Vanderbilt to Last

I must've been to the Biltmore Estate near Asheville about five times, but probably the memory most deeply burned into my brain, for better or worse--mostly worse--occurred during a trip with my high school biology teacher. While walking through one of the dozens of bedrooms, we passed about the 10th or so bed with a neck roll at both the foot and the head to which Mr. Woolley commented, "They sure liked doin' the 69 in here, didn't they?"

Other than some very disturbing thoughts about high school teachers and a certain sexual position, all my memories from the Biltmore Estate are wonderful. The basement continues to be my favorite room, where guests at a Halloween party were invited to paint murals across the walls. Both spooky and personal, this room gives visitors a window into the minds of the "rich and famous" of the 19th century. It's the room where I feel the closest to the family and their guests--in an albeit ghostly sort of way.

Most of my favorite rooms revolve around this feeling of proximity to the family. Charmingly, the bowling alley (yes, an indoor, private bowling alley) and the indoor pool are still presented with the original sporting equipment. The cupboards are also available for view downstairs, complete with period cans of food, and the servants' quarters are about the size of your average single in Blackwell, but devoid of running water.

Even though the house was completed in 1889, the upstairs rooms for the family, with gorgeous claw-footed bathtubs, do have running water. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt's second-floor rooms vibrate with classy extravagance. His red and gold chambers overlook beyond the current estate to Mount Pisgah, while hers is a deep canary with curly feminine accents around the mirrors. The most beautiful features in nearly every room are the gorgeous natural woods used to complement the color schemes.

If you're 21, you can head to the winery for a self-guided tour of the facilities--including where they crush the grapes by foot. They also have a tasting room, where they'll show you, pinkie extended no doubt, how to enjoy their stock. Seminars are offered in the afternoons between 2-4 p.m., covering various aspects of wine drinking and cooing.

Although the $34 ticket fee is a little steep, the experience is amazing, and you can easily spend all day between strolls through the house, winery and gardens.