(This review is for my experience in December.) This place is absolutely gorgeous over the winter holidays, but the ticket price to see the holiday lights is insane! Given the cost of admission, I wish they had hot cocoa stands throughout the gardens or allowed you to bring drinks into them. The gardens are really huge, so there is a tend to walk through. It is actually pretty romantic at night. You can purchase some light bites and drinks indoors. There is some seating outdoors with fire pits, but it was so cold outside, I'm not sure how comfortable it would be, although we did see many people using them. read more

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First time here. Very memorable experience. There are a lot of different lights and attractions to see. If you like taking photos, then this is the place for you as there are a lot of backdrops which would look good read more

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Beautiful area for photography or tourist location. Tickets I purchased tickets online for the scheduled time slot that was available for the day. Customer Service Upon entering, there was friendly staff at the entrance booths greeted my party and I. The process to check-in was seamless. I shared the online tickets and was given a disposable paper wristband. Location Parking was a bit crowded during the day (closer to the Christmas holiday). After walking though the entrance, Filoli has a historic house, 2 cafes, and many areas to take photos or check-out. There were themed rooms throughout which made the overall experience very engaging. read more

What a hidden gem!!! My family, who've lived in the Bay Area for years, finally came with me (it was also their first time hah) and they were just as blown away. It truly felt like being transported to Europe. We visited at the tail end of summer, and I can only imagine how stunning it must be in spring when everything is in bloom. I've heard they deck it out with Christmas lights during the holidays too, which I'm sure is magical. This is an absolute must-visit! read more

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Had a lovely time here enjoying the house, exploring the grounds. It was perfect weather and no rush to take a tour through the house. Love how they have areas in outside with chairs and tables for you to sit and relax. read more

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Yo this place is awesome, theres so much to explore here. The house itself is amazing but then all the activities they have outside oh yeah and they make some great hard cider. I loved the trolls and the slugs. They had some great banjo music playing too. Oh parking was free also read more

Filoli - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Woodside, California

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This is truly a gem of the Bay Area, nestled in the hills of San Mateo. The garden is massive and you can see the thought and care put into each square inch. I like to visit a couple times a year and there's always something new that I'm discovering. Although I love this historic house and garden, the price is $39/pp, which I feel is a little steep. But, it's good for special occasions or to bring outside visitors. You can easily spend 2+ hours here, so take your time, enjoy the sights, and snap some photos. read more

Filoli is historical site that includes a country estate and extensive land and gardens (654 acres), adding to the beauty of the Bay Area and California's coastal range. It is situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone, in Woodside, California. Majestic Redwoods dot the garden landscape, making any visit to Filoli worthwhile. Yes, I hugged a Redwood while there. The Georgian revival-style mansion was built as a private residence in 1917 by Agnes and William Bourn, designed by San Francisco architect Willis Polk. Filoli was opened to the public in 1975 as a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We planned this trip to the garden with extended family ahead of time and bought tickets online months before our visit. We wanted to catch "TROLLS: Save the Humans", a new touring exhibition featuring the world's leading recycle artist, Thomas Dambo's, folklore-inspired Troll sculptures, built from reclaimed materials and hidden throughout Filoli's Natural Lands for guests to discover on their walk through the gardens. There is also a gift shop nestled in a forested area. A free -with-entry singing bowl meditation class was taking place nearby. There were also child sized play houses and a wooden theater stage set up under one of the large redwoods. Small tea party tables with toy tea, pots, and cups were hidden behind the redwood using tree stumps as table and chairs. We saw several wild turkeys while hiking the trails and paths. With our ticket purchase, the mansion is also available for a self-guided tour. There is a charming greenhouse café with indoor and outdoor seating, located off to one side of the property with restrooms and indoor rest areas. You may reserve a high tea experience here at the café, surrounded by the gardens. If you wish to have a docent-led tour of the mansion, you may buy tickets online. A farmers market was taking place at the back of the mansion on the Saturday that we arrived. There was also a drag queen reading corner on the lawn, and a dance area where a teacher helped anyone who wanted to join, to twirl and dance with weighted silk scarves and flags on a large grassy area. There were creative kid stations near the home where kids could participate in art projects that decorated the campus. Parking is in a large gravel lot with two entrances with manned tickets booths allowing for entry to the gardens. read more

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The grounds are beautiful and the mansion is impressive. You are able to liberally explore the majority of the first floor. The grounds are the true treasure with flora and some fauna in every direction. Right now there is the giant troll exhibit in the wooded area of the property. We saw many deer grazing in the meadow at dusk as well. We went on a Wednesday night which is their summer music series with live music near the gorgeous pool and food and drink available. A good amount of lawn chairs but many people brought blankets as well. It was windy and chilly so bring a coat! read more

