George Vanderbilt’s Gilded Age home on 8,000 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the largest residence in America — at a staggering 175,000 square feet. You can visit, tour, dine, stroll the gardens, and even spend the night. (You’ll definitely need a full day.) There are playgrounds, horseback riding trails, seasonal events and museum-worthy exhibitions, and a whole host of activities for kids, making it a good destination any time of year.

Photo by Team Fathom.