The Biltmore

I took a quick little jaunt to The Biltmore Estate last week with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. I have an amazing MIL who takes us Gurley gurls on periodic trips - in addition to numerous family trips over the years.

She thought Crystal {my SIL} would enjoy The Biltmore and has wanted to take us for a while but the fact that The Downton Abbey exhibit would be there was the icing on the cake since Crystal and I both LOVE Downton!

I won't go overboard with pictures - partially because I don't have a ton as my SIL's phone camera is INSANE and she's going to send me her pics...someday and partially because I know most people don't care about my trip nearly as much as I did!

We flew out bright and early Wednesday morning at 6:00 AM and immediately took a tour of the estate upon arrival. As background, George Vanderbilt {grandson of the railroad tycoon} built the estate in the 1890s and it was a private home for his family until 1930 when it began being opened for tours. The family still owns it to this day but no one has lived there since the 1950s. We stayed in a hotel on the property as no one actually stays IN the estate. It has 250 rooms, is 4-stories tall, has a bowling alley, indoor pool, workout room, 33 guest rooms...let's just say it's AMAZING!

In the dining room in front of the THREE fireplaces - 

there's also a pipe organ on the second floor of this room ha

After touring the house for about 2 hours, we took a shuttle back to the 'village' where our hotel, the winery, shops and more beautiful grounds were. We went through the smaller of the 2 Downton exhibits that focused on the costumers and had a wine tasting and shopped around.

Excited for Downton??

Quick FaceTime break {grin}

Gorgeous dresses for 

~Lady Edith ~ Lady Mary ~ Lady Sybil~

It isn't a Gurley vacation without a lemon drop martini!

 On Day 2, we hit up the main Downton Abbey exhibit which was beyond AMAZING. I could have stayed all-day and teared up several times, ha. We also went back to the Estate and viewed the Conservatory and grounds and then did a candlelight tour inside the Estate.

I was the lame one who didn't have a mimosa for breakfast.

A replica of Downton!!!

The BEST love story!

MATTHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They recreated several of the sets in the tour - that was FASCINATING.

The kitchen - 

the main part of the show that wasn't filmed inside Highclere Castle

Lady Mary's bedroom

The most beautiful room - the dining room

The conservatory back over at Biltmore

Starbucks break!

I won't share more pics from inside the candlelight tough - the house looked amazing in the daytime and at night with all the Christmas trees lit up, but it is just pictures of a house, ha.

We did have the most amazing peppermint liqueur hot chocolate at dinner!

This restaurant was in what used to be the stables - so neat.

Friday, my MIL and I went through the Downton exhibit one last time and then headed to a nearby hotel - I think it was called Oak Grove but don't quote me on that - that was so neat and had a drink outside before we needed to get back to the airport.

Hot chocolate with Bailey's! Yum!

We had such an amazing time - I treasure the relationship I have with my MIL and appreciate the way she loves Crystal and me!