As summer begins to wind down I feel reflective on so many great moments from the last few months. We've had some grand adventures (like traveling to Santorini!) and checking off some Bay Area sightseeing from our summer bucket list. We payed a visit to the Filoli House and Gardens in Woodside, California which boasts some of the most beautiful gardens in Northern California. This is one of my favorite places to visit because it feels like you're stepping into a real life scene from Alice in Wonderland and all the proceeds from the entrance fee go towards restoration and maintenance of the property. When I was planning an outfit for our lovely afternoon in the garden, I knew I had to sport some lively florals.

The Filoli House and Gardens have been preserved to maintain its historical authenticity and grandeur. Filoli was built as a private residence in 1917 by a wealthy San Francisco family and is now open for the public to enjoy. Visiting Filoli feels like you're stepping into the past, a time filled with old world charms. The gardens are very well manicured and cared for with a wide variety of trees and flowers. The grounds spread over hundreds of acres with everything from an English rose garden to fields of orchards. Check out this amazing video with aerial views of the 654 acres of property at Filoli.

Top 10 Photography Spots inside Filoli House and Gardens

A few words of advice if you’re planning a photography trip to Filoli. On a sunny day, avoid the middle of the daytime to take photos. We made this rookie mistake and many of our photos didn’t turn out well because there was so much shadow and blown-out lighting. The gardens open at 10am and close at 5pm. I recommend either going on a cloudy day or towards the end of the day.

When you’re walking around the property, you are only allowed to walk on the paved paths. So if you’re looking at the big green lawns and thinking you want to do some picnic photos, it’s not gonna happen. The docents are very strict about where you can go on the property.

1. Main House Entrance

2. Back Lawn and Patio Behind the House

3. Brick Flower House