all of the public rooms can view them from the video lounge on the second floor.

When registering and paying from this website, you will be given the option of using a credit card and fees apply or you can use the ACH bank draft option at a minimal fee. No fee options include personal checks or Venmo. If you wish to register using either of these, please email Patty at www.tripsbypatty.com or call 404-791-3166. Thank you!

Day One - December 6

8:30am - Departure from the Harris Teeter parking lot in Leland. There will be a lunch stop and rest stops as needed.

Approx. 4pm - Check-in at AC Asheville Downtown Hotel. Enjoy the evening dining on your own at the rooftop hotel restaurant or plentiful restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.

Day Two - December 7

9am - Departure from hotel for Biltmore.

Approx. 3pm - Return to Hotel for free time in Downtown

TBA - National Gingerbread Competition and Dinner at the Omni Grove Park Inn

Day Three - December 8

8:30am - Depart hotel for Mrs Hanes Handmade Moravian Cookie Factory Tour and lunch in Winston Salem area.

6:30pm - Approx. return time to Leland