2025 Nov 19-21, Biltmore House Trip with Backroads Tours LLC

 Day 1: Wednesday, November  19:

We were up by 3:30 A.M., took a shower, fed the cats, loaded the car with our luggage, and were on our way to Scottsboro by 4:30 A.M.

We stopped at McDonald's in Scottsboro for breakfast, where I ordered a sausage, Cheese, and biscuit. Hubby ordered a sausage, egg, cheese bagel, and a large Diet Coke. Spent $8.19.

We arrived at our pickup location and boarded bus 1045, operated by Christian Tours LLC out of Rome, GA, driven by Barbara Dudley, around 7:15.

Sweetwater Farms Seed to Sandwich Cafe, Home & Gift Shop Est 2019

We had one lady who was running late. We were on the road by 7:30 A.M.

Our first stop was Sweetwater Farms in Philadelphia, TN. 

This was a restroom break and a place to shop. 

This was a working farm where they sold a variety of cheeses and let you sample them. 

We bought a block of sharp cheddar cheese and a box of Elk, Savory Spring Onion Crackers. Spent $10.36.

We stopped for lunch at Bush Bean Restaurant around 12:57. Hubby and I both ordered the roast beef with creamed potatoes, carrots, baked beans, and cherry pie. 

Pot Roast, creamed potatoes, carrots, roll, baked Beans 

Bush's Best Origin Baked Beans 

After the meal, everyone toured the Bush Bean Museum. We were there until 2:50 P.M.

We loaded onto the bus and were on our way to Asheville, NC, arriving at 4:40 P.M.

We are staying at the Villa Hotel on the Biltmore property. We were greeted by the hotel manager, who gave a speech about the hotel and the surrounding area. 

Our luggage was taken off the bus and delivered to our room 8378. 

Bus 1045  Christian Tours LLC, Rome, GA 

Room 8378

View of the Sunset from our room. 

We dropped off our backpacks and went downstairs to enjoy a complimentary glass of red wine.

Next, we walked to Antler Hill Village. It was getting dark by this time. We stopped at the Cremery for a banana pudding waffle cone and spent $8.56.

We walked to the Antler Hill Barn, and we walked through the Wine tunnel. 

The Wine Tunnel 

The Fire Pit 

We sat near the fire pit, then returned to our room. We ate some cheddar cheese and Savory Spring onion Crackers we bought at Sweetwater Farms. 

We watched Wheel of Fortune, and then I took a shower and went to bed. 

Iphone Photos 

1640 Sweetwater Valley farms, Philadelphia, TN at 10:45 A.M.

1668 Knoxville @12:08 P.M.

1669-1673 Town of Dandridge @12:51 P.M. 

1674-1740 Bush Bean Restaurant and Museum 12:51-2:56 P.M.

1741-1744 Asheville, NC @4:36 P.M.

1745-1871 Biltmore House, Village Hotel, and Antler Hill Village 4:37-6:38 P.M.

Receipts

Bush Bean Dandridge, TN bought Lip Balm 1.37

McDonald's Scottsboro, AL $8.19

Sweetwater Farms, Philadelphia, TN, bought a Block of Cheddar Cheese and a box of Savory Crackers.

Creamery @Antler Hill Village, Asheville, NC, bought a banana pudding waffle cone. 

Day 2: Thursday, November 20:

Today we are eating breakfast on level two in the kitchen Cafe.

I ordered gravy, biscuit, sausage, and water. 

After breakfast, we walked around in the Antler Hill Village, but nothing opened until 11 A.M. 

We returned to the hotel and waited for our bus tour and guide, David, at 8:30 A.M.

We rode around the Biltmore grounds for about 1 hour, with our guide informing us about the property. 

Our group leader, Angie, took a group photo in front of the Biltmore House 

We returned to the hotel and once again toured Antler Hill Village. We walked down the hill to the barn to visit the animals there: chickens, goats, and pigs. 

