Biltmore lines up deals, activities for families this spring

Kids 9 and under are free with paid adult admission. And kids ages 10 to 16 are half price with the purchase of an adult ticket. You also save up to $8 when you buy your tickets online seven days in advance of your visit. So if you're planning a trip to the mountains, now is the time to get those tickets in advance.

My family has really enjoyed our visits to Biltmore. If you go with kids and tour the house, I highly recommend the children's audio tours, which offer some search-and-find activities for kids that have kept mine busy when they were younger.

In addition to some beautiful gardens, here are some other activities at Biltmore that will definitely appeal to kids. Descriptions are courtesy of Biltmore

Returning to the Conservatory this spring, Biltmore Gardens Railway pays homage to Biltmore’s founder George Vanderbilt, who was born into a well-known railroad family. Hundreds of feet of track carry G-scale locomotives and railcars through multiple rooms in Biltmore’s Conservatory, and weave through exotic botanicals and miniature replicas of estate landmarks. The exhibition was created by Applied Imagination, an award-winning crew of artists, botanical experts, and landscape designers known for exhibitions at the New York Botanical Garden and the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.

The grand Easter Egg Hunt on the Front Lawn of Biltmore House has been a springtime tradition for many years. The hunt will take on a new format in 2021 to allow for social distancing. An Easter Scavenger Hunt featuring super-sized Easter Eggs inside Biltmore House and around the estate will be offered April 1 through April 4, and is free for children 9 and younger to participate. Participating children will receive a Scavenger Hunt Guide to check off each egg they spot while on their hunt. Head to Antler Hill Village after the hunt for a treat bag that includes candy, crayons and coloring pages, and a commemorative Easter Egg. A limited number of treat bags will be distributed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day of the event. The Easter Scavenger Hunt is included in daytime admission.

Unique outdoor sculptural works by environmental artist Patrick Dougherty, known as “Stick Man,” will reside in Antler Hill Village. Renowned worldwide for his monumental creations, Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of notable buildings. The visual appeal of these large-scale artworks may be appreciated up close as guests are encouraged to walk through and around the creations, affording the opportunity to admire the artistry and technical skills required to make the sculptures. (You may have seen his work at Duke Gardens, Museum of Life and Science and the N.C. Zoo, among other places.)