THE BILTMORE ESTATE -

George Vanderbilt's 250 room estate was completed in 1895, and today is still as impressive - not only the mansion but the grounds and setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The first time Skip and I were here was in the summer over 10 years ago and thought the tour was great. At Christmas, it is even more impressive

with 28 rooms decorated for your self-guided tour. Due to the volume of visitors, there are start times on the tickets to try and keep the flow moving. We had chosen one of the evening tours.
  On entry into the salon,  musicians playing and a quartet signing various Christmas songs.

 Definitely put you in the Christmas spirit! The tour covers four floors - my personal favorite was the library.

The tour covers four floors from main living areas, to the primary bedrooms and  to the lower level where the kitchen area, along with

 Holloween room

bowling alley

indoor swimming pool

are located. When going through the servants quarters, you felt like you were in Downton Abbey. It is a delightful tour! Here a few of the outdoor shots and some more of the inside rooms!

 

  After a great Thanksgiving dinner with family,and their dog - Chewy

finished packing the motorhome and on Sunday we left Connecticut heading first to Asheville, North Carolina then onto Louisiana. We took our usual route across the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York heading to Route 78 then  to I-81 in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia into Virginia.

This is one of the prettiest drives - Virginia countryside is beautiful. - Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. We always love coming through this area.
  We stopped for the night in Winchester, VA at Candy Hill Campground. They have a really large dog area - Thumper was happy. Site was nice. Because of the cold temps at night - water is turned off. We were tired - had homemade turkey soup and the rest of the Mac and Cheese made by Joan (daughter-in-law). Perfect meal for on the road!
 Up early and after breakfast, on the road. Traffic is light!  Since we didn't have to be in Ashville until Tuesday, we stopped in Lexington, VA at the KOA National Bridge Campground. Entrance is right across from the exit ramp of I-81 - easy on and off! Greeted by chickens

as we went to office. Campground is set in the woods. We had our own patio-deck.

Unfortunately it started raining!!! Forget about using the deck!
  The campground had its own nature hiking trail. Easy to use. Nice campground. Cold nights!!
Up early and after breakfast onto Asheville, NC. Continued on I-81 to I-77 south to I-40 West. Asheville is in the mountains - our elevation was 2, 176 feet before we reached our exit to the Asheville East-KOA.

The Sammosa River runs through the campground. As we were checking in, there was a notice on the door about a bear sighting in the campground. We were taken to our sight and eventually were greeted by the ducks who reside on property! This is a large campground! Thumper loved walking around and so did we. Our primary goal for coming here was to go to the Biltmore Estate which is decorated for Christmas!  Am looking forward to going there.So far we have not met the bear!