There’s something about the elegance of Biltmore that makes people believe it isn’t kid friendly.
That couldn’t be further from the truth! Asheville Biltmore Estate is a great place to take your kids.
If you know what to expect, a family trip to Biltmore can be the perfect way to spend a day for everyone- especially the kids!
It’s also an awesome places for family photographs. As an Asheville family photographer, I often do photo sessions at the Biltmore and it’s a perfect location.
With the combination of breathtaking views and architecture, you are pretty much guaranteed to find a location which will give you the exact backdrop you’re looking for.
Even better? You can make a full day of it and make your pictures just a small part of the memory filled experience!
How great would it be to have professional pictures from a day that your family will remember so fondly? Or have a perfect bribe to keep your kids happy within view?
There is so much at Biltmore for families to enjoy if you plan ahead.
Here is my list of the top things to do in Biltmore with children.
- Biltmore House
Are you surprised that a giant house full of breakables makes the top of the list?
Believe it or not, most children I’ve talked to who have been inside the house loved it!
The key is to manage your expectations. Think walking through and pointing out the “extra cool” things as you go along vs a slow study and reading of every description card.
There really is so much to see inside for both adults and kids to experience and get excited about.
The majestic exterior only hints at the treasures waiting inside.
It’s the closest America has to a real life castle! What kid wouldn’t love to see that?!
- The Gardens
Also one of the top areas for pictures, the gardens are probably my favorite spot on the property.
Every season gives you a completely different backdrop and there are many more garden spaces on site than you probably realize.
The Conservatory has gorgeous flowers even in the winter. As an added bonus, a fascinating model train runs through it during certain dates.
This can be one of those spaces your kids may or may not obviously appreciate at the time, but once home they suddenly are all about the “really cool tree by the lake that looked like a horse.”
- Playground and Petting Zoo
Located in Antler Village, this is one the most exciting areas for younger children.
It has a small playground, with climbing logs, sandbox, and slides – Perfect for outdoor fun and getting some of their pent up energy out.
From there, you are near a petting zoo containing everything from chickens to goats to horses depending on the time of year.
This is the area where your kids can truly be kids and let their energy out so you can relax.
- Ice Cream
The #1 bribe for good behavior I hear parents give is a sweet treat like ice cream. Biltmore seems to have an ice cream shop close by wherever you are on the property.
In fact, Biltmore actually had its own dairy farm where the winery is now! If you go, the vanilla ice cream served is actually based off of the original recipe from the Biltmore dairy.
- Antler Hill Barn
This is a small area which shows more about how the farms and dairy worked years ago.
Beyond just displays, they usually have demonstrations (often blacksmiths or woodworkers), games and crafts to help get the kids involved.
It is seasonal though so you never know exactly what you will get.
- Biking and Hiking
So many kids in the area have learned to ride their bikes on Biltmore’s beautiful, easily accessible trails.
Biltmore is actually one of the best places to find paved and flat trails that are perfect for an easy walk or bike ride.
For the more adventurous families there are also trails that lead you deeper into the property and into areas you can only see by foot.
- Winery
Since most kids would be bored to death during a tasting this is an area most families automatically skip.
Not-so-fast! If you come in through the Antler Village side (look for the walkway next to some kiosks by the winery) you are able to walk through the section that used to be the dairy and my son swears it is exactly what he imagines a dungeon would look like.
It’s a super short walk, but something cool to see and it seems to let a child’s imagination run wild.
***A seasonal bonus***
If you are there during the weekend in the months of November or December make sure you see Santa at Antler Village. He is probably my absolute favorite Santa and the pictures you can get are magical.
There is also an Easter Egg hunt every Easter right on the Biltmore House’s front lawn. You can’t ask for a more picturesque opportunity than your kids in front of Biltmore House in their Easter best!
It can also be handy to check the Biltmore calendar of events to see any other activities they may have on the property while you are there.
Biltmore has definitely realized the importance of keeping their littlest visitors happy and often promotes seasonal events geared towards children.
Don’t let the grandness of Asheville Biltmore trick you into thinking it is an adult only excursion. As a local, some of my family’s very best memories (and pictures!) were captured here. You can get more info or buy your tickets at BILTMORE. You can get more info about a family photo session at FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY.