We toured the Biltmore Legacy museum and ate lunch at Cedric's Tavern. 

Hubby and I split a lobster roll with chips, a jar of dill pickles, and a Diet Coke. Our server, Chris, asked if we were celebrating a birthday or an Anniversary, and I laughed and said we both just celebrated one in October. 

Happy Anniversary, written in Chocolate with two chocolate truffles 

Happy Birthday, written in Chocolate with two chocolate truffles.s 

Half Lobster roll and chips 

Our birthdays are just a day apart, and our Anniversary was the last day of August. We enjoyed the lobster roll, which was loaded with large pieces of delicious lobster. It was more than enough to feed two people. As we were finishing our meal, our server, Chris, brought out two platters, each with two chocolate truffles. On one platter, in Chocolate, was "Happy Birthday." On the other platter, in Chocolate, was 'Happy Anniversary'.

At 1:20 P.M., we boarded the bus to tour a replica of Tutankhamun's tomb and his treasures at Amherst at Deer Park. 

King Tutankhamun's treasures 

King Tutankhamun's treasures 

King Tutankhamun's treasures 

Tombs

We were given an audio to listen to as we toured the replica of the Tutankhamun display. 

British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the Boy King's tomb fully intact in 1922. 

Inside the tomb was a golden mask, jewelry, furniture, statues, weapons, and King Tutankhamun's mummy. 

The Egyptians believed that the souls continued to exist after death. Extensive rituals and offerings were performed to aid the king in his journey and ensure a favorable afterlife.

After the Tutankhmun exhibit, we continued to the Biltmore House, Gardens, and gift shops.

The Conservatory closed at 5 P.M., so several of our group headed there. There were many stairs leading down to the Conservatory. Most of the outside gardens were dead and were being dug up, but the Conservatory was filled with beautiful flowers and plants. 

Plants in the  Conservatory 

Plants in the  Conservatory 

After touring the Conservatory, we returned to the Biltmore House gift shops, where we shopped until it was time to eat at the Barn Cafe. 

Chocolate Moose

Pot Roast 

Squash Soup 

At 4:30, we entered the Barn Cafe and were served roast beef, creamed potatoes, carrots, a savory cream squash soup, and cherry pie. 

At 6:15, we lined up to enter the Biltmore house, which was decorated for Christmas. 

Inside, we saw several bedrooms, dining rooms, a library, and a group of children singing in a choir in the foyer. 

Each room was roped off, and each rope guided you in the direction they wanted you to go. 

Hubby took the elevator back down to the first floor, and there we met one of our members, who said, "Have you seen the basement?" We said, "No." 

 We walked down a long hall that led to the Basement. 

We saw a swimming pool, a gym, the pantry, the freezer/refrigerator, the servants' quarters, and a storage area. We also saw the Halloween Room.

Swimming Pool

The long hallway leading to the Basement

The Halloween Room

We walked back upstairs and out the exit door. We walked to the area where the shuttle was to pick us up.

There were too many of us to fit on the shuttle, so the guard called a van to pick up the last 15 of us and take us back to the Village Hotel.

I picked up three chocolate chip cookies in the lobby to take to our room. I ate two cookies and drank a Diet Coke, then took a shower and went to bed. 

Iphone Photos

1872-1875 Breakfast @7:42 A.M. 

1876-1883 Biltmore House Bus Tour @9:29-9:42 A.M.

1884-1891 Village Hotel @10:23 A.M.

1892-1899 Farm animals 10:54-10:57 A.M. 

1900-1924 Museum @11:06-11:10 A.M. 

1925-1929 Cedric's Tavern 11:41-12:01 P.M.

1930-1933 Village Hotel @12:37 P.M.

1934-1966 Tutankhamun His Tomb and His Treasures at Amherst @Deerpark 1:19-1:48 P.M. 

1967-1979 Gift shop & Biltmore House 2:15-2:55 P.M.

1971-1973 Stable Cafe @4;14-5:01 P.M.

