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Biltmore Estate Tips for Visiting

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Having just visited for the first time, I thought I would share some Biltmore Estate tips for anyone else planning a trip.

Biltmore Estate Tips

Biltmore Estate Tips

For those who don’t know, the Biltmore Estate is the largest privately-owned residence in the United States! It’s located in the Blue Ride Mountains of North Carolina in Asheville! The estate actually consists of the 100,000+ square foot mansion in addition to the grounds and gardens. There’s so much to see and do that you can easily spend several days here without leaving the estate. That being said, there were a few things I wish we had known before arriving. So, here are a few tips to help make your trip better!

Tips for Visiting the Biltmore Estate

  • Pay attention to the hours – We arrived around 9 AM on our full house day because the site’s hours of operations said that’s when the admission gate opened. However, we realized upon arrival that meant just the gate and gardens were open. The house and shops didn’t open until 10 AM. So, if you want to know when the house opens, look at the shop hours.
  • You can walk around the gardens before and after a house tour – Since we arrived an hour early, we roamed the Italian Gardens, which were mostly empty. The gardens are also open later than the house and shops. So, you can view them at your leisure.
  • Pre-purchase tickets – We actually had a hotel package that included breakfast and tickets that didn’t require house reservations. However, if you buy a one day ticket, then you will need to make a reservation for the time you plan to enter the home. Those reservations can sell out. So, buy your tickets and reserve your time as soon as you know what works best for your schedule.
  • You can’t carry much inside the house – They have free storage lockers outside the home. However, I left my hat in the car when we were touring the home. Also, pay attention to the bag size allowance of 19″ x 14″ x 9″. It’s best to just leave most things at home, in a locker, or in the car.
  • Bring a hat for the gardens – I strongly recommend having a hat to wear while roaming the gardens. There’s very little shade available, so you will be happy to have a hat.
  • Visit the house when it’s cooler – The house does NOT have air conditioning. So, plan to visit the house early in the morning before it gets too hot.
  • The estate is cashless – The front desk at the hotels are about the only places that will accept cash on property.
  • Stay for a few days – We spent two nights here and still didn’t see everything. Although, it was in spring with plenty of plants to see. I’m not sure that the colder times of the year would offer as much to see. However, I can see staying for several days during the warmer months.

Visiting the Estate

So, have you ever visited the Biltmore Estate? Do you have any tips that I didn’t mention?

Are Dollywood Guided Tours Worth It?

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Today, I want to examine if the seasonal Dollywood Guided Tours are worth your money and time.

Dollywood Guided Tours

Dollywood Guided Tours

Last year, I was lucky to take several guided tours while visiting Dollywood. I already posted my I Will Always Love You Tour at Dollywood Review, Dollywood Summer Festival Tour Review, and Dollywood Christmas Guided Tour Review. Today, I want to talk about those experience more generally and to help others decide if they should book a guided tour.

What the Tours Include

You can see which tours are available during your trip and what they include on the Special Experiences page on the website. However, in general, the tours attempt to include some festival entertainment (like reserved seating for a show during IWALY or reserved standing viewing of the drones/fireworks during the summer) along with a snack and/or beverage. They also sometimes include rides where you can skip the lines. All of them come with a tour guide or two that tells you about the park and the offerings you get.

I will say these are best for people without mobility issues. They tend to involve a good bit of walking and Dollywood has a few good hills. I also don’t know that I would recommend them for children as there can be lots of listening.

Pros

  • You get a brief guided tour of the park – It can be helpful for people who don’t know much about the park or its offerings to learn from a park employee.
  • Skip some lines – It was awesome to ride the train during the Christmas tour without waiting in line. You have to read the fine print though as not all tours offer rides and it seems like the rides offered can differ from year to year.
  • Some reserved seating – Again, you have to read the fine print to see what the tour includes. However, you sometimes get a reserved (near the front) seat for shows that you don’t have to stand in line for.
  • Snack and a drink – Often, it’s a festival goodie. However, at Christmas we received a mini cinnamon bread and hot chocolate. I’d consider it an added bonus, not exactly a selling point.
  • Adds something for experienced visitors – It can be a fun way to do something different if you have visited the park before.
  • Can be good for solo trips – If you are visiting the park alone and feel more comfortable in a group, this is the perfect opportunity to join a group.

Cons

  • Added expense – These tours are an added expense on top of a park ticket. Plus, they went up $10 from 2025 to 2026. Currently, they are $89/person with a small discount available for some passholders. So, not exactly a budget friendly event.
  • Takes up time – If you want to visit the park at your own pace, this isn’t for you. You don’t really have much time to stop and enjoy the scenery or take pictures. I don’t recommend this for people who are visiting for the first time on the first day. Maybe the second day or return trip.
  • Limited offerings – The specific rides/shows offered varies from festival to festival and even year to year. So, read the site carefully to see if you are interested in most of the things listed before spending the money.
  • You can do most of the things on your own – Most of the tour experiences can be had on your own. The real perk of these tours is the guide and the ability to skip the line or have reserved seating.

