inspired
If you’re not from the Bay Area, or have been living under a rock your whole life, the Conservatory of Flowers is a greenhouse located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park filled with rare and unusual tropical plants and holds special exhibits. I went during …
Arnold is a small town right at the edge of the Stanislaus National Forest (next to Yosemite). The only reason we ended up going here is because of our timeshare. With the specific timeshare that we have, we can go on one week last minute trips for an extremely affordable price.
It was a few years ago when I went to the wonderful Filoli estate in Woodside with my parents and friends. We went in April which was an ideal time to see all the newly bloomed flowers that were welcoming us into spring. The weather was perfect for spending a day walking outside. Going in the summer would have been too hot and dry.
As we walked around the house, we learned the history of the home. For starters, it was owned by the Bourn family and Roth family before it was donated to National Trust for Historic Preservation. Since it’s opening to the public in 1978, it’s been featured in films, commercials, and catalogs for small and major studios and companies. I remember being told that Robin Williams had been there when they were filming a movie he was starring in. This stood out to me because his death still felt so recent at the time.
Looking around the home was nice, but the real gem was the acres of land around the home. It’s so lovely to walk through since the gardens are stunning. Filoli is definitely one of those properties you fantasize about owning as you walking around.
Location:
86 Cañada Road,
Woodside, CA 94062
For specific directions on how to get there & where to park, click here.
Hours:
Wednesday 10AM–5PM
Thursday 10AM–5PM
Friday 10AM–5PM
Saturday 10AM–5PM
Sunday 10AM–5PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday 10AM–5PM
Best Time to Visit:
April.
When the flowers have bloomed & the days aren’t too hot yet.
Recommendations:
→ Wear sunscreen. Especially if you’re spending a few hours here in Summer.
→ Be wary of bees. Some flowers, of course, had more bees than others. Try to avoid those plants if you have a phobia.
→Be prepared for harsh sunlight if you’re taking professional photos in spring and summer. The museum isn’t open during those ideal daylight hours. & contact visitorservices@filoli.org if you plan on doing a professional photoshoot. This doesn’t apply to those of you taking casual photos for your personal enjoyment.
Special Events:
As well as drawing, painting, & craft classes!
Reason to Visit:
Filoli is the perfect place to visit if you are a nature and plant photographer (amateur or professional), need photographs in celebration of an event (e.g. announcing an engagement), or are on an afternoon date with your partner or parents.
My experience at Filoli was wonderful and I recommend it to anyone who happens to be in the area. Just watch out for bees!
-Ayla♥
Castello di Amorosa, or Castle of Love, was chosen as one of the 10 most beautiful wineries in Napa Valley by NapaValley.com. It’s an authentic take on the 13th century Tuscan-style castles but was built from 1994 until its completion in 2007. You may remember a …
Learn about why Hawaii is so near and dear to my heart as well as see some beautiful photographs from Kauai and the Big Island.
Spring is in the air & I could not be more excited to see all of the flowers finally blooming. It may not be the best time of the year (that’s the holidays), but it is the prettiest time of the year! In celebration of winter coming to an end, I wanted to share with you some beautiful photos from my time in Oregon. There we attended the annual tulip festival in Woodburn and explored the town of Salem.
Woodburn
The famous tulip festival in Woodburn takes place at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. You may have seen photos of it on Instagram if you like to follow travel accounts. The photos look absolutely stunning at sunset.
We went the first week they opened which had its positives and negatives. On the positive side, there weren’t that many people walking around in the pictures and the flowers weren’t withering or stomped on. However, most of the tulips weren’t bloomed so it wasn’t as colorful as it would be if we went in April.
A nice thing about the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is it’s more than just a field of flowers. There’s activities for the whole family to enjoy. Activities such as the Tram/Hay wagon ride and play area are included with general admission. For an addition fee, there are other activities and events you can attend at the farm.
If you’re interested in going, the price for tickets vary depending on things like what time you go and if you want a day-pass or season pass. In 2019, they will be open from March 23rd to April 29th. Make sure to check their website for the current schedule and events.
Salem
While we were in Salem, Oregon, we went to a few different gardens and places near Salem’s Riverfront. My favorite was the state capitol building because of all the cherry blossom trees in front of it. March was the perfect time to go here. The cherry blossoms were all blooming and everything was covered in pink petals.
After that, we went to one of Salem’s historic houses. It was closed when we were there so we weren’t able to go inside, but the property was beautiful. There were many flowers, a greenhouse, and trails to walk around the property.
Deepwoods is closed Sunday through Tuesday and have short hours. Make sure to plan accordingly if you want to walk inside the home. You may also want to check when the estate holds events, such as the Easter Eggstravaganza and tea of the decades.
I hope you enjoyed my photographs and seeing what I was up to during my short visit to Oregon. What trips do you have planned this spring? Let me know in the comments.
-Ayla♥
I ventured through the icy waters of the Pacific Ocean on the popular Alaska cruise. Discover what I saw while in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Victoria, and Seattle!