1974-1975 tickets 

1976-1979 Biltmore House 6:36–6:57 P.M.

1980-1981 Tickets @8:56 P.M.

Receipts

Coke Machines 3:60 and 3:60 

Cedric's Tavern $63.67 served by Chris 

Postcards $6:36 Amherst Ashville, NC 

Tickets Tutankhamun tomb & his treasures 397262484 at 1:45 P.M. @ Amherst @ Deer Park 

Tickets candlelight House & Grounds Tour @ 6:30 P.M. 

Canon EOS R6 Photos 

6236-6264 Biltmore House & Grounds Bus Tour 9:30-10:09 A.M.

6265-6283 Antler Hill & Village 10:35-10:56 A.M.

6284-6381 Tutankhaamun His Toms and his Treasures at Deer Park @1:44-2:44 P.M.

6382-6417 Gardens & Conservatory @2:59-3:39 P.M. 

6418-6424 Biltmore House outside @3:33 -3:40 P.M.

6425-6589 Biltmore House Inside 6:18-7:52 P.M.

Day 3: November 21, Friday:

I was up at 5 A.M, worked on my journal and photos.

We packed our bags and set them outside our room at 7:00 A.M.

Took a shower, got ready, and went to the kitchen Cafe for breakfast.

I ordered one scrambled egg, cheese grits, bacon, apple butter, biscuit, and cranberry juice.

Breakfast 

Loaded onto the bus at 8:15 and was on the road at 8:30 A.M. We traveled to Knoxville. 

We stopped at Love's for a restroom break. Our next stop was to ride the Star River Paddle Boat in Knoxville, Tennessee.

It was pouring rain when we arrived. We were a little early, so we sat on the bus until the rain stopped. 

We unloaded the bus and headed to the pier, but as we were getting off, one of the ladies slipped and fell onto her face. She had a large, swollen bruise on her face. 

They had prepared a buffet-style meal for us to enjoy while we cruised along the river.

We ate pot roast, corn, carrots, creamed potatoes, baked chicken, biscuits, and baked apples. 

When we finished, several of us walked to the bow of the boat for a better view. 

The windows on the lower level were covered in rainwater. 

It had stopped raining, but it was still a little cool and breezy.

I discovered that the pipes on the boat were warm, so I backed up to one to keep warm. 

Lunch 

Paddle Boat 

Downtown Knoxville 

Along the way I saw a bald eagle, several Great Blue Herons, an old railroad track, the Tennessee Football stadium, the downtown area, and a bridge. 

After our ride, we loaded back onto the bus and began our journey to Scottsboro. We stopped one more time at Love's in Jasper, TN, where Hubby bought two Diet Cokes and a large order of fries at the adjoining McDonald's. 

We played Bingo on the way to Scottsboro, and everyone won something. 

When we arrived in Scottsboro, our group leader said to let the party with the woman who fell out first. 

They were from Wetumpka, Alabama, and they were going to take the woman to the doctor.

We put our luggage into our car and begin our two-hour journey home. 

Hubby dropped me off and he went to his sisters for Thanksgiving. I was too tired. 

I uploaded some of my photos, took a shower, and went to bed.

Iphone photo 

1993-1994 Breakfast at Kitchen Cafe` Ashville, NC @ 7:47 A.M.

1995-2015 Travel I-40 Cherokee, NF Hartford and Pisgah NF Clyde, TN at 9:37-9:51 A.M.

2017-2049 Meal & Riding the Star Paddle Boat @12:03-1:16 P.M.

2052-2961 Travel through Chattanooga, TN at 3:52-3:56 P.M.

Receipts 

McDonald's, Jasper, TN, bought French Fries $4.18

Bought two Diet Cokes $5.07

Vending Machine Mountain Dew $3:60 

🚙2017 June 13, Tuesday, Day Trip to Bowling Green, Kentucky

We left home around seven; it was a great day for traveling.
Hubby and I traveled north on Highway 43 to Murphy's in Lawrenceburg, TN, where we filled up.