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Decided to stop here before we head back home. Was not disappointed. Beautiful view, had a great time. read more

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I was able to visit Filoli with an outdoor group and did not have to pay for entrance. The entrance fee is around $40, and when I pulled up at around 10 they were already sold out. I came on a Saturday morning in March. There seems to be plenty of parking, and the entrance is located close to the lots. Upon entering we saw the mansion and first opted for a staff tour. There are different tours throughout the day and this one was about flower bulbs. The guide walked us through a couple parts of the garden and discussed flower varieties as well as the planting process. On the tour we learned that depending on what time of the year you come the plant varieties will change depending on what is in season. Afterwards we wondered the estate for a couple hours. Not sure how often this is offered, but we ate at a food truck and the food was delicious, located next to the bar. We wanted to hike and see the creek but could not figure out how to get there, maybe next time. Touring the mansion's first floor was interesting as well. Overall a nice, relaxing time. Would recommend for the plant/flower lovers. read more

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I thought the place wasn't confusing to navigate. The cafe was crowded around 1-2pm on a Saturday. We got coffees and they tasted watered down. The app is pretty nice to use. I loved that it depicted where are the plants that are in season, and there's also categories of whats in bloom and where the cafe is. I do wish the house had signs explaining what we were looking at. For example, there's a display with a ton of silverware. Thats it. We didnt know what it was for until a tour guide passed by and explained it was a Tiffany set for 18 that was used when the house was a private residence. It wish there was a plaque that explained this. Like a museum. read more

Filoli - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Woodside, California

Haven't been in a while and wanted to check out the troll exhibit. Filoli is Filoli. Always beautiful. Lovely array of flowers, roses, dahlias. The trolls made it way more fun! Having to hike outside the garden to find them made it definitely more fun! Hope they have more of these types of adventures in the future! read more

Filoli - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Woodside, California

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A beautiful place to visit during any season ! It's for all ages to enjoy. It displays a different vibe and energy everytime we visit . Very aesthetic and beautiful cafe. A must visit during winter holiday time. Cons: the cafe doesn't have many vegan options read more

First time here. I didn't really know what to expect. I thought it was simply a tour of the mansion but it's so much more. First it's tucked away in woodside. It's a lot bigger than I realized. Aside from touring the mansion which has been restored and has many cool artifacts from the 20s ( beautiful furniture and tapestries) and a super cool vault for the silver. It's garden not one garden but many gardens. Parking is included with the price of admission. I didn't understand why you have to choose a time I think it's to manage crowd control. Right now they have a trolls exhibit which is fun to check out. So here's the cool thing if you decide to become a member which I recommend you can apply the cost of your ticket towards a membership. I can't wait to go back for the holidays. read more

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Nice place to check out. You can come here on a date or go with your friends or family. You do have to reserve a time slot online and pay to get into this place. They do have to a parking lot here too. Popular area people check out is the flower area, trolley, and the house. I didn't have the chance to check the trails. Not sure what else there is at this place since i only went probably half. They do have cafe as well if you want to eat here or maybe drink as well. Lots of things to do here as i heard that they do have different events throughout the year. This place is photo worthy. You just want to take photo of everything since everyone is nice. They have a gift shop too. Definitely will come back again. read more

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grew up in southern california going to to the huntington library...filoli is a similar concept, but much smaller in comparison...only issue is that it is much more expensive in comparison https://tickets.huntington.org/events/6b7ff30b-e3a0-4b52-a911-7baa3151543d ...it doesn't really compare to huntington library, so wasn't as impressed...a single mansion, garden area, some green space and walking trails...november visit included a special halloween themed mansion and wooden troll sculptures along the natural trails...fun for the kids...okay for an occasional visit... read more

Filoli - last weekend of trolls - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Woodside, California

This place was recommended to us for our engagement photo shoot by our photographer. It's a gorgeous place to take professional pictures! You can go inside the historic home or stroll outside their gardens. There's a cafe, some gifts shops and places to grab some wine all within the Filoli. We plan to come back to see all of the trails and troll statues we didn't get too see because we did not bring comfy shoes! If you are going for pictures take some comfy shoes after to be able to explore all that Filoli has to offer as it is much bigger than I had thought. They even have hourly shows that you can attend. I would recommend stopping by if you are near it's a beautiful place to take your family and it was also make a great day date. It is truly breathtaking especially if you love flowers and gardens like me! read more

