Saturday, April 29…
The day
began w/ sticker shock. For Hearst Castle, I knew we needed advance
reservations. I didn’t think about that for Biltmore. And we didn’t need
them yesterday – but we could have saved $20 if I’d ordered online. Total for 2
walk-through tours and a light lunch: $190.
But it was worth it.
BlogThoughts... Biltmore is bigger than Hearst, but I found it more personal and livable. Biltmore was also completed 25 years before Hearst began construction, yet the bathrooms (which the Hearst guide made a huge point of) are just as plentiful here and and appear similar in style. I wish we'd spent more time in the gardens, but we were dripping sweat from the humidity. (This is when I really miss Seattle!) I loved seeing the "downstairs" - Hearst was all about "upstairs."
This guitar-mandolin duo made me misty-eyed for the second time in a couple weeks. My stepdad played both instruments (though mainly guitar), and he would retire to the basement every evening to practice. Classical guitar is wonderfully calming. The other moment also involved my stepdad. LDS services don't include an offering, but when I was a teenager attending the Methodist church, "Jack" ushered, passed the offering plate, and cleaned out the pews every Sunday. I sometimes clean pews in remembrance, but watching men passing the plate on Easter brought back a flood of memories.
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| Nearly 180,000 sf (bldg pad is an acre), 250 rooms (43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces). 'Châteauesque' style, completed in 1889. (Note that it's not symmetrical.) |
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| The main staircase w/ "matching" windows was my favorite architectural feature. |
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| Frederick Law Olmsted (the FLO) divided the nearly 8000-acre estate into gardens, lawns, farmland and forests. Fifteen acres are devoted to azaleas. (I love this pic b/c it has all the elements of tourism. From far left: audio commentary, the must-have scenic photo, the view itself, & a posed spousal shot,) |
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| Can't remember the movie detail for his (but you might recognize it). [Did you notice anything amiss in the photo to the left? There were several wind gusts during our tour.] |
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| Several rooms included fashion items from films set in the Vanderbilt era. Henry James (author of Portrait of a Lady) was one of Vanderbilt's favorite writers. |
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| Main kitchen (there are 3) |
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| "Downstairs" was fun. |
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| Indoor Pool, w/ underwater lighting. |
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| Gym (note the rowing machine) |
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| Gift from the Garden |
BlogThoughts... Biltmore is bigger than Hearst, but I found it more personal and livable. Biltmore was also completed 25 years before Hearst began construction, yet the bathrooms (which the Hearst guide made a huge point of) are just as plentiful here and and appear similar in style. I wish we'd spent more time in the gardens, but we were dripping sweat from the humidity. (This is when I really miss Seattle!) I loved seeing the "downstairs" - Hearst was all about "upstairs."
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| "Thank you for the music." 😃 |
This guitar-mandolin duo made me misty-eyed for the second time in a couple weeks. My stepdad played both instruments (though mainly guitar), and he would retire to the basement every evening to practice. Classical guitar is wonderfully calming. The other moment also involved my stepdad. LDS services don't include an offering, but when I was a teenager attending the Methodist church, "Jack" ushered, passed the offering plate, and cleaned out the pews every Sunday. I sometimes clean pews in remembrance, but watching men passing the plate on Easter brought back a flood of memories.
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