Biltmore

It's our vacation (Chad's only one) and we're out here in Asheville, NC in the Smoky Mountains/ Blue Ridge Parkway area. The coolest thing to do here (in the winter) is visit Biltmore. We've been 4 times already and if it was spring or summer, we'd need to go at least once more (no flowers in bloom in the gardens right now.) The Biltmore is America's largest home and was built for George Vanderbilt (think railroads.) Our favorite room in the house: the library, naturally. We were so lucky that the weather has been spectacular out here - in the 60's and sunny. And since it's off season, it hasn't been crowded. We're missing out on some things, but I don't think we have enough time to see it all anyway! If we lived here, we'd definitely want a season pass, if only for the hiking trails.

There's the whole thing! Quite a "house" doncha think?

Sakura's favorite part of Biltmore? The stairs.

At the Biltmore Farmhouse. We also visited the animals, but weren't fast enough with the camera to get any pictures of Sakura running after the chickens or trying to climb in the wheel barrow with the goat.

There were bunches of old games out. These are old wooden stilts. Chad was pretty good at it - he even walked backwards. I couldn't take more than two steps myself, but Sakura and I made a great team.

We also watched the blacksmith work on the forge - very cool - but poor Happy's ears must have been ringing after that.