A SurpriseTrip To The Biltmore

We are packing up our things and tidying up the cabin when I notice Mark in the car setting the GPS.  Nothing unusual about that.  But when we start to drive, we go a little off track...we are going to The Biltmore!  I'm thrilled, Michael not so much...until he realizes it is sort of like what he can build on Minecraft...but not so happy about all the walking!  We have about walked our legs off up to our knees this week.

 

 Waiting for us were tickets that included everything.

 

The gardens are AMAZING!!!  I am sorry in advance for all the flower shots.

 

Photography was not allowed inside so I got as many outside shots as I could.

Can you find the V for Vanderbilt?

Michael is giving the tour a thumbs up!

The views from every vantage point are incredible!

 

Lunch at the Stable Café was really, really, good.  There were tables in the actual stalls.

chicken salad croissant

Some of the best mac and cheese on the planet!

pulled pork with one of the dipping sauces of vinegar and cayenne pepper

 

Michael thought this was the coolest door handle.

The gardens were more spectacular than I thought they were going to be!

I apologize ahead for the boatload of flowers.

 

And then we headed to Antler Hill Village and Winery.

 

We went there to see two things...the blacksmith and the Kitchen Garden.

For a few years now Michael has said that he wasn't to be a blacksmith.  He stood in the heat and flies and never complained once.  He loved it!

This next video was shot the wrong way thanks to me.  Sorry! 

 

 

This is what we saw of the Kitchen Garden...because there was a little farmyard filled with all sorts of chickens!

Not to worry, the other chickens are not pecking on him.  He is called a naked neck chicken...for real...look it up if you don't believe me!

Looks like we had fun...and got to come away with new hats for the beach!  Michael is turning out to be a pretty good photographer!