Still one of our favorite spots to take a quiet walk during the day or come for holiday lights! They keep adding more and more every year to the lovely display. Tickets sell out quick so plan to snag them when you know you can go. We arrived around 4:30 and walked in around 4:45 about twilight time. The staff did a great job keeping the traffic flowing in the main house and the entire garden area was decorated beautifully. Even on a random Tuesday night there was a good amount of people. Make sure to wear weatherproof shoes since some parts of the gardens are a bit muddy post rain. read more

This is one of my favorite places in the Bay Area! We went for Harvest Day event, so it was great seeing all the apple trees and field. I learned so much about the historic house and family. Every room felt so grand and it was amazing to walk around the estate. It's amazing everything that goes into up keeping the place. The gardens and flower paths were amazing and I loved all the photos I was able to take. There is a great gift shop that includes handmade items and also local to Fioli estate. It's a wonderful place to enjoy a sunny day getting lost in the beautiful gardens! read more

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Such a beautiful historical estate to explore out in Woodside! It's a bit of a drive to get here, but it's worth it. We bought our tickets about a month in advance and came on a Saturday morning to get in some cosplay photography for fun, and there was a wedding party getting photographs that needed us to stay out of their photos. Okay, that's fair. The gardens are so beautiful, especially when the roses are in bloom. We also really enjoyed walking through the mansion and checking out the various rooms and learning more about the family and the history of the estate. The estate is family friendly, and takes a few hours to go through and complete. Definitely recommend coming here on a sunny day if you can, especially during the summer when the roses are in bloom! read more

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We came here after Christmas as we wanted something the entire family could do. It was raining pretty bad, so a lot of it was not as enjoyable as it could have been. Also, this was not a smart decision to bring grandparents as they did not enjoy walking around. Even so, it was kinda cool to see the old mansion and go room to room to see the Christmas and Chanaka decorations. We got the afternoon tea first two for $80. The lady was pretty rude but the Manager herd and came out, took her aside, and then we got a really nice tea. The scones were especially good! Everyone should come once. read more

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Go find all the trolls! What a fun outdoor excursion for the kids and adults. We walked the trail, a very steady but easy hike that took you through woodside wilderness. Plenty of trees and shade while you wander and then you get a trip into the mansion to look at all the history , shop at the nursery for plants, and enjoy homemade ice popsicles at the Cafe. Military fams get a discount on tickets so don't forget to ask at the ticket booth! read more

Short Version: Otherwise pleasant afternoon visit overshadowed by the Dolores Umbridge guest treatment we received from Filoli staff member Naomi during unexpected heavy rain. ***** We discovered Filoli last spring while searching for places to explore with our toddler. We enjoyed the gardens so much that we became members and have brought family and friends to visit as well. However, the disturbing way Filoli guest experience staff member Naomi treated our group today when we were caught in a surprise heavy downpour has marred my fond associations with Filoli and makes me doubt that I will renew my membership next year or recommend that friends renew. Yesterday afternoon, we visited Filoli with a small group of friends that included a 7-month pregnant adult and two young children. Our visit focused on Thistlewick holiday village in the redwood forest a good distance from the main house and parking lot. When staff told us that daytime hours ended at 3:30pm, we promptly made our way back towards the parking lot. However, because of distance from the forest to the lot and the fact that our group included toddlers and a pregnant adult walking on muddy paths, we didn't make it to the house near the exit gate path until 4pm, at which time the weather surprised us with a sudden, monsoon-like downpour. Even though we had umbrellas and rain jackets, it was the kind of torrential rain that would easily soak through rain protection. We decided to take temporary cover under a sparsely occupied tent next to the house to wait out the rain. It was then that Naomi approached us to tell us that we had to leave immediately in the downpour because the daytime experience had ended and the separately ticketed evening experience (with different bracelet ticket colors) was starting. We politely told her that we understood and that we were simply waiting out the heavy rain, which our weather apps indicated wouldn't last for more than ~15 minutes. She first expressed doubt about our weather app information and suggested that if we didn't leave immediately we could overstay our welcome for hours. We then politely mentioned the pregnant person and toddlers in our group and Naomi responded with a cavalier and dismissive, "well, you're not all pregnant." During the subsequent exchanges, she was just as dismissive and unhelpful as we suggested alternatives like two adults in our group running out in the downpour to drive the cars to a closer back lot. Her repeated, robotic refrain was that "it's against policy" for us to stay on the grounds any longer despite our assurances that we're not trying to sneak into the evening session (as evidenced by our obvious colored bracelets) and that we'd leave when there's a gap in the heavy rain. Thankfully, the skies decided to take mercy on us around the 10 minute mark that we had to suffer through with Naomi and the downpour reduced to a drizzle for us to walk to the parking lot. I really hope that this was a one-off distasteful guest experience and that a request to show some humanity and common sense in the midst of exigent weather circumstances is not, in fact, against Filoli policy. In any event, if Filoli's member experience leadership reads this review, I hope it leads to reflection about how to empower staff to make common sense and compassionate decisions that help create a guest experience that matches the beauty of the gardens and not one that treats guests like cattle being herded through their grounds. If decency and customer experience aren't motivation enough, I'd encourage leadership to also think about the potential liability of requiring a 7-month pregnant person to walk out in a downpour as part of an inflexible turnover policy, especially if that person were to fall on the very slippery stairs. read more

