Travel

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
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This year the Biltmore Mansion will feature at 35-foot-tall Fraser fir tree.Photo courtesy of Biltmore Mansion

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