We stopped at Cracker Barrel in Spring Hill, where Hubby ordered a big breakfast, and I ordered two slices of sourdough toast, one scrambled egg, and two pieces of bacon, with iced tea.

Leaving Spring Hill onto I-65 north, traveling through Nashville to Bowling Green.
You can see the Corvette Museum and Car Plant from the interstate.

We arrived at the Corvette Museum a little before 11 A.M., stopping outside to take pictures of the Michelin Man, Air Tank, and Corvette on display at the entrance.

Designed especially for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA

Michelin Man, Coats Air Gage Tank

Hubby parked, and we went inside the museum, stopping to view a few Corvettes on display before going to the ticket counter.
We were given armbands and then told the plant tour was across the highway.
Our scheduled time to tour the plant was 111:30 A.M
Hubby let me out near the entrance and went to park the van.
I walked up the long corridor to the entrance and, once inside, got in line for tickets.
I already had our tickets, and I asked for a wheelchair.
The tour is about an hour long and involves a lot of walking. They recommended using a wheelchair if you have difficulty walking. (So I said yes)
I was wheeled inside, given a yellow time card, and told that my Hubby was on his way.

Bowling Green Plant outside (no electronic devices allowed inside)

We watched a video, and the 11:15 tours were called.
When the 11:30 A.M. tour was called, we lined up.
We had two tour guides, one at the front and one at the back of the line.
Before we went inside, we were all given safety glasses.
We followed our guides and were told to stay behind the yellow lines.
We stopped along the way for the guides to tell us about the assembly of the Corvettes.
The tour took about one hour.
We then rode back to the Corvette Museum.

Entrance to Corvette Cafe 

Entrance to Corvette Museum 

At the Corvette Cafe, we ordered a bowl of Strawberry Ice Cream from Chaney's Farm and shared it.
We ordered a Peanut Butter cookie full of peanut butter chips and healthy toffee.
We ordered one Oatmeal Cranberry full of plump cranberries, buttery oats, and Heath toffee.
We also ordered a Snickerdoodle Cookie, a butter cookie topped with Saigon cinnamon, from Christie's Bakery.

Eating Strawberry Ice Cream from Chaney's Farm 

Snickerdoodle Cookie & Strawberry Ice Cream

Inside the Corvette Museum building, there was the Corvette Cafe, Corvette Archives, Corvette Store, and the Corvette Museum.

What a perfect ride

Our picture was taken driving or standing next to a Corvette before we went inside the museum.
We took our time to view the Corvettes (many on loan from individuals).

Picture inside the Archive's 

Mini-Corvette inside the Archives

Our next stop was the Woodland Cemetery in Nashville,  where several famous people are buried.
Hubby took a picture of me in front of "The Possum" by George Jones.
He stopped loving her today around 44:00 P.M.

"The Possum" by George Jones
"The king of broken hearts"
He sang of life's hardships and struggles, somehow lightening our own.
His voice was effortless and unforgettable.
He brought unsurpassed emotional eloquence to every song he sang. 
He was and is the soul of country music. No one will ever fill his shoes. 
He is at rest, but his music is alive and ageless. 
He gifted it to all of us, the joyful and broken 
"Walk Through This World with me!"

Driving through Woodland Cemetery, we stumbled upon the Carper Homestead and the Hospital Water Source.

Hospital Water Source 
Because of the Generous, pure water supply available this spring, the area surrounding it was selected as a hospital site for the treatment of soldiers wounded in the Battle of Nashville, which took place during the War Between the States.