This is ridiculous Such a scam They have to gust to charge me $40 to come in here to see a dead garden the rose garden is all dry and dead For Christmas, you can go to any neighborhood see more Christmas decoration and it's free. You don't have to pay 40 some dollar. Dead Garden deserve no star at all read more

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Thank you for a magical time at Thistlewyck!!! Sooo my toddler is in a phase of wanting to climb in the driver's seat and pretend he's driving the car. After we parked, he punched on the emergency brake light without my realizing. We then had a beautiful day in Thistlewyck running around the festive grounds, looking at the giant troll and miniature running trains, and playing with the toy train track set ... ... the car battery was dead by the time we got back. But Olivia at the ticket stand was SO helpful and kind and understanding. She helped us with a warm smile during what could have been a super stressful situation. Soon a team came down with a portable car jumper and started our car! Olivia was even kind enough to keep my toddler entertained and away from the jumper hook-ups while we were starting the car. We felt so taken care of. Thank you again to our heroes of the day: Will, David, Angel, and Olivia!! (and a friendly PSA to everyone to check the charge on your portable car jumpers..!) read more

Wow!!! Just wow!!! This place is amazing and beautiful. It gave me a mix of Bridgerton and a bit of The Great Gatsby. The grand hall where the piano reminds me of a scene in Bridgerton. If you know you!! The outside was beautiful filled with flowers and veggies. I did wish we were able to go upstairs but we were not allowed to. Which I do not see as a big deal. It is still amazing. This place is perfect for impromptu photoshoots or engagement photoshoots. It will leave you in awe at how gorgeous this place is. I will come back again read more

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Lovely gardens, trails and historical house. The volunteers are helpful, kind, friendly. Inspiring for gardeners and plant enthusiasts, and just a great place to spend a couple of hours among beauty. read more

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An historic house and gardens not far from San Fran or San Jose. We visited while the amazing Troll exhibit was on display throughout the property. There are fun trails that run through the woods where you can see more of the property. Be prepared for the number of families and groups on the weekends. We started from the opposite end of the house closer to the woods and worked our way towards the house and gardens. We loved our visit and enjoyed the exhibits. See the Trolls before they leave! read more

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Always a treat to visit Filoli mansion & gardens! The gardens have different flowers blooming throughout the seasons and the vegetable garden bears different items throughout the seasons too. There is a one mile trail behind the mansion and gardens that is pleasant and easy to walk. There are families of deer and sometimes turkeys on the grounds walking about. The mansion has different decorations throughout the year too and is always nice to walk though. Check out the gift shop, the clock tower, pond, swim pool in the garden, and the peaceful paths on the premises. Even the Quail Cafe is pleasant for a meal or snack. During the holiday season, it is worth paying a visit to see the holiday decorations and lights. Sometimes refreshments are sold at stands which I recommend checking out. We usually spend at least an hour and a half to a couple of hours each time we visit Filoli. Book tickets online. Aside from the holiday season which you need to reserve in advance, the rest of the year is not too bad. We love this place so much that we became members and bring family & friends with us to share this beautiful place with them. read more

