Our next stop was the Asheville East KOA in North Carolina. This is probably the largest campground we have stayed at yet. There are two huge lakes and multiple campsites and tent sites. So many ducks, including some black and white ones that walk around in pairs. Males are larger than the females and have turquoise heads. Not sure what kind they are. There are multiple pairs of Canadian geese with many babies, some really tiny babies and some almost as large as their parents. There are many fish in the lakes and several people are fishing. Arlo lays outside the camper on his dog bed and watches the ducks and geese hoping to catch one as they walk quite brazenly past "his property."

So... we find out the downside to the campground fairly quickly. The noise! We are near the highway and the traffic is so loud and fairly constant. The worst though is the train that does right beside the campground several times a day. It sounds a horn that is incredibly loud. The first night we were there, it woke me up at 1:30 am, so I decided to read for a while. Suddenly, I hear this very creepy circus music. At first I thought it was someone camping nearby watching a movie, but then I hear it again, and again, and again! Very creepy and Stephen Kingish! The next day I found out from the camp hosts that it is coming from the game room and goes off automatically every few minutes.

Early the next morning, we headed for the Biltmore Estate. What an experience!

This is one of the most beautiful mansions I have ever seen. It is the largest privately owned mansion in the US. We loved the beautiful gardens and scenery. It was several miles from the entrance to the  

mansion. Gorgeous trees and shrubs line every road on the estate. 

The front door.

Such a cool dude! He forgot to turn his hat around after taking pictures!

Bridge across from the mansion.

The gardener's cottage.

Just a few of the flowers around the estate!

We were very lucky to be visiting at the same time as they were having a Chuhily exhibit and many of his creations were already displayed around the property. Too bad we couldn't be there to see the exhibit after everything was in place and/or the exhibits were lighted up at night. Absolutely gorgeous.

The dogs loved the grounds. We took turns sitting with them under an incredible arbor while each of us toured the house. We were very lucky to be there for the Titanic movie exhibition of all the clothes worn in the movie. They had beautiful mannequins wearing each outfit scattered around the rooms of the mansion. The many, many rooms of the mansion. There was a bowling alley, swimming pool, a dozen private changing rooms by the pool, a separate rotisserie room with a giant fireplace that looked like a whole pig could be roasted on the spit, a private gym, an incredible library with over 10,000 books, many guest bedrooms, a huge dining room, two large kitchens, and even a room full of vases, which are used for the multiple flower displays throughout the building. We loved our time spent there, some five hours. Later in the afternoon, we drove to Cedric's Place for a late lunch. Cedric's Place is still on the property, even though it is located four miles from the mansion. Cedric was the first St. Bernard of many that have lived on the estate over the years. Speaking of dogs, ours received so much attention everywhere they went throughout the estate. We got so many comments on their good behavior, Annie and Arlo must be thinking they are royalty after all the stroking, petting, and good words they are hearing.