Water Source for the Hospital 

Carper Homestead
Known to be one of the oldest houses remaining from the early American era. Originally located on Cane Ridge Road in Antioch, Tennessee. The materials were removed piece by piece and rebuilt exactly as they stood when occupied by the Carper Generations. 
Donated to Woodland Memorial Park for Historic Preservation by the children of William Washington and Susie Black Carper
William Herman Carper
Ruth Carper Chasteen
Estella Carper Quest
Louella Carper James
Thelma Carper Ellicott
Kathleen Carper Huddleston
Irene Carper Chahoc
Mary Carper Pulliam 
Dedicated 1969

Carper Homestead

We stopped at Panda Express in Spring Hill, Tennessee, around 5:00 P.M.
We ordered Cream Cheese Rangoon, Egg Rolls, Broccoli Beef, and Honey Walnut Shrimp.
We stopped in Lawrenceburg at Mapco to fill up.
We were home around 6:30 P.M.

Another great day of adventures.

🚗2012 ~December 18-19, Eighteen hour drive home from Hartford, Connecticut

Day 1: Tuesday, December 18, 2012

We left the house at 3:15 A.M. and headed to Nashville, TN. I arrived at 5:15. Flight 2315, which left at 6:15 A.M., was the flight. I sat next to the window, and a young black man sat in the middle seat. We talked, and he said he lived in Nashville but was looking to move to Virginia. He had a couple of young children, and his mother was a special-needs schoolteacher.

The morning sunrise in Maryland

We landed in MD, and the young black man got off the plane.
I moved a couple of seats up, and an older couple sat down beside me. The man sat in the middle, and his wife sat at the end (I think she was the boss of the tw;o); he talked my head off. He said he sold hospital equipment, and he was having a Christmas party when he arrived home. He asked me if I wanted to go to his party. I said that we were leaving Hartford as soon as we landed and that my daughter and I were going to New York. The plane landed, and I said goodbye to the couple. I then walked to the baggage claim to collect my luggage. My daughter was late as usual picking me up. 

We filled up with gas at BP, 3500 Conner St, Bro,nx, NY 10475 (I remember this station because the last time we went to NY, my daughter used the restroom here).

My flight arrived in Hartford at 10:40 A.M., and my daughter and I left Hartford, CT, driving to Staten Island, NY. 

Traveling through New York 

Traveling through New York 

We took I-95 south through Meridian, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford, CT, and crossed into New Jersey at Fort Lee. We then crossed the New Jersey Turnpike on I-95, crossing back into NY. We were going to stay at 310 Wild Wood Ave, Staten Island, but the rate was $150 a night, and there was no shuttle on Tuesdays to the Staten Island Ferry. 

We asked at the Wild Wood AV Staten Island Inn desk where we could find a good local place to eat nearby. They suggested West Shore Inn Steakhouse, but it was closed for a Christmas Party. The other place they suggested was Mike's Unicorn Diner, 2944 Victory Blvd, NY.

Eating a salad at Mike Unicorn Dine, Staten Island, NY

Mike's Unicorn Din, er Staten Island, NYMike's

Kes Unicorn Diner, Staten Island, NY 

Mike's Unicorn Dine, Staten Island, NY 

At Mike's Unicorn Diner, we ordered water with lemon. We shared a plate of fried sole fillets, salad, rolls, green beans, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, cheesecake, pasta, and beets, accompanied by bread. It was more than enough to feed two people. After we finished eating, we decided not to go back to New York, so we headed toward Washington, D.C. 

We took I-278 over to I-95. It took us 3 hours and 16 minutes to get from New York to Maryland.

We stopped at 702 W 34th ST. Baltimore, Maryland, to see the Christmas lights on Keswick Rd and Chestnut Street.

The entire block was decorated for the Christmas holiday, featuring movable, indoor, and outdoor displays.

 People were scurrying up and down the block. 

Christmas lights, Miracle of 34 S,t Hampden, Baltimore, Maryland 

Christmas lights Miracle of 34, St. Hamp,n Baltimore, Maryland 

Christmas lights, Miracle of, 4 St. H, Hampden, Baltimoreee, Maryland.  

Christmas, lights, Miracle of 34 St. Hampden, Baltimore, Maryland 

Then we drove for another two hours on I-66 from Maryland to Royal Front, VA. 