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This is such a beautiful place to come visit for a day. There is a huge historic house and right now there are the huge wooden trolls as an exhibit on the grounds and walking path. The highlight of this place is the rose garden, and the gardens themselves are so vast and extensive. You will need a lot of time to see them all. There's multiple shops places to get coffee and food which make this a wonderful day trip. We didn't get to see everything there and we have to come back!! read more

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Stunningly beautiful. Everything that needs to be said about Filoli, has been said here on Yelp. The only thing that I can add is make reservations and come in the Spring instead of in the Summer. The weather will be far more pleasant. Everything will be greener. Bring a hat and plenty of water. I treated myself to a hat because I forgot to bring one. I enjoyed the loop hike! I didn't see tulips (that's in the Spring) but I saw roses (Summer) in the Rose Garden. Beautiful! Looking back at all the Rose Gardens I've been to (Minneapolis MN, Portland OR, San Jose CA, Raleigh NC), and this is the first time that I had to pay to see roses. Day 2 of being nice to myself. read more

Went to see the troll exhibit on a hot Saturday the stroll to see if the trolls was nice and shaded parking was easy and checking in was easy. The only complaint is awful plastic wristbands. You have to wear the entire time when you are visiting I wish they could come up with something more biodegradable for people to wear or maybe even some kind of stamp they could use to show proof you've paid to get in. Mine was all sweaty around my wrist and it was put on tight so that made it even worse. Hopefully they change this and make it more earth. I mean, come on the reason why the trolls are here is to spread news of using reclaim materials. read more

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We joined up. Sounded good. But, found it boring. Just walking around during the day looking at gardens and then there was the Cafe. It was not a good experience: 1. Long order line, 2. hard to find a seat-we stood for a while waiting for someone to leave, 3. the atmosphere there was your typical cafeteria style, 4. Condiments not on your table but off to the side. 5. Food was just ok- better sandwiches at Togo's. This is not a Cafe, but a cafeteria style ordering, find your own seat and clean up after yourself. Of course, expectations is the key here, their ads build it up, so we expected something much better. The Nordstrom cafe is much better. Since we joined we will give it one more try, but will definitely stay away from the cafeteria called a Cafe. Forgot to mention- fighting yellow jackets while trying to eat. read more

I think everyone needs to add Filoli's "Holiday Lights" to their Bucket List, absolutely spectacular! read more

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Yes I visited recently in January. Christmas decorations were still up and it makes the Property even more amazing. A must see! read more

My parents are members here and I finally joined them on an adventure with my future in laws. Very pretty and lots of different flowers. Definitely cool to see that the summit was hosted here with President Biden and President of China. I recommend wear sunblock, bring water, snacks, and wear a hat. Not much shade. read more

I bought tickets to their Summer Florals flora party which were $150 a ticket and included general admission to the gardens and admission to the flower arranging class. I signed up for this about 2 months in advance. The house and the gardens have some really great spots to take Instagram worthy photos. My mom spotted a tree that had these pretty white flowers that smelled amazing so she asked the gift shop if they sold seedlings of this tree, to which they said no but they helped her find the name of the tree so she could buy it elsewhere, which I felt was very kind of the staff. Anyway this is how the actual flora party went. There's tables and chairs set up with work stations of a vase filled with water and two buckets of flowers and greenery. The flowers in the buckets were quite muted in color so I was a little worried at first that I wouldn't be able to have any pink/red flowers in my arrangement. While getting settled in, there is a small assortment of snacks and a charcuterie board. They also had champagne and fruit infused water. Once the program formally began, the staff handed each of us a pair of shears and led us to the cutting garden where we each were allowed to pick 5 flowers and cut them ourselves. (What a relief, this is where we could get our dose of pink/red flowers!) We were given instructions on which flowers were eligible for the cutting and how to cut them. For some special flowers like roses, the staff cut them for us. Upon returning to the party area, there was a demonstration on how to make the flower arrangement. What I learned is that you start with the filler, then spiller, then thriller. After that, we were given free rein to make our arrangement with the materials that had been assigned to us beforehand, along with the 5 special flowers we had cut ourselves. The staff also walked around to provide feedback, answer questions, and of course hype you up for the masterpiece that you were building haha The flora party/flower arranging class took 2 hours. It seems they hold variations of this type of event in the spring for spring florals and in winter where you can make your own Christmas wreath. It is quite an expensive price per ticket, but keep in mind this is a fundraising event for Filoli. I brought my mom to this class and she had so much fun doing it that I will consider signing her up for more of these in the future. If you also have people in your life who love gardening and flowers, be sure to check out Filoli for these types of events! read more