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This June until October is the Troll events where there are total 6 trolls about a mile walk to find it. Since it is located in a private garden, tickets are needed to be purchased in order to enter the garden and hunt for the trolls. This is a great activity for the kids especially during the Sumner when kids are off from school. Remember to wear comfortable shoes for the walk high hill! This garden is great for Spring time especially in April month for the flowers blooming otherwise I don't think it is worth to spend $39 for adult ticket entrance. Since it is the troll events, weekends tickets need to be purchased online advance otherwise it is sold out. read more

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I haven't been here since I was a child and on a recent trip home to the Bay, I was thinking it would be nice to revisit my childhood. There are definite infrastructure improvements. I don't remember a paved parking lot when I was young. It is very easy to access and has ample parking both in a main lot and a smaller sub lot. We arrived early so parking was easy. We got in line before they opened for the day so we were ready to go right away. Once they opened the line moved efficiently with two staffers checking tickets. I printed mine because I was worried about cell service, but my phone had full bars and an e-ticket would have saved a tree. Lesson learned. The grounds are spacious so despite the number of persons enjoying the property, it doesn't feel too cramped. You can bring a picnic and have a snack on the pool, or near the gardens. We were there on a weekday and there was a school group there. This just meant we wandered a few different pathways to not be in the way of the school group, but still enjoy the gardens. We stopped and snapped a ton of pictures, used Google images to learn what species varies trees, shrubs and flowers. People were very kind and respectful, both of other visitors and the property itself. I saw everyone sticking to the pathways, using a respectful volume voice, etc. You can easily spend the day, so bring water, and shade covering if you are sensitive to the sun. There's plenty of foliage and trees but not covering a lot of the pathways. They had a cafe near the restroom so you can get food and beverages, if needed. I didn't look at the menu but many people were in line, or exiting the cafe with food. Overall, it has aged since my childhood visits, but then again, haven't we all. Much like I hope to say about myself though, there has been no loss of charm! This is a wonderful morning or afternoon adventure for anyone - especially nice as a surprise date morning with my spouse, who was a first timer. read more

This view is for the Christmas lights plus unlimited champagne in the ballroom. The original package was that there would be live music performance in the ballroom but it's changed to just music without live performance. A bit let down. The champagne and the service were nice. It's very festive and relaxing to enjoy the champagne while looking at the room decked with Christmas decorations. The rest of the house of course were all decorated with flahy and beautiful holiday decorations. They even looked more beautiful in the historic house setting! The garden was also magical too! They have up their games from last time when we visited during the holiday session. We really enjoyed our visit. It looks like they offer music concerts going forward in the ballroom and we are coming back for sure! read more

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Beautiful place with beautiful flowers! We went on a weekday and bought tickets prior, so we were able to get in within 10 minutes of us parking. read more

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The entrance fee is $39 & if you visit now, you'll catch the trolls exhibit. The mansion is okay but the garden is beautiful. You can easily spend 2 hours here strolling through the majestic orchard, cut flower garden, veggie garden, rose garden...and meander down yonder to see the giant trolls. Pack a lunch and you can enjoy a picnic there. It's a great place to visit for the family. read more

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We love Filoli and have been coming here for a few years now for the holiday lights. I definitely recommend getting tickets as soon as possible because they do sell out. I love checking out the mansion and seeing how they decorate each room for the holidays. We usually come for the 4:30 entrance time and will find a fire pit to hang out around and drink mulled wine (which is delicious btw) before it gets dark. For the first time this year, we went for their Halloween celebration and it was so cool! Definitely would like to come back to that again. We surprisingly have not gone to visit in the springtime. So I have that on my bucket list so I can see the gardens and beautiful flowers! read more

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filoli is definitely one of those places you simply must visit, especially if you're fond of estates, gardens, history, and stately homes. we went in the summer and it was absolutely delightful. the rooms are grand and beautifully decorated, and you even get to see the famous staircase. such a lovely experience! they also host christmas events, so i'm hoping to see the christmas trees next time. read more

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Visited during December 2024 for the holiday decor and was very happy to be there! Once parked, you get checked in via the QR code from your email or just the email confirmation, super easy and smooth. The outside gardens look amazing during the daylight, everything is very festive. The inside is what impressed me the most: stunning architecture, beautifully decorated tall Christmas trees, a beautiful library, and a lot of historical plaques. It's like you went back in time. I'll try to visit again during the summer time when everything is in bloom. Definitely worth the visit! Make sure to reserve your time a few days prior as it's getting sold out pretty fast. read more

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A lovely and huge historic estate with well-taken care of gardens and scenic views. I liked learning the meaning behind the name and seeing all the flowers and trees. Reservations are required, and the membership is worth it! read more

Filoli - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Woodside, California