Are Dollywood Guided Tours Worth It?

I think the value of any purchase is subjective. However, if you have children, are a first time visitor, have mobility issues, or on a tight budget, then I don’t think it’s worth it. If you are a return guest who navigates the park easily with room in the budget, then go for it! So, have you ever taken a tour at Dollywood? Did you think it was worth it?

Biltmore Luminere Guide

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Having just experienced the Biltmore Luminere nighttime event, I thought I would post a guide to help others plan their trip.

Biltmore Luminere

Biltmore Luminere

For those who don’t know the Biltmore Luminere is the Estate’s newest add-on experience. Unlike other events, this is a nighttime lights and projections experience. It includes a projection show on the house and additional lighting/projections in the gardens. They advertise the event starting at $60, but most nights are a good bit more expensive. A ticket to the event allows you entry to the grounds and shops starting at 4:30 PM too.

Special Foods

You have the option to order a picnic to enjoy on the lawn. However, the Stable Cafe also has a special menu for the event. We opted to eat at the Stable Cafe. Not knowing what to expect, I made a dining reservation for 6 PM. We were seated promptly and we probably didn’t even need the reservation. However, I could see it being useful on a busier night.

We explored the gardens and conservatory prior to dinner. Unfortunately, it was a hot April day (mid/upper 80’s) and we didn’t want anything too heavy to eat. So, we ordered salads with the dressing on the side and added some chicken. They were good, fresh salads. They were perfect for the heat we had just endured. The cornbread croutons were especially good in my salad. I also enjoyed a few candied walnuts from my husband’s salad. I also ordered the event special mocktail – the Nightfall. It was a great mix of flavors, but the ginger was definitely noticeable. So, if you don’t like ginger, it might not be for you.

Then, we ordered some desserts. My husband got the Blueberry Mousse Cake. It was a light, airy dessert that was the perfect combination of blueberries and passionfruit. We both really enjoyed it. I got the Raspberry Praline Profiterole. I loved the combination of hazelnut, chocolate, and raspberry. It was a great way to kick off the event.

Biltmore House Show

Typically, the house projection show is shown three times a night. The exact times can be found on the site. On the night we went, it was shown at 8:45, 9:15, and 9:45. Lasting 15 minutes, the show is a look at the history of the estate and the Vanderbilt family who owns it. It was a touching tribute honoring the history of the location. I particularly enjoyed the projections depicting life in the home. Overall, it was entertaining and informative. Although, I don’t know that children would enjoy this show as it’s a little dry with all of its facts.

Garden Illuminations

In addition to the house projection show, you can walk around the gardens to see some beautiful lighting effects! I highly recommend walking around the gardens beforehand in the daylight to understand the layout of the land and to appreciate it more. I loved the projection show on the trees the most. Also, don’t miss the lighting in the conservatory either. It was beautiful! We really enjoyed walking around and looking at the different projections. It helped that it was a nice night out as well.

Tips

  • Purchase tickets early – We waited to purchase tickets until we knew the weather forecast. Unfortunately, they raised the prices $15-20 per person per night at the end of the month prior (end of March for April)!
  • Bring a blanket or chairs – You watch the house projection show on the front lawn. We enjoyed sitting on a picnic blanket as it allowed to us watch the sun go down and then watch the show. Also, sitting on the ground was more comfortable than sitting on hard concrete for a parade or standing for fireworks at the theme parks!
  • Arrive early – We arrived around 4:30 and enjoyed walking around before it got crowded. In fact, we were able to browse mostly empty stores prior to dinner. It was so nice to look at stuff without crowds for once.
  • Watch a later projection show – If you want to view the house show without any crowds, go for one of the later shows. We walked by during the last showing and it was practically empty! There was a chance of a rain that night, so we watched the first showing. However, if I ever go back, I will probably watch a later showing and walk the gardens first.
  • Take your time – If you are lucky enough to visit on a night with good weather, it’s so nice to just walk around in nature. It’s definitely one of the more relaxing nighttime projection events I’ve attended.
  • See the grounds in the daytime – They have done a great job with the lighting and I think knowing what the area looks like normally makes you appreciate it that much more.

Is the Biltmore Luminere worth it?

Again, I think value is subjective. However, I thought the price charged was worth the experience. From low crowds for the stores and gardens prior to the projection show, to the lighting and show itself, it made for a great date night. I wouldn’t hesitate to go again. So, have you experienced the Biltmore Luminere?

