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 

🐐🐐🐐🐐2016 April 12, Tuesday, Touring the Belle Chevre Goat Cheese Factory in Elkmont, Alabama

We took Highway 64 to Lexington, a beautiful drive up and down hills.
We stopped at Preston's Restaurant for lunch. Hubby was told to arrive before 11:00 A.M.
We both ordered off the lunch menu.
I ordered white beans, turnip greens, meatloaf, cornbread, onion, and tea.
Hubby ordered white beans, turnip greens, pulled pork, cornbread, and sweet tea.
I gave my meatloaf to Hubby. I ate only vegetables.
We both ordered a glass of tea to go.

Preston's Restaurant

We continued traveling 14 miles on Highway 64.
We turned right on Highway 89 for 2.3 miles.
We turned left on County Road 52 for 1.76 miles
We turned left on AL207 for 1.76 miles
We turned slightly right on hwy AL99 for 7.63 miles
We turned left on Salem Minor Hill Road, hwy 21 for .87 miles
We took the first right on Easter Ferry Rd, Hwy 1, 04 for 4.97 miles
We turned left onto Morris Rd, hwy 49 for .06 miles
Stopping at 18849 Upper Fort Hampton Rd. 

I took several pictures of the winding, hilly roads as we traveled to Elkmont.
We saw several fields planted with crops and lots of cows and horses. 
We stopped to take pictures of a couple of historic markers.

Sim Corder/Harrison Mil

Sim Corder/Harrison Mil

Sim Corder/Harrison Mill

Simeon Corder is said to have contracted with George Hamilton to build the mill and operate it for him in 1909. The contract was sealed with no more than a handshake. After Corder died in 1923, his widow sold the mill to Aubrey Todd, who sold it to George Harrison in 1927. Harrison's descendants have owned it since that time. The waterwheel was sold and moved to Anderson, Alabama, in 1939, where it remained until 1996. After many years of deterioration and after major repairs, it was returned to its original position. With a new millrace, the mill was returned to its original appearance. This mill is one of many that once existed along the county's waterways, but it is the only one restored to its historic appearance, thanks to the dedication of its owners.

Sims Settlement 

Sims Settlement

 Sims Settlement 

In the fall of 1806, a group of settlers led by William and James Sims traveled from east Tennessee on flatboats down the Tennessee River and up the Elk River to this area. They landed near Buck Island and spread out into the surrounding countryside, seeking home sites in what they thought was "government" land that would soon be for sale to settlers. The area they settled, which covered several square miles from Elk River to New Garden, became known as "Sims Settlement."

The Federal Government had settled the Cherokee claim to the area north of the Tennessee River in 1805, but the Chickasaw Nation maintained a claim to it until 1816. The settlement by the Sims party and others who continued to come to the area was illegal, and they became squatters or "intruders" on Indian land.

The growing number of white settlers entering the area alarmed the Chickasaws, who threatened war if the U.S. Federal Government did not remove them. To avoid bloodshed and to placate the Chickasaws, the government sent troops into this area to remove the settlers. This first removal was in April and May of 1809. Most of the settlers returned as soon as the soldiers left, and so the problem continued. (Continued on another side)

In response, the government sent an ultimatum dated August 4, 1810, to the settlers, stating that if they did not leave all land west of the Chickasaw boundary by December 15, they would be removed by force. This boundary was surveyed in the fall of 1807, starting at Hobbs Island in Madison County and running diagonally to a point near Maury County in Tennessee. This boundary was the source of all the settlers' problems because they were on the wrong side of it. Faced with the grave threat issued by the military, the settlers took the only action within their means.

On September 5, 1810, some 450 of them gathered at Sims Settlement and signed a lengthy letter or petition addressed to President James Madison and Congress. In it, they stated their honesty of intent and the strength of their character, and made passionate pleas to be allowed to stay. Even though they described the terrible condition they would be placed in, especially that of the widows and orphans among them, their entire pleading fell on deaf ears, however. The soldiers who were now stationed at the newly established Fort Hampton set about removing the settlers and burning the cabins and rail fences. This continued until 1817, and in 1818, the government finally offered land in Limestone County for sale.

canola fields 

We saw canola fields covered with yellow blooms, so we stopped to take several pictures.


We finally reached the Belle Chevre Goat Factory. The guided tour started at 1:00 P.M. While everyone was registering for the walk, my Hubby and I walked outside. I took several pictures of the three goats that were housed outside. 

I tried to get a picture of the free-ranging chicken, but he was camera-shy.

When the tour began, we were told the building's history and the three goals, then led into a room to watch a five-minute video.

Our next stop was the cheese-making process. It was one huge room where four women were working.

We saw how they rolled, cut, and mixed the cheese. 

We were given a sample of the cheese from the cheese roll.

Everyone was guided back to the front office, where we all lined up to sample the different cheeses.

Making the cheese

Chevre Cheese that we took home. 

We each were given a sample of the goat cheese on a popsicle stick. We sampled coffee, honey, cinnamon, fig, an original, along with one sample of blackberry and jalapeño jelly atop the cheese on a cracker.

We selected the original and cinnamon goat cheese to take home. 
We thanked our tour guide for the tour and the samples.
I took a few pictures of the surrounding area, and we took I-65 to Athens and hwy 72 home.