Filoli - Floral party, summer florals - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Woodside, California

Filoli was beautiful. Service was very nice and gardens were very well kept. Tried the quail cafe. Nothing special and a bit overpriced but gorgeously done. read more

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Filoli with Christmas lights at night definitely has a different feel than daytime. They did a great job in putting up the lights and decorating the house with Christmas trees, garlands, and wreaths. Dress warmly. It can be windy and chilly after dark. There is a cafe selling warm drinks. It is nice that there are fire pits and chairs around the garden area. Buy tickets online in advance. Tickets sold out fast. Carpool if going with a big group. Got a membership so that can visit again during day time and in different seasons. read more

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If you're looking for something unique to do that's also out in a beautiful and nature-inspired setting, Filoli Historic House & Garden is the place for you! I had only heard about this place last year, and was originally planning to visit for the first time during their holiday lights, but decided to wait until spring when the garden was fully in bloom. Well it was worth the wait! My husband and I actually ended up buying an annual membership. We read that the membership fee not only supports the upkeep and preservation of this incredible place, but it's also 100% tax deductible. An "Individual+" membership allows the member to bring 1 free guest each visit, so that worked perfectly for us! On our first visit, Enola helped us out at the ticket booth and got us signed up for our membership. She was so helpful and friendly! Once inside, Amanda was at the map cart along the entrance pathway and was also just as friendly and helpful! So far on our first 2 visits here, every staff member we've encountered has been great! Even visiting in the 2nd week of May and then again bringing my in-laws here at the end of May, we noticed the garden changed quite a bit in just 2 weeks! So you definitely will see different plants, flowers, vegetables, and fruits growing/blooming at different times throughout the year. We loved walking around and learning about the house and the garden (lots of educational signs throughout the property), and really enjoyed the short 1-mile estate hiking trail. It's really such an awesome way to spend a couple hours in the day just being surrounded by impeccable gardens and landscaping, learning about history, and also being immersed in nature! Additionally they have a nice gift shop and a cafe, which is a bit of a miss. They could have such a great cafe serving up light brunch/lunch/snack-type foods using produce from their own gardens, but everything was kind of a pre-packaged deal and not too enticing to us. On the flip side, you are allowed to being your own picnic as they have a designated picnic area in a nice area under the trees near the parking lot. Check their website for information on what's blooming in the garden throughout the year so you can plan accordingly. In the summer they even have "Summer Stage" where they feature special nights with live music. Weekends also have a little trailer set up near the pool that serves up cocktails. There's a lot to enjoy here so go support this local treasure! read more

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The whole experience was worth the membership expense, Beautiful grounds and buildings read more

Filoli - Behind the house is a beautiful pond - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Woodside, California

What a beautiful mansion I've always wanted to go and finally went for the Christmas season definitely worth the $55

A gorgeous estate filled with beautiful sites at every turn both inside and outdoors. The eccentric details of furniture, and decoration was amazing to see. It felt as if I was walking in the past. It was very interesting to see the history of high society, Asian culture influence, and luxurious space. My girlfriend and cousin spent about an hour and a half here browsing the downstairs, and outdoor gardens. There were plenty of spots to sit and take in the beautiful surrounding nature. There is a gift shop filled with plenty of trinkets and other beautiful seasonal goodies. My favorite aspects were the outdoor gardens. I think the symmetrical design, full grown plants, and lush green was quite the ambiance to experience. Tickets were around $30 a person and there is an offer for annual memberships. read more