The Best Things in Islands of Adventure

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Today, I am continuing my best of series with the best things in Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort!

The Best Things in Islands of Adventure

The Best Things in Islands of Adventure

Earlier this year, I posted The Best Things in Universal Studios Florida. Today, I want to cover the park located directly beside USF – Islands of Adventure! It opened in May 1999 as the second park at the resort. This park aims to encourage park goers to explore the 8 (currently) themed lands or islands. To be completely honest, I have spent loads more time in the OG park – USF next door. So, I struggled a little bit with this post. However, I promise to try to spend more time in this park the next time I visit UO. Without further ado, here are my favorite things in Universal’s Islands of Adventure!

Grinchmas

I want to start this post by highlighting the thing I think about most often from this park – Grinchmas! There’s a whole Suess Landing in this park. However, at the holidays, The Whos overtake it with decor. Plus, you can meet the Grinch from the 2000 movie! You can even have Breakfast with The Grinch! There’s also typically a stage show based off of the movie. It’s just a great time that any Grinch fan should be able to experience at least once!

Best Quick Service Restaurants

The restaurant I’ve eaten at most often in this park is the Three Broomsticks in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade! I think my very first breakfast at UO was here. I think fondly of that trip with my mom. I had grown up reading the books (and then watching the movies). So, it was full circle to eat at the restaurant with my mom. It’s a must do for any HP fan.

I also like Croissant Moon Bakery for a grab and go option. Plus, they often have some good seasonal treats!

Best Ride

I know this will be controversial. However, I’m not a big roller coaster fan. Also, I’ve yet to ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. I’ve tried a couple of times, but the line has always been long and it broke down sometimes. I’ve enjoyed Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey several times though. It’s great for any HP fan.

If you need a cool break in the middle of the day – check out The Cat in the Hat ride for some fun. Haha!

Best Shows

I would encourage everyone to see the Hogwarts Always nighttime show, or whichever version may be going on when you visit. The holiday version is shown in the blog post image above. A projection show is always a great way to end the day. Also, shoutout to the Frog Choir! It’s fun! Plus, there’s a special holiday version of it too!

The Best Things in Universal’s Islands of Adventure

While not an exhaustive look at everything in the park, these are the things I recommend. What are your favorite things in Islands of Adventure?

Solo Dollywood Tips

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Last year, I took my first solo Dollywood trip. So, I thought I would do a post featuring some tips for anyone else considering doing the same thing.

Solo Dollywood

Solo Dollywood

I understand that many folks may be hesitant to visit Dollywood alone. However, I’m here to tell you that it’s a great idea! I thoroughly enjoyed myself last year and I have hopes to travel by myself to Dollywood again this year. It’s so nice to do what you want, when you want. You can move at your own pace. Plus, this is a great park to just sit and relax.

Dollywood Activities to Try Alone

  • Take a tour – If you are nervous about visiting the park by yourself, might I suggest booking a tour? For a few hours, you will be a part of a group. That allows you to learn and interact with other people. On my solo visit last year, I took the I Will Always Love You Tour and you can read my review of that experience at the link.
  • Make a craft – I didn’t do this last time, but I am considering trying my hand at one of the crafts on my next solo adventure. At Dollywood, you can dip your own candles, make your own blown glass ornament (or pumpkin), customize your own leather belt, ornament, or bracelet or even forge your own knife! I do wish that they would allow people to make online reservations for the crafts ahead of time. Unfortunately, you have to show up at the craft location early in the day to book your spot.
  • Admire the park – Dollywood is a gorgeous park. It’s nice to visit during the different seasons to really appreciate the beauty of it all. I love just looking at the different seasonal decorations around the park. Plus, I can take as many photos as I want without feeling like I’m boring someone.
  • Catch a show – One of the things this park is known for is its shows. I highly recommend catching at least one. If nothing else, you need to catch at least some sort of musical act.
  • Ride rides – Of course, the main perk of visiting a theme park by yourself is riding whatever rides you want. In fact, you can ride them over again if you want. Alternatively, you don’t have to ride rides either. It’s up to you.
  • Eat what you want – Dollywood has several great food options. From festival food booths to fast service restaurants and a few sit down places, there’s something for everyone. Feel free to try a few things during your visit. There’s no one there to judge your choices.
  • Move at your own pace – Ride a bunch of rides back to back. Sit and enjoy the ambiance. It’s up to you.

Visiting Dollywood Alone

As you can see, there’s lots to do when you take a solo Dollywood trip. So, have you ever visited Dollywood by yourself? If so, what do you like to do? If not, what is stopping you?