Biltmore for Kids: 30 Tips & Things to Do

Biltmore is a wonderland for kids of all ages - perfect for a family vacation. The awe-inspiring estate brings out the curious and excited child in all of us. Creating the best strategy for touring the magical castle and their vast outdoors is often overwhelming for moms and dads. Biltmore certainly has plenty of opportunities for the entire family to create special vacation memories. If you haven't been to Biltmore before, see our Biltmore Insider's Guide to get a quick overview. Below, find a wealth of options for family fun and easy planning.

Biltmore Family Vacations: 30 Tips & Things to Do

Tickets

• Great news! Children and youth ages 16 and younger are usually admitted free all summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day)! During the rest of the year, kids ages 9 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a paying parent or guardian and ages 10-16 are half price of adult admission.
• Save $10 on adult tickets and $5 on youth tickets when you purchase at least 7 days in advance on the Biltmore website. Always plan ahead since many dates sell-out in advance.
• You may want to divide your visit into two days, so it's not so overwhelming or exhausting. Often, tickets purchased from local hotels and inns include a second day for free.
• If you visit Biltmore more than twice a year, buying Annual Passes will save you a lot of money - especially with the added discounts for dining, shopping and activities. Buy one for each adult, then take advantage of many discounts for the family. Since the Biltmore Estate outdoors rival the finest parks in the world, passholders enjoy the trails and gardens at any time.

House Tours

• As you enter the house, purchase the special Kids’ Audio Guide to Biltmore House, a 90-minute tour narrated by Cedric, the Vanderbilts’ Saint Bernard.
• Lightweight travel strollers or child backpack carriers are best for touring Biltmore House on the multiple levels. Shoes with exposed wheels are not permitted in estate buildings for safety reasons
• Download the Cedric's Treasure Hunt for an interactive house tour.
• Take breaks during your house tour. If you decide to skip a part of the house, don't miss the basement. The pool, bowling alley and Halloween Room are favorites that kids will remember.
• A nice treat for good behavior inside the house is a souvenir toy or game at the Toymaker's Shop in the stable area beside the house.
• If your child has limited mobility, the first and second floors of the house are wheelchair accessible and includes a fun ride in the elevator.

Gardens

• Adjacent to the House, find acres of gardens to explore with plenty of interesting plants and even some trees for climbing.
• Watch colorful koi and goldfish swim in the Italian Garden pools among giant water lilies during the warmer mouths.
• The Conservatory by the Walled Garden is a fantasy land of towering exotic plants that transports to faraway lands.
• Bring a camera - you will find many photo spots for family portraits.
• See our Favorite Garden Spots at Biltmore.

Dining & Winery

• Every restaurant is family-friendly, so ask for the children’s menu. Top picks are the Stable Cafe by the house (eat in a booth in a former horse stall) and Cedric's Pub in Antler Hill Village with a great outdoor dining area by the Green.
• The Winery offers complimentary grape juice for the kids in the Tasting Room.
• A sweet treat for the entire family is ice cream at the Biltmore Dairy Bar.

Kids enjoying crafts at Antler Hill Barn

Antler Hill Village

• Find many family friendly events like Grape Stomps and live music.
• The Barn has a variety of activities including turn-of-the-century games and hands-on crafts, as well as demonstrations by blacksmiths, woodworkers and others.
• Visit the animals in the Farmyard, including chickens, lambs, calves, goats, and draft horses. Look for special talks or activities to learn about sheet herding, goat brushing and more.
• Pisgah Playground near the Barn has slides, swings, sandbox, garden space, freestanding musical instruments, an imitation chicken coop, and more.
• Read more about Antler Hill Village and the Winery.

Outdoors

• Find 22 miles of hiking trails, including a paved level trail that begins at Antler Hill Village and meanders by the river - perfect for strollers, wagons and kid's bikes.
• Need a mountain or hybrid bike? Rent one at the Bike Barn. In addition to the paved trails, find a network of easy to moderate mountain bike trails.
• Take a two-hour float trip down the French Broad River through the estate in a raft with a guide.
• Visit the horses at the barn at Deerpark, take a carriage ride or go horseback riding.
• See our Biltmore Outdoors Guide for more details.

Lodging on the Estate

• Staying overnight on the estate creates plenty of convenience and extra special memories.
• Find outdoor swimming pools at both the Inn on Biltmore and Village Hotel, near the many activities at Antler Hill Village.
• While the Village Hotel is more casual, both hotels are kid-friendly - including their restaurants.
• Take advantage of the complimentary estate shuttle to get to the House, Gardens and Village.

Events

• Christmas at Biltmore is certainly the most enchanting time of the year - especially for children and young at heart! Our favorites events during the holiday season are the Gingerbread House Tea at the Inn on Biltmore and Cookie Decorating at the Village Hotel. Visit with Santa and toast s'mores by the bonfire on weekends in Antler Hill Village. See our Christmas at Biltmore Guide.
• A spring tradition is the big Easter Egg Hunts in front of Biltmore House on Easter Sunday. It's also a great time to shake off cabin fever and enjoy the thousands of blooms in the gardens. See our Biltmore Blooms Spring Guide.