It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year, Asheville — and to celebrate, one of my (Editor Stephanie speaking 👋) absolute favorite holiday activities is heading to Biltmore Estate.

No matter how many times I go (and I’ve been a lot), I’m always blown away by the beauty of Biltmore House and all the amazing activities, sights, and bites the estate has to offer — especially during the holidays.

The Walled Garden is cared for and maintained by 15 full- and part-time expert gardeners, with other garden crews pitching in during seasonal changeouts. | Photo provided by Biltmore

What we tried (with pricing):

The house gets a lot of love. But honestly, my first stop is alwaysthe Walled Garden, which is always different. As an Annual Passholder (on sale through the end of the month), this is one of the biggest perks — to see how a historic site changes, grows + evolves across the seasons.

Pro tip: If you’ve been considering becoming an Annual Passholder, now is the best time to do so. Not only can you save $90, but active Passholders as of Sat., Dec. 31 will also enjoy Passholder Appreciation events in Jan.-March 2023, which includes up to 25% off shopping, dining + outdoor activities (read: the year’s deepest discounts).

What not to miss:

After I wandered through the grounds of the estate and explored the Walled Garden, I made a coffee and lunch pit stop in Antler Hill Village, which was decked out for the holidays.

If you need us, we’ll be curled up by the roaring fire in the Library. | Photo provided by Biltmore

Other Biltmore festivities to look forward to during the holiday season include Christmas at Biltmore (complimentary for Passholders), and Candlelight Christmas Evenings(discounted for Passholders).

What we’re still talking about:

Remember how I said I love the Walled Garden because it’s always changing? The same is true of the Conservatory, which is currently packed with beautiful crimson poinsettias that could warm any Grinch’s heart.

Bonus: This year, the annual Holiday Pop-Up Shop is located underneath the Conservatory in A Gardener’s Place, so you don’t have to go far to grab special gifts for your loved ones.

The gorgeous holiday decor in the Conservatory is truly show-stopping. | Photo provided by Biltmore

How you can experience this:

Becoming an Annual Passholder is easy — plus, once you’re in, you lock in a very low renewal rate and have access to special discounts + more.

Pro tip: This would make a fabulous gift for a hard-to-shop-for loved one. 👀

Another easy gift idea: Soap handmade on the Biltmore property with extra goat milk from the farm. | Photo by the AVLtoday team

Things to know if you go:

Experience: Holidays at Biltmore, Annual Passholder-style
Price: Annual Passes are $209 through Wed., Nov. 30, 2022 (that’s $90 in savings), with a current annual renewal rate of $139
Website: https://www.biltmore.com/visit/tickets-pricing/annual-pass/
Address: 1 Lodge St., Asheville, NC 28803
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
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