Create summer vacation memories at Biltmore this year

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May 09, 2016, 10:00 ET

ASHEVILLE, N.C., May 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- George and Edith Vanderbilt encouraged their guests to explore the rolling hillsides and manicured gardens surrounding Biltmore House, especially in summertime. Thanks to careful preservation, guests today may experience the estate much as the Vanderbilts and their friends did 100 years ago. Summer at Biltmore runs May 27 through Sept. 5.

Seeing Biltmore House from the back of a horse is a summer vacation memory in the making. Learn more about America's largest home at www.biltmore.com

In addition to hikes and strolls, today's guests may ride horses along trails with views of Biltmore House. More modern modes are available for exploration at Biltmore's Outdoor Adventure Center. Guests may sign up for Segway tours, bike rentals, stand-up paddle boarding, rafting and kayaking. Land Rover driving experiences are available, as are fly-fishing and sporting clays instruction.

Glorious garden strolls
No visit to the estate is complete without time spent in the gardens. Biltmore's formal gardens offer guests varied scenery and places to stop and reflect. Garden and gardening lovers can meander along paths that lead down a gentle hillside to the Bass Pond. Along the way, guests can stop to say hello to the koi and goldfish that call the Italian Garden's pools home; marvel at the size of the elephant ears and tropical foliage plants that grow in the Walled Garden; and take in the heady scent of the historic rose garden.

Music in the evenings
Antler Hill Village & Winery comes alive in the summer, especially on weekend evenings when Live After Five takes place. Enjoy live music on the Village Green and casual food options, including cookout favorites.

The annual Biltmore Concert Series takes place select nights this summer with nationally- and internationally-known performers taking the grand stage with views of America's largest home.

Last chance to see Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film
Summer offers the last chance to see the Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film exhibition. Through July 4, award-winning wedding costumes are showcased in Biltmore House, accented with elaborate floral displays. The exhibition continues in Antler Hill Village with a focus on Vanderbilt family weddings. The exhibition includes the first-ever display of the Lee family wedding veil worn by Mary Lee Ryan at her marriage to George Vanderbilt's grandson in 1957, which was also worn by her cousin Jacqueline Lee Bouvier at her 1953 marriage to future President John F. Kennedy.

Extend your day visit beyond sunset
Experience gracious hospitality with a luxurious package celebrating summer holidays at The Inn on Biltmore Estate, or relax with a more casual stay at the new Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, located in the middle of Antler Hill Village's activities.

Summer specials

Children 16 and younger are admitted to the estate for the day for free (with ticketed adult).
On June 19, fathers are free with the purchase of an adult or youth ticket.
Book seven or more days in advance and save $10 off ticket price. Save $5 if booked one to six days in advance. Next-day upgrade is $10.

Call 866.336.1245 for more information, or visit www.biltmore.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160505/364217

SOURCE The Biltmore Company