The Winter holidays descend upon Western North Carolina in an intimate, small town tradition. From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, you can create holiday memories that will last a lifetime. Here are 5 events you will definitely want to experience.

Christmas at the Biltmore
The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC gets decked out for the holidays in early November. With spectacular Christmas trees on display throughout the 250 room chateau, the artistic displays are guaranteed to inspire your creativity and to enliven your spirit. Shop for unique holiday gifts at the Biltmore gift shops. Your day pass also provides access to Antler Village for dining, shopping, and historical exhibits.

Grove Park Inn: “Gingerbread is in the Air”
The Grove Park Inn of Asheville, built during the heyday of the Biltmore Estate, provided accommodations for many of America’s luminaries including William Jennings Bryan and F. Scott Fitzgerald. You won’t want to miss the expansive Great Hall, 120 feet across with 24 foot ceilings and two grand 14 foot fireplaces. At the Inn, the annual national gingerbread house competition highlights the holidays.

“A Night before Christmas” in downtown Waynesville, NC
A fun night in this charming mountain town with hayrides, caroling, live music, Santa, and more. You’ll feel like you have taken a step back in time when you visit Waynesville especially for this celebration. Main Street is closed to cars and the street scene exudes holiday cheer.

All Aboard the Polar Express
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad brings to life the new modern Christmas classic book The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. What better way to experience the holidays with your children than traveling to the North Pole to meet Santa. The train departs from Bryson City, NC for a scenic ride through the spectacular Smoky Mountains.

Dance Your Way into the New Year
Join the surge in ballroom dancing and bone up on your moves during a dance camp then end 2010 with a celebration of dance and music. Not interested in the dance camp, you can still reserve a seat and spend your New Year’s Eve at the Crowne Plaza Resort of Asheville enjoying the big band music of the 30s and performances by international dance champions.

Stay with us at Mystic Mountain Cabin in Maggie Valley to be conveniently located for each of these holiday events.

Holiday Open House
Waynesville, the county seat of Haywood County since 1810, provides a wonderful backdrop for a down home kind of Christmas. The holiday season kicks off on the Sunday before Thanksgiving with a Holiday Open House on Main Street, the quaint shopping district. With the historic buildings and lovely street scene, the Christmas decorations take on a storybook charm.

Here Comes Santa Claus
This year the Christmas parade marches down Main Street on Monday night, December 6 at 6pm. The “Storybook Christmas” theme should inspire originality by non-profits competing for a first place prize of $150 and commercial enterprises competing for a commemorative plaque. An evening procession of lights after dark should mesmorize the parade watchers.

A Night Before Christmas in Downtown Waynesville
Line the streets with hundreds of luminaries. Close down Main Street to make room for the carolers, musicians, and none other than good ole St. Nick. Take a hayride on an old fashioned wagon. This Waynesville tradition is guaranteed to delight visitors of all ages. Join the shopkeepers and Waynesville residents for visiting, shopping and dining on December 11, 2010 until 9 pm.

Stay with us at Mystic Mountain Cabin to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of mountain life during the holiday season.

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Christmas trees from around the world
The magic of Christmas is alive and well at Biltmore House. Candlelight Christmas Evenings provide a good dose of Christmas spirit for all the fortunate visitors to Biltmore House. The 2008 holiday season highlights Christmas traditions around the world with a focus on many of the countries that George Vanderbilt visited. The Christmas trees found throughout the house reflect those travels and include Scotland, England, Switzerland, and Italy. Don’t ask me to select a favorite tree! But, you can!

Haywood County lodging options
If you find yourself in western North Carolina from early November to the end of December, this is an experience you will not want to miss. In addition to lodging on the estate, you can check out the Haywood County Tourism site for lodging options in the Waynesville and Maggie Valley area, a 30 minute ride from Asheville.

Upgrade Candlelight tickets to annual pass
Because of increased attendance during the holiday season Biltmore House employs a convenient system of timed entry on the busiest days of the holiday season. This system shows the tremendous attention to detail that the estate employs to insure a perfect experience. To make the most of your visit, allow time to pick up your entry coupon. For us, that was only an additional 15 minutes but times may vary. Purchase your tickets to Candlelight Christmas at least a few days in advance for the greatest choice in entry times. The internet works great for ticket purchases. The upgrade to an annual pass for only $25 per person at the time you pick up your entry coupon is a great value.

What was your favorite holiday experience at Biltmore House?