Skip to main content
Palo Alto, CA 650.493.9085
Check Availability
Promotional
Offers Best Rates
Palo Alto Filoli gardens at California

Filoli Gardens

86 Canada Rd, Woodside, California, 94062
Category: Activities

Historic Filoli Gardens & Estate

Located in nearby Woodside, Filoli House was built in the early 20th century and is one of the most prestigious country estates from that period. In 1976, it was opened to the public as part of the National Trust for Historic Preservations. The 36,000 square-foot mansion is located on more than 600 acres, surrounded by beautiful gardens, a 7-acre orchard, and terrific hiking trails. During the 1980s, it was photographed for the nighttime television soap opera, "Dynasty."
 

Details

Hours -

Tuesday-Saturday 10am-3pm; Sunday 11am-3:30pm; (last admission at 2:30pm); closed Mondays & major holidays
 

Prices -

Adults $15; Seniors $12 (65 years and older); Students (ages 5-17 with ID) $5; Children 4 years and younger FREE!
 

Events

  • Autumn at Filoli Festival
  • Mother's Day
    Flower Show
  • Holiday Traditions at Filoli
  • Jazz at Filoli
  • Annual Botanical
    Art Exhibition
 
 

Activities

  • Sightseeing
  • Photography
  • Hiking
  • Tours
  • Art
 

History

Built for Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers Bourn, the Filoli estate grew from gold rush wealth. The name Filoli stems from an arrangement of letters from Mr. Bourn'slifelong creed, "Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life." His good friend, architect Willis Polk designed the Eden-like self-sufficient property. Construction began in 1915 and took 2 years. Bruce Porter helped develop the famous garden between 1917-1929, and seven years later, Mr. and Mrs. Bourn died.
 

Trails

There are 22 trails and historic roads totaling over 5 miles through the estate's 600 acres, accessible only through 2-hour guided hikes. The Filoli Nature Preserve hosts numerous ecosystems along the San Andreas Fault. Sights include the family cemetery, old barns, seasonal wildflowers, wildlife, and a nature museum.
 

FAQs

  • What special events are available at the Filoli?

    There are regular exhibits at the Gallery at Filoli, as well as seasonal sunset hikes, Jazz at Filoli every other Sunday all summer, Afternoon Teas one Wednesday a month, the Autumn at Filoli Festival, Holiday Traditions at Filoli, and the Annual Botanical Art Exhibition every spring.
  • What tours are available at the property?

    Various tours and docent-led excursions are available at Filoli throughout the year. Every one is FREE with the price of admission, but advanced reservations are recommended April-May. Some of what's offered include House & Garden Tours, day and evening Orchard Tours, as well as Nature Hikes, sometimes at sunset.
 

Helpful Links

Map/Directions

Driving Direction to Filoli Gardens
GET DIRECTIONS
or Hotel Parmani
By submitting this form, you consent to share the comment along with your name on the site. We do not sell personal data to third parties. Your email address will not be made public but maybe used by us for communication purposes. If you are below 16 years of age, you are required to obtain prior permission from your legal guardian(s). If you wish to access or erase your personal information, you can do so by submitting your details here.
Write a Comment
- Optional
- Required
- Required
- Optional
- Required
Book Now Back to top