At Asheville, North Carolina’s Biltmore Mansion, festivity is plentiful. With 65 fireplaces, miles of sparkling lights, dozens of trees, and endless decorations, the 8,000-acre estate has become a beloved holiday destination for locals and tourists alike. Since Christmas Eve 1895, thousands have gathered to watch the tree-raising ceremony at George and Edith Vanderbilt’s mansion, this year featuring a 35-foot Fraser fir. The extravagant home features plenty of its original features and decor, including 16th-century tapestries, 70-foot ceilings, and a library with more than 10,000 books. The nearby town offers a host of activities, like tastings at the winery and shopping at the local toy and candy stores. Spend a night at the Biltmore this holiday and you’ll be able to delight in fireside cocktails, enchanting live music, and build-your-own gingerbread houses (working alongside renowned pastry chefs). The property extends three types of accommodations: the four-star inn, a historic cottage, and the more casual Village Hotel. Each overnight stay boasts luxury amenities and enough good cheer to last you all year round. From $299 per night; biltmore.com
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Celebrate the Holidays at This 19th-Century Southern Estate Owned by the Vanderbilts
It doesn’t get more festive than sitting fireside at a mansion in the mountains