On Saturday morning, my mom, who was visiting, and I ventured to the epitome of American Opulence: Biltmore Estate. America’s largest private home, Biltmore’s interior covers over four acres and contains 250 rooms. Construction took six years, with the official opening on Christmas Eve 1895. Presently, Biltmore is owned by Vanderbilt’s descendants and operated  and maintained by an impressive staff of over 1800. The home is open 365 days a year – and 366 on leap year! Both my mom and I walked away surprised at how much we enjoyed our visit.

Plan to spend the day at Biltmore; we were there from 11:30 AM until 7:30 PM. Another tip: if you purchase tickets a week in advance, you receive a discount. Save those dollars for the optional audio tour – two thumbs up recommendation. Our house tour started at noon, and we completed the first two levels (rooms 1-23) of the house before taking a break to refuel on pizza and ice cream. Then we finished the final third of the tour: the basement and recreations areas (rooms 24-44). We both felt this was an excellent flow by incorporating a necessary sitting break and tasty snacks.

After the house, we went to see the gardens, which our shuttle driver said were a “must-see.” The fresh fall air was a welcome treat from the enclosed house.

Again, our enjoyment exceeded our expectations, particularly in the orchid room of the greenhouse where exquisite beauty met intricate design.

Our final stop on the all day tour was the Antler Hill Village and Winery. There is no better way to end a visit than with a sip or three of wine at the free on-site tasting.

So if you are looking for a day-long getaway a reasonable drive from Clemson, look no further than Biltmore.