Filoli - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Woodside, California

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First time: Soooo awesome! My mom (79) and I went to look at the Christmas lights and it was so worth it. She has a bad back so we used a wheelchair to help her walk and she sat in it to rest as needed. It Was not difficult to push her around in it. It was so great to see little kids enjoying all the lights also. We will for sure be back when flowers are blooming. read more

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Spent the day here before a dr appt and we really liked it here. The mansion was older but a nice place to walk through. It would have been nice if they had captions stating what each room was used for or about the items that were present or the history of the rooms. The garden area was really beautiful and had some pretty roses and nice foliage. Cafe outside was very relaxing. We brought our own meals to enjoy but the cafe itself has healthy looking meals that seemed a little pricey but not outrageously expensive. One thing that made this a tad difficult was the accessibility. One of the Entrances was marked as wheelchair accessible even tho the doors were locked and the path along the garden had many areas that were dirt/gravel that made it hard to push through. Overall, we definitely enjoyed the half day here and it was peaceful and not crowded. The drive here is a bit out in the boonies but it's a scenic drive and there is decent reception. You can also use your library card to sign up for free admission through Discover and Go. read more

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The Troll display on the short trail is worth more than money , the artist made sure the family friendly exhibits were accessible to all , the place brought out the kid in us , worth the price of admission 100%. read more

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The senior membership price has almost doubled. Last year i paid $99.00. To renew is $179.00. Great place to visit but they could have done a better job evaluating rates. read more

Great place to come and spend a few hours with lots to see here. The house is amazing with how much detail is still there and how much they have been able to keep it looking in it's original state. We loved the ballroom with the piano in there and getting to see what it was like for high society back 100ish years ago. Really high ceilings that have a grand feel to everything, including the staircase! It's too bad they converted the upstairs bedrooms into office, otherwise it would have been great to see what the bedrooms for the owners would have looked like. We didn't get to spend much time in the garden as we would have liked but it is just as grand as the house is with several sections to see. They do such a wonderful job with the upkeep and even have a nursery where they sell some of their plants. They also have pear and apple trees that are currently bearing fruit right now. They have a pool there as well, I don't think you can swim in it, maybe with one of their premium memberships? They also have a cafe just outside the grounds attached to some conference space as well as a bar/coffee truck out in the garden. Am definitely planning to come back here when we have more than a couple of hours so we can see everything! read more

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I have yet to have the full Filoli Garden experience as, I believe, they also serve high tea on some days as well as host a few special events. The two times I'd been here I've had the pleasure of strolling the gardens and the interior of the main house. The garden itself is impressive and the rolling hills surrounding the property serve a remarkable backdrop. Definitely a good place to go for a few hours to feed your soul. Today there was a kiosk near the estate's pool which served refreshments both non-alcoholic and alcoholic. And yes, I did indulge on one cocktail in particular - 'The Whirley Shirley' which can best be described as a Shirley-Temple-for-adults (wink wink). All in all, it made for a great way to spend the afternoon. Tickets for adults were $34 each, drinks were about $13-14 (alcoholic), sunshine and memories .... FREE. read more

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Beautiful n good outdoor walks. Great family place too! Get the membership if you go twice a year, it's worth it. They have holiday lights too! read more

Loved the expansive garden! The inside of the house smelled of cigarettes and alcohol from the years of cigarette use before and it was cool seeing how Xi JingPing and Biden both visited Nov 2023. Lots of stops with an EXPANSIVE gift shop with so many cute things for purchase. Cute juvenile turkies on campus with lots of fruit, pollination and so on! read more

