If you have the ability to travel around this great country of ours, you can be treated to some spectacular sites rich with history. Our roots, while not as deep as countries abroad there are places to visit like battlefields, museums and homes of famous Americans that will deepen your understanding of our history. One of the most famous homes in America, and a stop you should definitely make in your travels is the Biltmore estate located in Asheville, North Carolina. With its sprawling grounds and impressive architecture it is sure to take your breath away.

The Biltmore Estate was constructed for George Vanderbilt and was officially opened in 1895. The Vanderbilt family is one of the most famous families in American history. The Vanderbilts are well known for their philanthropic lifestyle, constantly contributing money to the communities that surround them. When George Vanderbilt requested this home to be built, it would become (at the time) the largest undertaking in American architecture. The Biltmore Estate consists of 4 acres of floor space and includes a total of 250 rooms. The home boasts 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. A home of this magnitude on American soil was unheard of in the late 19th century. The basement of the Biltmore Estate is impressive in and of itself. It has a swimming pool, bowling alley, gymnasium and also contained kitchens and servants’ quarters.

Over a span of six years, an army of workers constructed the massive estate. The home is constructed of over 11 million bricks and the impressive features only continue inside. There is an immense stone staircase that climbs four floors and has 102 steps. Illuminating the staircase is a gigantic iron chandelier suspended from a single rod with 72 light bulbs. After six years of construction, George Vanderbilt opened the home on Christmas Eve in 1895 even though construction was not completed. The entire estate spans 8,000 acres and is self-sufficient. Every year, over 1 million guests grace the Biltmore Estate grounds to take in its beautiful history. » Read more: Famous Homes in America – The Biltmore Estate

Yurts are made of collapsible wooden frames that are shaped into dome-like structures. The main material is wood and felt but you can use other types too. They are typically made with wooden platform, a central hole at the roof for ventilation and lighting, and may have electricity. Yurts are one of the most used camping homes aside from the traditional tent. It is portability yet durable and withstands harsh weather. Yurt camping is a lot of fun.

Tents are always associated with camping because it is widely used in the past. However, there are a lot of inconveniences when using it. Tents are small easy-to-build structures but can only accommodate few persons depending on the size. What makes life in camping hard with tents is you still need to accommodate your stuff to these small structures. Best of you brought an extra but if not, you will learn how to crouch at sleep time and may not have adequate insulation. Yurt is relatively larger and is also easy-to-build. More camping grounds and state parks are now using yurts. You can readily toss your backpacks and immediately head out for some exciting adventure.

You can build it yourself with the help of the whole family or friends, or you can hire someone to build it for you. Beforehand, you need to consider some factors such as how will it be built: simple or elaborate? Is there enough time? Can you make it yourself? There are many yurt companies that will gladly help in setting up the temporary home with few charges. » Read more: Yurts – The Ideal Camping Home

There is currently a big debate over the virtues of home ownership versus renting. For generations, Americans have valued home ownership as the “American Dream”. After all, the virtues of home ownership were extolled throughout the beloved film “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Quaint, Bedford Falls and the Bailey’s Savings and Loan afforded middle class families their very own homes. The alternative reality where George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) had never been born showed, by contrast, a tawdry existence in a town filled with sleazy bars and pawn shops where the townspeople rented their homes and were beholden to the usurious Henry Potter.

The recent housing crisis has many wondering if home ownership is overrated. Decades of policies designed to foster home ownership are being questioned in the wake of the real estate bubble and collapse. Should there really be taxpayer support for giant mortgage agencies, and should individual home ownership be promoted by offering tax incentives?

Many now dismiss the concept that areas with a disproportionately high rate of rental properties leads to cultural or social decline. In fact, as the demand for rental properties has grown (much in part to the fact that many people cannot afford or qualify to purchase a home), rentals have come to be much nicer in general, with urban or suburban communities seemingly uncompromised by their presence.

In the past decade or two, the workforce has become much more mobile. To successfully own a home, one has to be “stable”, and live in one place for at least five to ten years. This simply isn’t the norm for a larger segment of society due to the nature of their employment and/or the market. » Read more: Housing: To Own Or Rent?