North Carolina became the 12th state on November 21, 1789. It covers 53821 square miles with 301 miles of coastline. Additionally, North Carolina has two nicknames: it is known as Old North State or the Tar Heel State. The population as of December 2000 is 8,049,313 people. Finally, North Carolina offers great weather and a climate that is family oriented to visitors.

The Cherokee Indians opened the first North Carolina casino in 1994. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino offers video gambling only, no table games. The video gambling options include poker, slots and blackjack, among others. The games offered are all skill based, even the slots. The slot games differ from non-skill based slots because there are two spins and the player chooses to keep or discard the results from the first spin. In the contract signed between the North Carolina state government and the Cherokee Indians that set up the casino it is guaranteed these video gambling machines have a minimum return of 83%. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is open to gamblers over 21 years of age. The casino operates 24 hours a day. It is located at 777 Casino Drive in Cherokee, just 55 miles southwest of Asheville. There is an attached hotel with 252 rooms available. There are also five on-site restaurants. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is family oriented with a childcare center and 1,500-seat entertainment area. Parking is free for casino guests. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino offers a great vacation option for families or singles.

The best time to visit the Biltmore House in the mountains of North Carolina is during the fall. That way not only will you get to enjoy the amazing Biltmore House but you will also be able to enjoy the beauty of the leaves changing colors. There are few things more beautiful than the North Carolina Mountains during the fall with the leaves turning bright orange, yellow, and red. The vibrant colors serve as a beautiful backdrop to the imposing Biltmore Estate.

The Biltmore Estate consists of an immense mansion built by the Vanderbilt family in the late 1800s. It is the largest home that is privately owned in the United States and the descendents of the Vanderbilts still own the home. It is amazingly large at 175,000 square feet. The available tours of the home are simply incredible and it is unbelievable to tour the home and realize that more than 130 years ago architecture, design, and the like were so advanced.

The best time to visit if you want to save money is during the winter months. And, many times the North Carolina winter is fairly mild so you won’t be worried about freezing to death when visiting. Hotel prices are much cheaper during this off season and you can even get a winter pass for $35, which is considerable savings!

If you want to really enjoy the atmosphere of the Biltmore Estate then staying at the Inn is really the best route. The Biltmore Inn is beautiful and located on the Biltmore Estate and when you stay there you receive free entrance into the Biltmore Estate. This is a great way to combine the hotel with the tour and save money while really enjoying the atmosphere.

The Biltmore Estate is also a great place to host meetings, conferences, weddings, and even to shoot movies. The grounds are exquisite and the home is gorgeous and is the perfect place for any special event. While you are in Asheville, North Carolina you should also check out the Urban Trail. This is a walking trail that teaches individuals about Asheville’s history and architecture. Famous author Thomas Wolfe’s childhood home is in Asheville as well and a tour of his home place is interesting and inspiring.

When you head to Asheville, North Carolina you will have an amazing vacation. You can spend time at just the Biltmore Estate, or you can venture out and see more of the area. But, whatever you do, one thing is for certain and that is that you will love the experience.