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About this trip
The 2022 Holiday trip features the two star attractions of a visit to Asheville during December.
The first experience is a day immersing yourself into the time honored tradition of Christmas at Biltmore. No other residence in America offers a more authentic, original, and inspiring view of life during the Guided Age at Christmas than the Biltmore House. George Vanderbilt first welcomed guests to Biltmore Estate on Christmas Eve in 1895 and today his legacy and love of entertaining are shared with you in a self-guided audio tour hosted by Estate Curators. During the day, there will also be time to visit the Conservatory bedecked with hundreds of blooming poinsettias and Antler Hill Village & Winery.
Later in the day, we enjoy a visit to one of the most iconic Historic Hotels of American, The Omni Grove Park Inn, for dinner and the 30th 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. Last year the 2nd placed winner was from Cary, NC!
One last Asheville experience is offered on our departure morning with a stop at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Established in 1895, the Center is nationally recognized as the oldest craft shop in America. Explore artisan-made jewelry, textiles, pottery, glass, and much more, crafted by the members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, over 400 artists and craftspeople of Southern Appalachia.
Covid Policy
Please follow CDC current guidelines and stay up to date on vaccines to protect yourself from variants during travel and exposure to crowds.
Activity Level
Not all rooms of the Biltmore House are accessible. Anyone limited to visiting all the public rooms can view them from the video lounge on the second floor.
What’s included
- AccommodationsAt the Hampton Inn Biltmore Village
- Coach transportationEnjoy a comfortable trip on a 56 passenger luxury motorcoach
- Welcome DinnerEnjoy a Mingle & Jingle Welcome Reception and Dinner on the first night
- BreakfastIncluded at the hotel each morning
- Water & SnacksWater & Snacks are provided on the bus
- Dinner at the Grove ParkFarm to Table Artisanal Buffet Dinner before viewing the Gingerbread House Competition
- AdmissionAdmission and audio headsets for the Christmas Day Time Celebration at Biltmore
- AdmissionTo the Annual Gingerbread House Competition
What’s not included
- Cash barAt dinner each evening
- LunchLunch on your own at Biltmore Estate with plenty of options.
Itinerary
Sunday, December 4
8:30am - Departure from Compass Pointe
Approx. 3:30pm- With leg stretch stops and a lunch stop along the way, ETA is 3:30pm. Hotel check-in and time to stroll through the festive streets of Biltmore Village before dinner. Biltmore Village is a couple of blocks from the hotel, filled with shops and charming early 19th century buildings.
6pm - Mingle and Jingle Reception and Dinner at the Hampton Inn's sister hotel property
Monday, December 5
Breakfast on own followed by 8:30am departure time for our Day Time Tour at Biltmore.
1:00pm - Depart the Biltmore House for time at Antler Hill Village - site of other exhibits, retail and the Winery
2:15pm - Shuttle starts for guests that are booked at da Vinci Exhibit and return to hotel.
3:30pm - Shuttle makes pick-ups at Antler Hill Village and da Vinci Exhibit and returns to hotel
4:45pm - Departure for the Omni Grove Park Inn for dinner and viewing the Gingerbread House Competition
Approx. 8:30pm - return to hotel
Tuesday, December 6
Breakfast on own followed by a 9:30am departure for the Folk Art Center, a museum of Appalachian arts and crafts.
11am - Departure for Leland with and approximate return time between 6-6:30pm.