I rarely leave 1-star reviews, but this experience warrants one. During our visit today, our small group (including a 7 month pregnant woman and two young children) was caught in a sudden heavy downpour while walking back to the parking lot at the end of the daytime session. We briefly stepped under a covered tent outside to wait for the rain to lighten. Naomi, a Filoli employee, came out and insisted we leave immediately because the gardens were "closed," even though Filoli was not closed for the day, but only transitioning between the daytime session and the evening session. Given this, there was no practical reason to rush us back into a heavy downpour. We asked what the urgency was, to which she responded "I'm not supposed to be out here". We let her know she didn't need to be out here with us, and that the weather forecast suggested the downpour would lighten up in about 18 minutes, and we would be on our way. When we explained the situation and asked for a bit of grace that it is rough to make the trek to the parking lot in these conditions, her responses, including "well, you're not all pregnant" felt dismissive and lacked empathy. While policies matter, so does basic compassion and common sense. It's disappointing that a beautiful place was overshadowed by an interaction with an employee that prioritized policy over humanity and customer experience. I hope that Filoli can see this and conduct a review of how policies are applied and how employees can be empowered to balance rules with compassion and common sense. A small amount of flexibility in moments like this would go a long way toward ensuring guests leave with positive memories. read more

Went to there Nightfall event with the Trolls this pass Wednesday. Cute event. They have different events through out the year. This was Halloween. They close a bit early to get ready for there Halloween/ Nightfall (30 minutes) from the regular closing time. They do have different time slots so check it out early because it does sell out. Nightfall was cool because everything is lite up, had 1 food truck but had 1-2 more different food shop not including there regular store shop. There was 2 different live entertainment, 1 entertainer by the house and last 1 by the last troll. We like the last entertainer because he was very funny, got the crowd involved with singing, and was overall a crowd pleaser. Kids loved him and they were dancing throughout the time we were there. The guy working the Scarecrow crossing was entertaining the crowd as well. Funny but not too scary for the kids. This experience can only get better every year. We can see this growing as an event and a must with the children. Also people brought outside food to have picnic by the fire pits. There's regular fire pit as well as reserved ones. Didn't see a huge difference besides the reserved pits roped off. Most trails at this event were stroller friendly. There's also a visiting center with a small cafe and a Trailhead store. Also in the house, the first floor rooms are decorated with Halloween theme, second floor is closed. It would be cute if they sold pumpkins during fall. There is wildlife (turkeys and deer) so please drive slow when driving from highway to the property. Road is tight so just be mindful when passing another car. You can pay to be a member but have to pay for the special events. All of the staff were friendly. read more

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A must-visit if you're in the area. We went over Memorial Day weekend and were lucky to snag tickets. The garden is quite large, but tickets are limited per time slot to manage the crowd; once you're in, though, you can stay as long as you'd like. It's truly a stunning place, with beautifully maintained gardens and lush greenery around every corner. Be sure to check their website for special events and seasonal highlights. read more

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Filoli is a dream I continually think about... I had visited for the first time in the summer and I cannot wait to visit again. I felt like a queen. Maybe a fairy. Maybe an absolute outsider. Regardless, I continue to tell anyone, or anyone who'll listen, about how great of an experience I had because of the beautiful grounds. Gosh. The amazing staff, THE GROUNDS. It's some ways from The City, but absolutely worth it! Can't wait to figure out how I can fathom having a membership. After all, I don't drive. Maybe I AM a princess. Lol. read more

While the estate was gorgeous, the $36 price tag was a bit steep for the limited tours and labels. Parking was free and the lot led towards two ticket booths. The employee at the front was quite hostile and she soured our experience. After the entrance, there were trails on the right and the house and gardens on the left. The house itself was well kept and extravagant. There was a house tour at 2PM but unfortunately it didn't work with our schedule. While the rooms were aesthetically pleasing, I would have appreciated more descriptions or placards to explain the history or choice of furniture. There was one cabinet reserved for Joe Biden and Xi Jinping which offered a more recent tidbit of the estate's history. There was a second floor but it wasn't accessible to guests. Some of the gardens were unfortunately shriveled up from the shift from summer to fall but the roses and hedges were still pleasing to look at. The production and walled gardens were manicured but the vegetable garden and orchard had seen better days. There was a small washroom near the pool pavilion which had a strangely low set sinks. The woodland court was comprised of multiple courts where guests could play badminton. Hence I would recommend bringing athletic wear if that was an appealing activity. There was a small stand near the vegetable garden that sold drinks and popsicles. We spent roughly 1.5 hours leisurely walking around the estates. Perhaps it would be longer with the tours but I didn't like how there were only 1 tour of each kind per evening. In order to experience every tour, we would have needed to stay for 4 hours. Besides the tour guide, the other employees seemed downtrodden. Perhaps their seasonal events would have been more entertaining but for the standard admission experience, it wasn't worth the drive nor price. read more

