Biltmore Estate

Biltmore Estate, located in Asheville, is a large private estate with 250 rooms. It is a popular North Carolina tourist attraction in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Biltmore House, the main house on the estate, is a Châteauesque-styled mansion built by George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and it is the largest privately owned house in the United States. Touring Biltmore Estate at Christmas when it is decorated with hundreds of Christmas Trees, lights, ornaments, wreaths and poinsettias is just breathtaking. And the Candlelight Christmas Evening tours offered during the Christmas season is magical to all ages. There are other buildings on the grounds that include Antler Hill Village and Winery, the Biltmore Gardens and Grounds, outdorr activities like biking, hiking and horseback riding plus more. There is a winery on the grounds for tour and for taste testing, and there are shops and a restaurant on the grounds. There are also accommadation on the ground of Biltmore. Inn on Biltmore Estate is a four-star inn located right on the grounds of the estate.New for December 2015 will be Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate. The gardens at Biltmore are always beautiful no matter what time of year. But in the fall the gardens are full of colorful chrysanthemums and salvias in the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. In mid to late October Biltmore Estate is surrounded by the bright colors of orange, red, plum, yellow, gold and scarlet during the fall foliage show that takes place every autumn.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina

The Outer Banks of North Carolina The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a long chain of barrier islands that start at the North Carolina/Virginia state line and continue down the coast to the island of Portsmouth. This northern chain of islands is what is commonly referred to as the Outer Banks. It is over one hundred miles long, at its widest part only about three miles wide and in its narrowest parts only a few yards wide. The chain of barrier islands continue to the southern coast of North Carolina but they are usually referred to as the Southern Outer Banks or The Crystal Coast. The Crystal Coast beach area stops at the South Carolina state line. The Outer Banks of North Carolina is famous world wide and is a very popular vacation destination for many. Some of the best beaches in the world are located at the Outer Banks. US Travel News just ranked the Outer Banks #8 world wide has having the best beaches. The NC beaches are wide, clean and less crowded than most. Vacation rentals at the Outer Banks are a great way to enjoy the beach. There are hundreds of rentals on the Outer Banks that will be perfect to spend a week or two at the beach. Vacation rental homes are very popular, choosing a soundside, oceanside or oceanfront home or condo. Prices vary but run from affordable and basic to expensive and luxurious. There is so much to see and do on a beach vacation such as fishing (surf, pier, and charter boat); shopping; climb the sand dunes, got to the waterfront outdoor drama The Lost Colony, visit the Wright Brothers Memorial, or just enjoy the water sports like surfing, swimming or kiteboarding. The Outer Banks has multiple attractions that include the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Ocrocoke Island, Wright Brosthers Memorial, Roanoke Island Historic Site, The Lost Colony outdoor drama each summer, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Bodie Lighthouse and Currituck Lighthouse. The Outer Banks is a beautiful place with gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. There is always a refreashing breeze blowing with the smell of saltair from the ocean. The Outer Banks or OBX as it is also referred to is composed of numerous separate and vastly different towns, villages, cultures, dialects and people. They include Roanoke Island, the Northern Beaches, Hatteras Island, Ocracoke Island and Portsmouth Island. On one side of the islands the vast Atlantic Ocean while inland lie the calm waters of the Albemarle Sound and the Pamlico Sound. The area was first inhabited by the Croatan Indians, part of the Algonquin tribe, due to the mild winters and abundant fish and wildlife. European Settlers followed next in the 1500’s looking for a new world to start anew. The first attempt to establish a permanent colony went dreadfully wrong. What happened to The Lost Colony is a mystery even today and the story is played out in the outdoor drama at the Waterfront Theatre in Manteo at the Outer Banks.