Biltmore Estate & Asheville, NC

This past weekend we traveled to Asheville, NC with our friends Kellie and Paul. We stayed in a cottage in the Blue Ridge Mountains and played tourists for the weekend.

We were lucky enough to visit the gorgeous Biltmore Estate. Biltmore Estate is the largest private residence in the U.S. (over 178,000 square feet!) and was home to the Vanderbilts. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

They didn't allow cameras inside of the house (bummer), but I did snap some of the grounds. After a tour of the home, we had lunch at Stable Cafe, visited the winery and shops and had ice cream at Biltmore Creamery.

My favorite part of Biltmore Estate are the gardens. Even though most of the outdoor flowers aren't yet in bloom, the conservatory and green houses are packed with lots of beauty. My favorite, an entire green house dedicated to succulents and cacti!

We stopped in Biltmore Village and had a drink in The Bohemian, a really awesome "Antler Chic" hotel. The lobby feels like a swanky mountain lounge.

Eventually we made it into Asheville, a lively and artsy town nestled in the mountains. There are tons of great restaurants and lots of neat shops. We ate at Tupelo Honey Cafe and it was simply divine. The biscuits, oh lord, the biscuits.

Our beaches are great, but if you ever plan a trip to the Carolinas, don't neglect a visit to the mountains!

Spring

I am making a conscious effort to appreciate spring in all of its glory.

 

 This season pushes me to savor the moment. Spring is unpredictable in the South, and sometimes it can sneak right by.

 

 The newness of Spring delivers the opportunity for reflection on the past year.

 

 I find comfort in knowing that even after the most brutal winter, the refuge of Spring is just around the corner. 

(Growing up in Upstate New York, this promise kept me going many years.)

Spring stirs a sense of opportunity within me. If the broken and bare branches of winter can bloom into the most vibrant green, I too can repair any damage within my own life.

This season washes an overwhelming sense of calm over me. Long aimless walks, lots of time outdoors to appreciate (and photograph) nature, an opportunity for reflection and growth.

I'd love to hear what you appreciate about Spring. Also, what is your favorite season and why?