The 2022 Holiday trip features two of the Holiday Season's star attractions in Asheville plus an extra day to learn about the city's rich history, music and arts as well as explore on your own.
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!
Day three starts with a narrated Trolley tour and then offers time for exploration on your own. Be sure to get all the details by scrolling down to the itinerary.
The trip includes all admissions, breakfast and dinner each day. Read more about the inclusions below:
Please follow CDC current guidelines and stay up to date on vaccines to protect yourself from variants during travel and exposure to crowds.
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.
Please note that the hotel has very few rooms with king beds but you can be accommodated in a room with two queen beds.
Sunday, December 11
8:30am - Departure from Brunswick Forest
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 12
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 13
Breakfast on own in morning
9:30am - Narrated Trolley Tour of Asheville
11:00am - Time on own in Historic Asheville for lunch, shopping and exploring
2:30pm - Return to hotel for a short rest or freshen up before we make the 20 minute drive to enjoy Black Mountain a "Hallmark" style mountain town. Browse galleries, enjoy a beer with Roberta Flack (not really, but she was born here and there is a mural of her on the side of a craft brewery) and explore a little before our
5:45pm Bluegrass Dinner Show
Wednesday, December 14
Breakfast on own in morning
9:30am - Depart for the coast!