A Lady of Leisure.

On our last full day in South Carolina, we headed up to Asheville, North Carolina to see the Vanderbilt country estate, the Biltmore. Rachel took this picture from the gardens.


It was beautiful inside, and we wandered through together for about an hour and a half. From every room on the back side of their massive house you can see the Smoky Mountains. The Vanderbilts were very good at leisure with horseback riding and indoor pool and bowling alley.

It was difficult not to compare it to Winterthur in Delaware. The Biltmore was built and completed earlier and has a better view. I like the collections in Winterthur better. I would say the race for best family estate was close until...

We got to the winery.


They grow the grapes for the Biltmore wines on the estate. We tasted many of the wines, and I found quite a few good white wines. And I did it with Finley in the Baby Bjorn. Starting him right. White wine only, Finley!


After wine tasting, dinner! We ate outdoors, and we could have been in Tuscany. There were field of sunflowers behind the winery and the temperature was perfect for an early evening meal.


I got my wish and tried fried green tomoatoes for the first time. We also shared plates of cajun shrimp, fried brie cheese, parmesan truffle fries, and homemade pickles.

And a bottle of sparkling wine.


I am learning how to be a lady of leisure. I'm very good at rushing from place to place, to-do lists and six hours of sleep. Until school starts in the fall, I am going to keep practice balancing the business of life with things I love. Cynthia spoiled us rotten while we were there. There is so much to love about the upcountry with the nice people and delicious food! Put it on your travel to-do list.