Biltmore Estate vs Hearst Castle

I just visited Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA, a few days ago and I've been to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC several times. I thought it might be interesting to compare the two.

Approach to the house:
The ocean views on the bus ride up the hill to Hearst Castle were beautiful. Fog can either obscure the view or make it more interesting. The approach at Biltmore is very different...a winding road through the surrounding forests with the river running alongside the road. My preference: Biltmore.

The house itself:
Overall, this is a tie. Both houses were overdone to show off the family wealth. Most of the artwork doesn't really appeal to me because I tend to prefer artifacts over art. My favorite rooms are usually the libraries. I love the Biltmore library. Sometimes I wish I could hide out until the house closes and spend the night rummaging through the books. At Hearst, there were two smaller libraries. Hearst did have that amazing indoor pool. The tile work and marble ladders are beautiful. My preference: it IS a tie. Biltmore has the great library and Hearst has the pool.

Outdoor spaces:
The ground immediately adjacent to the Biltmore house are very nice but nothing really extraordinary. The staff does a very nice job with the seasonal flower plantings. When you exit the parking area to leave the estate the road winds through a large portion of the estate including the area around the winery. The outdoor spaces at Hearst are amazing. The tile work and fountains around the patios and that outdoor pool can't be beat. My preference: Hearst hands down.

Views:
This is a tough one. Biltmore sits on a hilltop in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The colors in the mountains changes with the seasons...bright greens in the spring with the new leaves, a variety of deep greens through the summer, and autumn colors in October and November. In the winter, snow can sometimes be seen in the area. The ocean views from Hearst are amazing and the views of the mountains are very nice too but to me a little bland. My preference: I have to choose Biltmore. The greens and other colors appeal to me more than the browns common in California.

Overall:
I have to choose Hearst Castle for the outdoor spaces. I could have wandered those patios and admired the outdoor pool for hours if I wasn't with a tour group. Too bad it's on the west coast. Biltmore is only a 3-1/2 hour drive from where I live so I'm more likely to visit there.