We stopped at Cool Harbor Inn,n located at 141 E 15th Avenue, Royal Front, VA. 

We checked in at about 12 P.M. ($65 for a king bed in a first-floor conference room).

We were so exhausted that we slept until 10 A.M. the next day.

Cool Harbor I,nn Royal Frontt VA 

Day 2: Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The next morning, we both took showers, packed our bags, and checked out of the hotel.

For breakfast, we had orange juice, apple-cinnamon oatmeal, a banana, and an oatmeal cookie from the tank in the back of the Inn.

We were not far from the Shenandoah Valley National Park.
From the Cool Harbor Inn, my daughter had to drive to Skyline Drive to get into the park. 

I bought a senior lifetime pass for $10.00, which allowed both of you to enter the park. 

Shenandoah Valley National Park

Shenandoah Valley National Park

It was about 11:33 A.M. when we entered Shenandoah Valley National Park, and we stayed inside the park until we reached Luray, VA, where we exited to explore the Luray Caverns.

Luray Virginia Park 

Luray Virginia Park 

Luray, Virginia, a Park Caverns

Lur, ay Virgi,nia Park Caverns

We paid $ 21.00 to visit Luray Caverns, which included admission to the Car and Carriage Museum and the Luray Valley Museum. 

The Luray Caverns offers a guided tour that lasts about an hour. After the tour, you are on your own.

The Luray Valley Museum. 

The Luray Valley Museum. 

We walked down to the Car and Carriage Museum, which features 140 cars, carriages, coaches, & costumes dating back to 1725.

Next, we visited The Luray Valley Museum, which housed artifacts from the Shenandoah Valley dating back to the 1750s to the 1920s. 

Car and Carriage Museum

Car and Carriage Museum 

Car and Carriage Museum 

We ate lunch at Gathering Grounds Patisserie Café, 55 E. Main S, Luray, VA 22835 (Patisserie is a type of French or Belgian bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets in both countries)

I ordered a cup of soup du jour and a half sandwich for $6.96, and a Coke for $1.99, totaling $8.95.

(540-743-1121) The ticket stated Table 16, 2 guests, server Melissa at 4:15 P.M., ID: 0081319.

Gathering Grounds Patisserie Café 55 E. Main St, Luray, VA

Gathering Grounds Patisserie Café 55 E. Main St, Luray, VA

Town of Luray, VA 

We tried to return to Shenandoah Valley National Park, but by the time we arrived at the entrance, it had closed at 5:00 P.M.  

From Luray, Virginia, we took 340 down to Stanley, Virginia, then to I-81, which runs from Virginia to Knoxville, TN.

We stopped at Pilot Store 051 11190 Baileyton Rd, Greenville, Tennessee, at 22:50:35 A.M.

They had a subway and a station.n I bought two glasses of water for $2.00, one 20-oz drink for $1.35, and at Subway, I purchased one 12-inch Veggie Sub for   $5.00 and some chips for $0.99, spending a total of $6.57.

I also bought some lottery tickets.

We drove through Knoxville, TN, on I-40 N toward Nashville, TN, taking I-840 to I-65 S to 360 to 31, then to Spring Hill and Columbia, TN. We turned onto Highway 43 and followed it all the way home.

We arrived at home about 3:30 A.M. 

My husband was asleep, as he had to work the next day, so Lora slept on the sofa, and I slept in the recliner.

When my husband got up to get ready for work the next morning, both Lora and I got into bed.
The next morning, after my husband left for work, my daughter and I climbed into bed, but I couldn't sleep because I could hear it was storming outside. So, I got up and lay on the sofa.

End of another long trip.

December 18, 2012, Flew

Depart 6:15 A.M. from Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Arrive at Baltimore, Maryland, at the International Airport (BWI)

Depart from Baltimore, Maryland, the International Airport  |(BWI)

Arrive 10:40 A.M. Hartford International Airport (BDL)