Its been years since I visited this part, but it was cute, good for hiking and some nature time…read more Its great to see the redwoods, peaceful and fairly calm. The trails are fairly easy to navigate

I did my first 50k/33 miles + hike here, about 4,500 elevation gain. It was "+" because we got…read morelost several times and did some extra credit. Amazing connecting trails and only some parts are overgrown. There are large redwood trees and a good size creek running through the park. There were a lot of hikers and bicyclists on the trail. There is poison ivy and oak on the trail in June. I saw deers, quails, rabbits, snakes, and possibly a mountain lion. We came at 8:00am and the park closed at 8:00pm. We exited at 8:04pm because of the lost situation. Parking is $6.00. Great experience overall. Good views. Please come and create your own adventure.

Very delightful, peaceful and calm. It is very relaxing and quiet, there are picnic areas and…read moreseveral benches to relax so you can enjoy a nice meal with your family or celebrate a birthday outdoors. The lake is the main highlight it is a beautiful loop that is easy to walk. It was very clean and a decent amount of parking.

Sharon Park is such a lovely little park! I've had this place bookmarked for a few months now, and…read moreI finally visited it this past Saturday with my doggie buddy. There's a parking lot with good amount of spots. I think when I was there about 9am, there was about 3 cars. More people came later when we were leaving. There's a playground that's gated/fenced in so that's good for the families who has little kids. There's a cute little pond with lots of pretty flowers surrounding it. There's also some benches and picnic tables. There are also some grassy areas. We saw lots of cute other cute doggies here. It's a very dog friendly park. Someone didn't pick up their doggie's doo doo. Shame shame shame. Make sure be respectful and pick up after your doggies! We need to keep this beautiful little park clean. This spot will be added to my list of fave places to bring a doggie for a outing! :D

Directions here were very easy to find, parking was very open with handicap spaces on an early…read moreMonday afternoon! I noticed they had outhouse style restrooms which were cleaned, stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. The path down is slightly downhill, and is dirt paved. Wear shoes you definitely do not mind being covered in dirt. Maybe a three minute walk. There were people picnicking quietly for an afternoon date on the lawn with a blanket, that's a great idea. There is a large grass area for many families to enjoy together. Seeing it in person was really nice. Brought some teenage girls here who really enjoyed it. We enjoyed taking some pictures together. I definitely see why this area is used as a professional photography spot!! Will I come here again: if in the area and cooler weather absolutely for a gorgeous family style picnic!!

Pulgas Water Temple is definitely a unique little spot and the fact that it's completely free to…read morevisit is a huge plus. I can absolutely see why people stop here for photos and the dome and pool make for a very pretty setting. That being said, I spent maybe 10 minutes here before feeling like I had seen it all. There's not a lot to explore and my visit was made particularly less enjoyable by how crowded it was. There were at least three people doing elaborate professional photo shoots and dozens of what I can only describe as full-on Instagram productions happening around the area. It was noisy and there wasn't much room to move around and it really took away from what I imagine is a normally peaceful experience. I was here on a weekday afternoon as well so I'm not sure when a slower time might be to visit. I feel like I should preface this review with the fact that I stopped here immediately after spending the morning and early afternoon at Filoli, so in comparison it probably isn't helping me have a hugely favorable opinion of my experience here. There are also signs advising that no dogs are allowed, which I think is pretty ridiculous. This is definitely worth a quick stop if you're in the area, especially because parking is free and there's no admission fee. However, unless you are one of the people who are spread out on a blanket or carrying boxes of props for a full-on production, this is definitely not a place that you would spend very much time. For me it was an interesting, very quick, one time stop.

Loved this hidden trail that was super easy to find! It was a ridiculous hot day, but the…read moresurrounding tall trees offer SO much shade that you forget about the heat. There is easy accessible parking, however there aren't too many parking spots. We refreshed our hands in the cold mini waterfall and had a cute photo opportunity. The hike is fairly easy for beginning hikers. There are areas that can be steep but there are many flat areas to take a break. We did miss a signed etched in a tree log and missed a pathway. But overall, a straight shot up and back, easily an hour or so round trip!

Lovely hidden trail with beautiful views and a true forest bathing vibe. It was a bit confusing…read moremaking our way on the trail as we hit a few dead ends but really great views.

Super cute playground. Plenty of parking when I went over the weekend and not many people around…read more The kids loved climbing and running around and it's gated too. Has baby swings and the little cabin was fun to play in. The bathroom is right next to it and had a clean changing table

