For our wedding anniversary, we had a trip planned to Maui. Unfortunately, Maui has been fighting through the wildfires so instead, we stayed local. Our friends recommended us to visit Filoli Historic House & Garden and I did not expect too much out of it other than a picturesque garden. But to my surprise, it was more than ‘just a garden’, rather it was gardens on gardens surrounding a beautifully maintained mansion where much of its history remained undisturbed.
It was giving Bridgerton vibes. And I love Bridgerton.
FIght for a just cause; LOve your fellow man; LIve a good life.
William Bowers Bourn II
Getting There
We purchased our tickets online the morning of, but there is also the option of purchasing the tickets with the attendant onsite; general admission is $34 each. We arrived at 11am on a Saturday and there were plenty of parking spaces available. We brought food to enjoy and although the gardens doesn’t allow food (to prevent pests/bugs), they have shaded picnic tables outside where you can sit & enjoy your food.
The Mansion
It was an adventure exploring the historical mansion, imagining what a life it must have been to live in a home like this in the 1900’s — from the grand ballroom to the multiple kitchens in the home and the library. The mansion has 10 main bedrooms, 14 staff bedrooms, and 15 bathrooms and would cost the equivalent today’s currency of $8.5 million. There were some parts of the mansion that was closed off from visitors but you can still get the full experience.
The Garden
The Filoli garden is in bloom all year round – we visited in the summertime but I cannot imagine the full bloom and fruit trees spanning the 16 acres of garden during the springtime. I’ll need to bring mom then.
Within the walled gardens, there is a pool pavilion that you cannot miss. The pool is designed to fit seamlessly in the garden’s original design with yews to create allées. Visitors can sit on the chairs overlooking the pool and bring picnic blankets to lay on the grass. We brought with us a picnic blanket, relaxed for a moment, and took a moment to re-read our vows for our one year anniversary.
We visited on a peak summer Saturday, but it didn’t feel crowded at Filoli because it was so expansive and we were able to soak in pockets of privacy at the gardens.
The Quail Cafe
We stopped by the Quail Cafe for water before we left but was also surprised with how cute it was! It resembled a modern green house with a menu which included tea time, pastries, sandwiches, and more. Next time we visit, we’ll definitely stop by the cafe for a sweet bite.
This certainly wasn’t Maui, but it was beautiful nonetheless. We were pleasantly surprised with the care, the beauty, and the details at Filoli.
Let me know if you decide to visit and what you think!
Love,
Shayna
