Asheville Trip ⛱️ — More Like An Adventure! 🌧️🚨

We’d been looking forward to this Asheville getaway for so long… only to run straight into a hurricane! 🌀 Thankfully we escaped early — lesson learned: always check the forecast and never underestimate Mother Nature! When there’s a hurricane warning, just stay home. 🏡💨 We left Durham around 11 AM and drove 3.5 hours to Asheville. Headed straight to the Biltmore Estate (arrived around 3 PM) — and by then, it was pouring! 🌧️ But we thought… why not a little romantic rain walk? We persisted! The drive from the ticket gate to the mansion is a few miles long — so scenic, with a river winding through the estate 🌊. We parked in Lot B and walked about 10 minutes to the mansion. 🌸 Outside, there’s a restroom (very thoughtful!), osmanthus trees filling the air with fragrance, and souvenir shops (pricey though!). Since we didn’t bring an umbrella, we splurged $40 on a tiny one that could barely fit one adult… 💸🌂 Inside the mansion, the lighting was dim due to the rain. We bought the cheapest tickets and received an audio device 🎧 — you press numbers corresponding to different areas to learn about the history. I loved the paintings and the library! 🖼️📚 Apparently, pricier tickets give access to more areas. You can take photos freely on the first floor and basement (no flash on the second). Seeing how technology evolved in this grand old house was pretty moving. We spent about 2 hours exploring — not a super steal, but still worth it! When we stepped outside… torrential rain! ☔ We refused to let the tickets go to waste, so we braved the garden. At one point, the water was almost 20 cm deep! 💦🌺 Some small trees had fallen over — that’s when we knew it was time to evacuate! We followed the exit signs 🚧, driving at 5–10 mph through what felt like a raging mini-river. Could barely see the road — and even spotted a few emergency vehicles heading in 🚑. Thankfully, we made it out safely after 7 PM! An unforgettable (and slightly dramatic) day at the Biltmore! #TriangleNC #NCGetaway #BiltmoreEstate #Asheville🌪️