- Leah Ehrhardt

Fireside Chat at Biltmore Estate

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Biltmore Estate: a must see; Christmas season makes it even more special

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

  • Cost: Candlelight tickets: $70-$90/per adult; $67-$75 daytime tickets
  • Such a unique home and grounds; it’s worth seeing anytime but Christmas is even better!

Tickets: Biltmore Estate

Hotel: Omni Grove Park Inn prices and specials vary significantly; check website for rates

Teeth chattering and hands nestled deeply in our coat pockets, my jaw dropped. I was overcome with awe as we arrived at the front of the Biltmore Estate. We decided to sneak away on a cold, January day to Asheville, North Carolina. While short, our stay would include an evening at the Biltmore Estate and an overnight at the Omni Grove Park Inn.

I had never been to the Biltmore Estate before; although my mom visited previously, she’d never had the opportunity to visit during the Christmas season. The experience didn’t disappoint! We entered the massive doors to a foyer illuminated by candlelight and filled with Christmas carols and poinsettias. We elected to do the audio tour which included interesting details of life as a Vanderbilt. My mom said it she always enjoyed visiting the estate but this was a completely different experience. The “house” is truly one-of-a-kind and must be seen to be believed. My mom said it’s our very own “Downton Abbey”

The Biltmore is an enormous house and we were able to see some of the primary living quarters for the family. The famous basement rooms are a must if you are visiting so you can see the kitchen, indoor pool, a “pre-health club” gym and bowling alley. Christmas takes on a truly special meaning in a house dressed to perfection with burning candles and live music to accompany your visit. The only downside with the night visit is that you cannot see the grounds. This is a must see!

Chilling wind waited for us as we stepped out of the Biltmore House. After a short drive to our hotel, we stepped back in time again. A valet helped us out of our car and a doorman opened the giant doors to welcome us into the lobby at the Omni Grove Park Inn. Sipping hot chocolate and rocking in front of the roaring fireplace, we reminisced about our day and what it would be like to live in a house like the Biltmore or be a regular guest at the Grove Park Inn. The hot chocolate (kids and adult version) were the relaxing end to a perfect day.

Walking around the Omni Grove Park Inn, we enjoyed the native ambiance. “The Marketplace” in the Grove Park Inn provided a tasty, quick bite in the morning. The “National Gingerbread Competition” that started here over 25 years ago was in its final days and seeing how food was transformed into art was so cool. The entries are truly remarkable! What a wonderful way to get into the spirit of Christmas (or stay in it) with a visit to the Omni Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate!

- Leah Ehrhardt

Day 5: Spain: Majorca

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Port: Majorca

Tootsie’s Bottom Line

  • Tour Provider: Viator
  • Travel Type: Large Group-Hop On Hop Off
  • Transportation: Large bus-double decker bus
  • Cost: approximately $20 per person
  • Kid Friendly: 15+
  • Tip: If you’ve toured extensively, you’re tired at this point.  Do something relaxing or stay on the ship

Majorca was a half-day stop for our cruise.  We had planned two days in Paris following the cruise and were going to travel by train.  Due to a rail strike, we were forced to use a couple of hours making alternate travel arrangements.  With the strikes, you are not informed until 24 hours before your departure that you will definitely need to make alternate arrangements.

From the city and ship, Majorca looked beautiful.  We used the short time that we had to see the city on a Hop On Hop Off Tour that included a stop at Castel Bellever.  While we enjoyed the overview of the city and the castle, it was our last stop, and we felt like we would have enjoyed the time more walking the quaint streets near the port or stayed on the ship.

- Leah Ehrhardt

Spain: Barcelona

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Please note that the posts about Barcelona, European Cruise and Paris relate to a single trip. The trip started in Barcelona where we stayed for two days prior to boarding a 7 day cruise. Following the cruise, we flew to Paris for two more days.

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

Tips:

  • Exchange some money for euros before traveling to Europe
  • Reserve tickets to Sagrada LaFamilia in advance of your trip (these can be purchased through the bus tour as well)
  • Take a morning stroll on “La Rambla”
  • Visit La Boqueria Food Market on La Rambla

Around Barcelona

This was the start of our big trip and both my mom and I were super excited for the trip.  We were both exhausted starting the trip, so we had big plans to sleep the whole way to Barcelona.  Well, as life happens, we didn’t sleep at all on the flight, so we were a mix of fatigue and excitement when we arrived in Barcelona.  We grabbed a taxi at the airport and headed to our hotel.  Our room wasn’t ready, but they allowed us to leave our bags. We used hotel points to keep costs down since hotels in Europe are expensive and not nearly as luxurious as the ones in the U.S.  That said, our hotel was beautiful, the staff impeccable and the location was perfect!  

My mom said she learned the hard way that you need to push through your fatigue that first day in order to adjust to the time difference in Europe.  We powered through the day completely bleary eyed but still managed to fall in love with this beautiful city.  Time didn’t permit us to do much research before arriving, so we decided to orient ourselves with a Hop-On Hop-Off Tour of the city; we paid the extra $10 for the red and blue routes.  This provided us with a good overview of the history and layout of the city.  We have to be honest, there was some dozing during the tour!

One of the stops on the tour was the Sagrada Familia, one of Barcelona’s most famous tourist destinations.  We hadn’t pre-purchased tickets and none were available during our stay so we were only able to enjoy this beautiful cathedral from outside.  Construction has largely been ongoing since 1882; Antonio Gaudi took over as chief architect in 1883. He spent the balance of his life working on it and was buried in the crypt. Scaffolding and all, it was awe inspiring! 

The Gothic District became one of our favorite areas to explore.  We spent a relaxing afternoon walking the area, enjoying street performers, eating a late lunch in an outdoor café, and more strolling through the narrow streets.  Simply breathtaking!

We were walking distance to La Rambla (Las Ramblas to locals) one of the best-known areas in Barcelona.  It is a street filled with shops, eateries, street performers, hotels, etc.  It stretches from Port Vell on the southern end to Plaça de Catalunya on the northern end.  We were here both during the day and evening and never felt unsafe, but, like any large city, you must be aware of your surroundings at all times.  La Boqueria Food Market became one of the highlights of our trip. A fresh food marketplace that had everything you could imagine,  it was stocked with fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats of all kinds to either eat as you walk the city or take something home.  It is a must-see. Check out my time-lapse video!

We would be remiss to not mention the influence of Antoni Gaudi.  His influence as an architect creates a huge presence in Barcelona.  We were unable to enter any of his buildings, but we did pass some on our bus tour and walks and they are certainly worth a visit.  Our favorite was Gaudi’s Casa Mila or La Pedrera building.  When we return to Barcelona, we will plan accordingly and enjoy a closer view of his fine work.