Filoli is a 1917 Georgian Revival country estate on Cañada Road in Woodside, built for Gold Rush-era mining executive William Bowers Bourn II and later shaped by the Roth family, who gave the 654-acre property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1975. History buffs come for the architecture and original furnishings; garden lovers come for the 16 acres of formal plantings that shift dramatically with the seasons.
Docent-led and self-guided tours move through wood-paneled reception rooms, a ballroom, and a library that once hosted California’s social elite, while the gardens outside unfold in distinct rooms: a sunken garden, a rose garden, a walled garden, and an orchard planted with heirloom apple and pear varieties. Spring brings tulips and wisteria; fall triggers the estate’s “Autumn Days” programming, with changing foliage along the entrance allée. The grounds extend into oak woodlands and redwood groves with marked hiking trails, giving visitors a reason to linger well past the formal garden gates.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Book timed tickets online in advance, especially for spring bloom weekends and fall evening events, which sell out. Weekday mornings offer the quietest house tours. The property sits about 30 miles south of San Francisco off I-280, with on-site parking but no public transit access, so a car or rideshare is necessary. The gift shop and café near the visitor center are worth a stop before heading to the Natural Lands trails.
