Little White House at Warm Springs GA
West Point Lake, GA
Very small portion of Biltmore home, Asheville NC
The Vanderbilt estate, Biltmore, is the highlight of this area. Completed in 1895 it is the largest private home in the country. Opened to the public in 1930, its 8,000 acres were landscaped by Frederick Law Olmstead and the home, 255 rooms, is kept in top condition by the foundation of family members which owns and runs it. Beautifully maintained, restored, managed, we were treated wonderfully....the 1800 employees do a magnificient job of herding us all around and making us feel welcome. It's spectacular in all respects.
Driving here from northern Georgia along the Blue Ridge Parkway (begun 1935, completed 1987) was a twisting, turning, up and down experience. Speed limit at 45 mph was plenty fast, and at every turn there was a new sight of mountains, valleys, plants, trees, vistas. Once twice the height of the Himalayas, eroded over millions of years, the Great Smokies are on their way up again due to the upthrust of the Atlantic tectonic plate. The things you learn from rangers. I think we won't do the rest of the 400 some odd miles.
