Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/778752
SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017 LIVE IT UP! 9 T hose of us who live in Santa Cruz County are lucky to have many beautiful places to visit, including lots of parks and beaches where we can enjoy nature. But sometimes it's fun and enlightening to venture elsewhere, especially for a day trip. Located in Woodside, Filoli is a unique and fascinating destination. It's about 50 miles from Santa Cruz, and the drive takes between an hour and an hour and 15 minutes, depending on traffic. Filoli, a 43-room, 36,000-square-feet house on 16 acres of formal gardens sur- rounded by a 654-acre estate, was built between 1915 and 1917. It used to be private but in 1975 the owner donated it to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. At- tractions include self-guided tours, docent- guided tours, and nature hikes. As Filoli's web site states, admission allows visitors to explore the historic House and Garden at their leisure. Self–guided booklets and docents are available to answer questions, and there is a café and gi shop. e shop sells items including plants. A video about Filoli runs continuously in the Visitor and Education Center to provide a brief orientation for first-time visitors. Some visitors prefer exploring on their own, while others sign up for tours. When sixty-nine-year old La Selva Beach resident Bruce Margon visited Filoli, he opted out of official tours and greatly enjoyed his time. "Filoli is a gem, yet many in Northern Cali- fornia seem unfamiliar with it," said Margon. "Wandering through the manicured gardens is a completely relaxing experience." No matter what your preference, you're bound to find something you like in the vast expanse. e grounds are magnificent; highlights include a sunken garden (an architectural flower garden that includes a rectangular reflecting pond) and a rose garden. More than 500 rose varieties are at Filoli. e flowers are in bloom in late spring and throughout the summer months. e power of gardens and Nature is undeniable, and the gardens at Filoli are no exception. Filoli can nourish a person's body and soul. Many tours are free with the price of admission. One example: the two-hour House and Garden tours, which are led by Filoli volunteer docents. Participants spend one hour in the House and one hour in the Garden. Docents talk about each area, so the walking is fairly slow. Tours are daily at 10:30 am and 1:00 pm, except Mondays when Filoli is closed. Prepaid advance reservations are recommended. Filoli Nature Education Docents lead a variety of special hikes through the Nature Preserve, which has over seven miles of trails DAY TRIP DESTINATION: FILOLI B Y T A R A F A T E M I W A L K E R FILOLI DETAILS: Hours beginning Tuesday, Feb. 7: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: Seniors 65 and older $17, Adults $20, Kids 5-17 $10 Web site: filoli.org Phone: 650-364-8300 Address: 86 Cañada Road, Woodside