A self-guided tour of the Vanderbilt family's 8,000-acre estate
in Asheville, North Carolina, takes you through gardens bursting with roses and azaleas, and past pools filled with koi and pineapple-scented water lilies. The centerpiece is the 250-room chateau, America's largest privately owned home, completed in 1895. Explore the 10,000-volume, walnut-paneled library, pictured, then visit the Biltmore's Antler Hill Village & Winery to shop for Appalachian crafts and enjoy a complimentary tasting. 1 Lodge St., (800) 411-3812, biltmore.com.

Photo by McNair Evans. This appeared in the July/August 2012 issue. Read Emma John's feature on the North Carolina bluegrass scene.