I can't believe I've lived just an hour or so away from this place my whole life and this is my…read morefirst time ever visiting. I had an absolutely amazing time here. The staff at the front gates were incredibly welcoming and friendly. I mention the front gate specifically because I did stop in the garden shop and another little snack boutique later in the day and the service there was just okay. The woman who helped me in at the front was very warm and explained everything kindly and made me feel very welcome. She also let me know about events and other things I could see and do in the gardens. The gardens are breathtaking and there are so many different areas to explore. I personally liked the formal gardens best, but I think one of the nicest parts was seeing how many people were simply relaxing and just enjoying the property. There were people laid out on blankets, people seated on benches reading and it really helped remind me to just slow down. Sometimes I personally feel like I need to get through everything or see everything and this place has a vibe that you don't need to rush; it's fine to just sit and take in the beauty around you. There were also many people lounging by the pool, which brings me to the house.I really enjoyed exploring the historic house, probably almost as much as the garden's. The ballroom was fantastic and they even added an interactive activity where they project dance steps onto the floor so visitors could follow along and learn how people would have danced in that ballroom originally. I was terrible at it but it was very fun to try. The ballroom was definitely my favorite part of the house. I loved the giant fireplace and just imagining what it would have been like to be at a party in that room or to have danced on that floor. Lastly, of course, I had to go looking for Rose Wonders. I am a big fan of Dambo'ss trolls and this is the first one I have seen where you can actually go inside. She is also one of the larger trolls I have seen. It was a hot day but I walked the trails to find her and there were wooden sculptures along the way that definitely helped the walk feel shorter. Seeing her and being able to climb inside was absolutely incredible and I highly recommend it. Because of the way she's built, the hands that cradle you at the top kind of cover her face so I found it difficult to get good photos and video. But the experience itself is definitely worth it. Before heading back to leave, I definitely needed some water and stopped in to one of the snack shacks to grab some. I also had to try one of their Garden Pops as I saw them advertised all over. II think it's cool that Filoli has some of their own products that they create themselves. I really wanted to love them because the concept is great but honestly, the heat of the day and the flavor of that popsicle were probably the only things that I didn't enjoy my entire visit. I'm still glad that I tried it. They were setting up for a summer nights event while I was getting ready to go and I love the string lights and how much care the staff was taking to prepare the area. I'm sure it was magical. I honestly can't recommend this place enough and I think it would be a great group activity, especially because whether you're interested in history, architecture, gardening, nature, art, or just want to climb inside a giant troll, there is something for everyone here. It's definitely a beautiful place to spend your day.

Just beautiful grounds. Peaceful and lovely to walk around…read more Perfect for a ladies group gathering You can only eat in the cafe. So don't bring your own picnic hoping to sit inside to eat Great for photos!

Came here for the Spring Ridge Trail hike on 8/1, which is 2 miles one-way. There is a public…read moreparking lot right where the trail head is, it does get full but there is street parking right outside the lot as well. There is a bathroom outhouse right in front of the trail. This trail isn't too steep, mostly slow incline all the way up except for a few short steeper parts. The path is mostly dirt and lots of small rocks especially on the hilly parts. On the way, we saw some insects like flies, dragonflies, and a warning sign for rattlesnakes. Also saw 1 lizard.

Had my first hike of the year, and it was a beauty! The weather worked in my favor, and hitting…read moregolden hour was a bonus. I should have stayed longer to hit sunset, but that can be for another time. It was definitely windy, so be mindful of that if you decide to trek here. The views were so worth it!

This is a nice, quiet smallish park next to some open space. It was a cool evening and I thoroughly…read moreenjoyed running around the park. It was nice to see a lot of families enjoying the park. I thought it was a little cold for a picnic but there were a few who were hanging out on the large lawn.

I almost don't want to write a review of this beautiful little park because it's been our secret…read morefor years. But I'll let you in on it, since unless you live in the area, it's doubtful you'd drive out of your way to get here. And drive you must. Nestled in Stanford Hills, just off of Sand Hill Road, there's no way you'd even notice the place unless you (a) had a dog; or (b) had a kid; and (c) lived nearby. A bit more than three acres of grass with a small little play area for kids, it's the perfect place for dogwalking or lounging on a lazy summer afternoon. Minuses are: there are no swings (just a play structure) and limited shade during peak hours. Pluses are: there are rarely any people here, it's quiet, and you can usually spot birds of prey circling overhead. There are better equipped parks out there (Burgess, for one), but this one is pretty great.

Ohh Nealon Park, how I love you. Let me count the ways:…read more 1. You are a fully accessible park with activities for everyone. 2. You have room for your small and large friends alike, including parents, which makes my achy back and knees so happy. 3. You're well-maintained with plenty of parking, manicured landscaping, and all park equipment in good working condition. 4. You're fully fenced in so I don't need to worry about my child running into traffic or straying too far. 5. You're close to coffee and food shops. 6. You're great for birthday parties, with tons of space and tables! Whether you're a parent of a human child or a dog child, this park is fantastic. Fenced in playground, large open grass area, and plenty of shade. Wonderful little gem that we're lucky to have in the area!

Loved this park. Great fenced in playground with multiple structures that catered to big and small…read morekids, including this merry go round structure that the kids were obsessed with. There's a huge green space, tennis courts and it's great for picnicking. There's side of street and also some limited lot parking. The green space is pretty dark after sunset and isn't well lit, playground was still usable after dark. Overall, great location!

An amazing playground to bring your kids to. It is huge, with tons of activities to keep your kids…read morebusy for hours, including the water play on the rocks - make sure to bring a swimsuit and some water friendly shoes! There are shaded areas available for parents to take a seat but still be close enough to keep an eye on their kids. No food or drinks allowed and they have volunteer staff members walking around to enforce this.

The park meant for all kids. It's wheelchair accessible…read more The slides were the most fun. Kids rolled down those slopes all ways possible. The treehouse is another different structure for quiet play. The little water stream was completely busy for the hot afternoon. There is plenty of public parking. Restrooms are clean. If you live in the neighborhood. Definitely worth checking out