SeeCalifornia.com

On a flight from Southern California to the Bay Area several passengers shared one of their favorite places to see. I confessed I didn’t know much about Woodside, Calif., or the historic house & garden known as Filoli, which they highly recommended. I eventually went there and was thoroughly impressed! For those who live in or visit the Bay Area, seeing it is a must.

Constructed in 1917 as a private estate for the Bourns, a prominent San Francisco couple who made their fortune at the Empire Gold Mine in Grass Valley, the San Mateo County property has appeared in movies, film and TV shows such as Falcon Crest.

In 1975 it was donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded, nonprofit organization, saving America’s historic places (Filoli is one of the 27 sites they own.)

Filoli, got its name from the first two letters, each, of three sentences that go like this:

Fi – Fight for a just cause.
lo – Love your fellow man.
li – Live a good life.

The 654-acre property includes a House and formal Garden, Collections, Nature Preserve, Estate Trail, Dining, Shopping and Special Events.

Beginning May 11, 2020 (till changes are announced) visitors can only see The Garden and Estate trail, plus the Clock Tower Shop, which is open with Filoli-made products, plants and other special items. Visitor and Education Center restroom facilities are open, while there are no drinking fountains available, no seating and the historic House is closed.

See filoli.org for tickets (required) and other visitor information!