I LOVE the smell of freshly cut grass and being surrounded by the scent of just nature. My first big whiff at Filoli Gardens gave me the chills. It felt relaxing and invigorating at the same time. Since I’m usually living in fairly large cities, this feeling doesn’t come too often and that’s too bad. So I took full advantage in breathing in and taking as much of the environment as possible at the gardens.
Filoli is located in Woodside, California, about a 30 minute drive from downtown San Francisco.
Designed between 1915 – 1917 and set against the dramatic backdrop of the northern Santa Cruz mountains in Woodside, California, Filoli is an excellent example of the Golden Age of American garden design and country house architecture.
Opened to the public in 1976 as a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Filoli features a 36,000 sq. ft. home and a 16–acre English Renaissance Garden. In addition, Filoli’s property includes a 6.8 acre Gentlemen’s Heritage Orchard and a trail system that transverses five differentecosystems for docent–guided nature hikes and visits to the Sally MacBride Nature Center. Filoli is recognized as one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century and is a cherished resource for the community valuing education, volunteerism and diversity. – Source: About Filoli
- Filoli is closed all Mondays
- There are many options for tours.
- Email: tours@filoli.org
- Phone: +1 (650) 364-8300
- Adults $15 / Senior $12 (65 years and older) / Students $5* / Children 4 years and younger no charge
Disclosure: I visited San Mateo county as part of a paid media trip by the tourism board in exchange for coverage. I was not paid. All opinions are my own.