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A lovely majestic botanical garden! My sister order tickets online on the day we went & it went smoothly. We original went here specifically to check out the botanical garden. We were lucky enough to visit during their pride event which I was super excited for! All around the main building/museum are various pride flags & the inside the building is a mixture of various decor from various time periods. Additionally when I went there was LGBTQ+ Artists artworks showcase around the museum. On the side of the the main building is the gift shop. The gift shop is pretty big, the outside area consist of plants ranging from tiny little cup size plants to large size plants for sale. The inside of the shop consist of smaller merchandise such as stickers, soaps, totes bags & more. On the side of the gift shop leads to the garden area. Additionally, if you go straight down it leads to a massive luxurious pool. While I was there there was information pride booth & pride merchandise booth. I got a couple of free stickers & bought a mini bisexual flag while I was there :). On the left side of the pool area leads to another garden area which has more of a forest vibes to it. A tiny bit of an incline walk, thankfully there is plenty of shade while walking around in this area! There also food trucks near the pool area on the right side. Additionally, there is a cafe near the exit. The rose garden area is lovely, the fragrant of the garden is fresh & the vibe is very peaceful. You can walk through each flower field to check out the various flowers. There's also an area where the flowers grows on the overhead of a bench, making a perfect place to take lovely photos. On the leftmost side of the main ground is a large walking trail. The trail is around 30-40ish min walk. Something that I like about this about this walk is that constant signage/indicators that guides you throughout the trail. The walk was super refreshing & seeing various parts of the forest. The walk consisting of walking into the forest to a mountainside incline walk leading to a Nature Center building. Passing that area leads to a massively tall redwood trees, pass that area leads through a pond like area whereas cattails(unsure what type of plants was grown here) are grown on the side of the trail. After exiting that part you are back on the beginning of the main trail. A really great place full of beauty & knowledge! read more

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In the past, I would have easily given this place 5 stars but it has become so commercialized over the years, the experience isn't the same. The entry fee keeps going up by leaps and bounds but nothing has been added to really justify the price hike. If it's your first time here, visit during the spring when the tulips and daffodils are in bloom. It's not cheap so if you are to pay the entry fee, you want to go when you get the most out of the fee you paid. They have a cafe on-site that serves sandwiches, salads, among other snacks. The garden is beautiful, especially during springtime. The tulips and magnolia trees (especially the large one by the estate) is absolutely stunning when in bloom. It's nice that you get to tour the inside of the estate as well. For many years, Filoli allowed visitors to go down to the pond area for pictures with the Clocktower as a backdrop. Recently, they've roped off that area. They have many interesting fruit trees (quinces, pears, and apples) that are also spectacular to look at when covered with flowers. There are many photo opportunities at Filoli. There's a cute gift shop, a nice rose garden, even a nursery at one end of the garden. read more

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First of all Victor is a G. We ride or die for Victor. Second, this place is beautiful. Since moving to CA, I haven't seen a real lilac. Today, we saw so many and we found them during their short blooming period! What a gift. Third, the preservation of the grounds and the old stones and roots and metalwork is pristine. There aren't people telling you what to do. It's just respect. One thing - the photo shoots were out of hand. No, I will not stop so you can get your shot. This isn't reserved. There were like 50 of these situations. Why do a photo shoot in a packed garden? Nature is everywhere dude. read more

This is my favorite garden. Also, my mom's favorite one. You will connect with history, art, music, nature, people while walking in this amazing garden. If you are a person who likes garden, this is a must visit treasury in California. I hope you will find beautiful memory and connect with your family and friends together. read more

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I was planning to see the trolls at this park, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that there is a 1917 Georgian style mansion that's it's on this property. The public can view the first floor and it is absolutely amazing the first floor houses for living rooms, a formal riding room and other wonderful rooms. There are three kitchens with the main one another one for the pastry and another one for cooking vegetables not to mention that in the main room, there is a safe which houses priceless silverware. The gardens are just as equally fast and extremely low, kept pools fountains, and extra buildings on this property. The right side of the mansion housed the servant as well as the gardeners that lived on premise I believe the pictures do no justice of the actual house. Also they were trolls on exhibit. They are six of them which will be removed November 10. There is a cafeteria there and a wonderful vast rose garden. read more

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What a beautiful place to visit! The Filoli mansion and the botanical gardens were magnificent, tranquil and amazing! This is our first visit and I took so many beautiful photos there. I did some research before we came here to visit and it was one of my favorite places in this trip. We made our reservation online. $34/adult and $24/kid but it was worth to visit and walk around for about 2 hours. We saw many beautiful plants and flowers and we like the mansion a lot too. highly recommended if you like historical stuff and botanical gardens! read more

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