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Filoli is STUNNING no matter what season. I am always amazed at the variety of blooms every time I visit. This time I made it a point to visit the interpretive center. There were trolls along the way. I easily spend hours in the gardens! Good thing Quail Cafe is onsite. I've visited multiple times. I never encounter an issue with tickets or with staff. read more

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Need more lights in the parking lot so people can see how they are parking. I didn't notice damage on my car until we got back home. Parking need to be more controlled walking to our car we got harassed by someone trying to find parking. Holiday lights weren't anything magical or great. $98 to be around some privileged YT people who shove you around. Dont waste your time & money here. read more

Last time I came here was early January and frankly this place was ok. But we came back today and it was glorious. The home is beautiful as ever. But the gardens were blooming and the smell of roses are enough to make you want to linger just a bit longer. My little ran through the gardens, smelled flowers and considered jumping into a few ponds ( but luckily I got her well in advance each time). I absolutely would recommend this place to anyone looking to spend a few hours in peace. read more

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A Decade of Love Lost: Filoli Has Lost Its Soul We've been coming to Filoli House and Gardens for over 10 years since our daughter was a baby, and it's genuinely heartbreaking to say this will likely be our last visit. What was once a peaceful, elegant place to wander -- where you could slowly take in the house, the gardens, and the history -- now feels over-commercialized and overrun. The grounds were packed with tourists stopping constantly for selfies and social media shots, which completely changed the atmosphere. The calm, reflective experience Filoli was known for has been lost. The addition of new areas feels less about enhancing the visit and more like a clear money grab, and yet somehow the experience itself has been diminished. Despite the crowds, there are no meaningful new food or refreshment options, which only adds to the frustration. What used to be an easy 3-4 hour visit felt rushed and uncomfortable -- we were done in under two hours and frankly couldn't wait to leave. That has never happened to us here before. You don't need to look hard to sense that something has changed. And, unsurprisingly, a quick search shows new leadership at the top. Whatever the intent, the result is a place that has lost its charm, serenity, and sense of place. We're truly gutted. Filoli was a special tradition for us for a decade, and it's sad to see it transformed into something that feels crowded, transactional, and hollow. Sadly, we won't be coming back. read more

One of my favorite places on earth, Filoli never disappoints! I visited this afternoon to clear my head. I've been a member for three consecutive years, so my admission fee is waived. I had to park in the overflow parking section but no big deal. I was pleasantly surprised to find about 30% of the rose bushes blooming. The grounds are always impeccably manicured and staff are super eager to help. They offer many events throughout the year -- the Holiday Lights event is my favorite. The entrance fee is a bit pricey, but it's worth it. read more

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Visited Filoli over the holidays and what a lovely home. Loved the Christmas trees everywhere in all the rooms, the grounds were just lovely and the short hike we did was nice. We enjoyed tea time afterwards and had the best time. It was quite scrumptious. We also got some mulled cider and that was amazing! It sure hit the spot. I look forward to coming back and visiting this magnificent place. read more

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Giant old mansion with superior maintained gardens. Perfect place to enjoy an easy breezy day strolling through the gardens, sniffing the fragrant roses, checking out artichoke blooms and exploring the various rooms in the mansion. We went in July and there was a section of the garden that didn't have anything. I hear best time to go is in the springtime where many more flowers are in bloom. Will come and visit again. Admission is $38 per person. Seniors are $36. Parking is free. Go and smell the roses. read more

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Our family visited Filoli Garden this Sunday expecting a pleasant and relaxing experience. Unfortunately, it turned into one of the most disappointing outings we've ever had. At exactly 3 PM, we were practically forced out of the property, even though there was absolutely no clear information on our invitation or tickets stating that we would be required to leave at that time. This was shocking and extremely frustrating, especially considering that our family had traveled all the way from Brazil and had planned this visit with great excitement. The behavior of the staff was unacceptable -- they were rude, dismissive, and even made sarcastic comments, telling us that if we wanted to complain, we should "just leave a review." That level of disrespect toward paying visitors is beyond disappointing. Instead of feeling welcomed, we felt humiliated, rushed, and completely disrespected. What should have been a special family moment became a very negative memory. Because of this experience, I will never return to Filoli, and I absolutely do NOT recommend this place to anyone, especially families or international visitors. The gardens may be beautiful, but customer service and respect mean everything -- and they failed completely. read more