For a fun day trip outside San Francisco, drive out to Filoli’s mansion and gardens followed by shopping at Palo Alto’s Stanford Shopping Center.

Filoli is an estate with over 650 acres in an area where real estate values are astronomical.  The Bourns, who created the estate in 1915, got rich from a California gold mine.  Filoli got its name from their philosophy on life:

“Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.”

When visiting the estate, you can tour the early 20th century mansion, which is still furnished.  Almost every room has a beautiful fresh bouquet of flowers – each one tailored to the room - from the estate gardens.  Outside you can stroll around 16 acres of formal gardens which have gained world-wide attention.  Depending on the season, you’ll see thousands of tulips, daffodils, roses and lilies. 

If you’re old enough to have watched – or seen the re-runs – of Dynasty with John Forsythe, Linda Evans and Joan Collins, then you’ve seen glimpses of the Filoli mansion where the TV series was filmed.  The Wedding Planner (Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey) was also filmed here.

Filoli is open February 14 through October 28, 2006, Tuesday – Sunday.  Filoli’s web site