A Biltmore Christmas

Christmas at the Biltmore Estate and staying at the inn on the grounds is such a grand experience one could make a movie out of it. The Wife and I started to plan our surprise Christmas gift to our two granddaughters way back in July. After a quick price check of the inn located on the estate, we decided to stay outside the huge black iron gates and instead stay in the Biltmore Village. While the grand house at Biltmore was being constructed, Mr. Vanderbilt had the village built for the workers. We are both still workers, so it seemed the perfect place to stay with the Girly Girls.

The perfect trip.

We made the three-day reservation and started one of the best parts of any vacation: the planning. Over the next three months, we went over every aspect of our trip: where to stop during the three-hour road trip, what time to tour of the house during daylight hours, and when to return for the nighttime tour. We even planned a fancy sit-down dinner at the Grove Park Inn so we could see the National Gingerbread House Competition still on display. We needed to fit as much as possible into our three-day trip. After all, this could be the one and only time the Girly Girls have an opportunity to visit the largest privately-owned house in America. 

The unexpected, expected thing.

For any parent out there with kids in sports, you are keenly aware your life is not your own. Whether cheer, football, soccer, baseball, or a dozen other sports, your life revolves around your child’s chosen endeavor. And when they finally grow up, move out, and have a family of their own, your life will revolve around the grandchildren. And this is true of us. Our life revolves around the soccer season of our grandchildren. And for those folks out there that don’t know, soccer season is year-round. And that is how we found ourselves, and our surprise Christmas gift trip to the Biltmore, square in the middle of the Great Greensboro North Carolina Soccer Tournament.

We volunteered, two weeks ago, to help with driving the Girly Girls to NC and spent two days sitting on cold metal bleachers and cheering them on watching them do what they love more than anything. But first, a side note: who schedules a soccer tournament in the middle of the holiday season?! Second…well, there isn’t a second. So, The Wife and I cancelled our well-planned, once-in-a-lifetime trip with the Girly Girls to see the Biltmore lit up at Christmas time, all because of the last-minute Christmas soccer tournament. But then, a few days ago…

It only happens in the movies.

The Wife and I have visited Asheville, North Carolina and the Biltmore many times over our 26 years of marriage so when we saw advertisement for the new movie, A Biltmore Christmas, we knew we had to watch it. Early last Saturday morning we sat on the love seat, sipped coffee, and watched one of the sweetest, well-acted movies we had ever seen. And, of course, the scenery was phenomenal because it was filmed on location in Asheville both inside and outside the Biltmore Estate. When the movie ended, we exchanged a knowing look. Then we checked the calendar, checked to see the availability of rooms, and checked to see if tickets to tour the grounds and the Biltmore house were still available. We also pulled up the map, smiled, and made our reservations.

The solution.

We will be able to give the Girly Girls their Christmas Gift Trip after all, spending four days and two nights in the Biltmore Village and enjoying all the special Christmas celebration the Biltmore Estate has to offer. The solution was easy – we’ll check out of the hotel and drive over to meet up with the girls’ mom who will be halfway to the Greensboro tournament. Having just spent three days with us, I’m sure they will be happy to be handed off to Mom.

Then, with a phone full of new holiday pictures and heads full of memories, The Wife and I will wave goodbye to the girls before starting our long drive back home. And just like in the movie, when we get home, we’ll…

Well, I don’t want to ruin anything. Let’s just say we’ll have the same ending as in the movie A Biltmore Christmas.