{"id":4830,"date":"2026-05-05T08:14:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/?p=4830"},"modified":"2026-05-10T15:51:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T22:51:15","slug":"filoli-garden-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/filoli-garden-legacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Filoli Visit: Reflection on Legacy, Purpose, and Living Well"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main Entrance \u2014 Where Every Story Begins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Entrance\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1188925686?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"422\" height=\"750\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are places you visit\u2026 and places that stay with you.<br>Filoli is one of those rare places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, I chose to celebrate my birthday there\u2014not just for its beauty, but for what it represents: <strong>legacy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What made the visit even more meaningful was experiencing it with a guide. We visited alongside KTSF 26 anchor JiaYu Jeng, and the difference was profound.<br>When you understand the stories behind a place, you don\u2019t just see it\u2014you <strong>feel it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s true not only for historic estates\u2026 but also for real estate itself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Sunken Garden \u2014 Devotion to Something Bigger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sunken Garden\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1188922105?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Standing in the Sunken Garden, one thought stayed with me<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are we devoted to?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Filoli\u2019s motto says it all:<br><strong>FI \u2014 Fight for a just cause<\/strong><br><strong>LO \u2014 Love your fellow man<\/strong><br><strong>LI \u2014 Live a good life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This philosophy came from William Bowers Bourn II, and you can feel it in every detail of the estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Originally, the Burns family envisioned this as a summer retreat after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.<br>What began as a practical idea became a <strong>surprise wedding gift<\/strong>\u2014and eventually, a lasting legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the numbers, Filoli is remarkable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3 years to construct<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>~$8.5 million (2020 equivalent, excluding gardens)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>54,000+ square feet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>56 rooms, 15 bathrooms, 17 fireplaces<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But numbers don\u2019t create legacy\u2014<strong>intent does<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In real estate, I\u2019ve seen the same pattern over decades:<br>The homes that truly hold value are not just well-built\u2014they are <strong>well thought out<\/strong>, cared for, and connected to something meaningful.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Walking Path \u2014 Where History Meets the Present<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Walking Path\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1188922111?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"422\" height=\"750\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Filoli continues to evolve with history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2023, it hosted a global moment\u2014bringing together<br>Joe Biden and<br>Xi Jinping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That single event dramatically increased awareness, especially among Chinese and Chinese-American visitors.<br>It\u2019s a reminder that <strong>recognition can elevate value\u2014but foundation creates it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Filoli has also appeared in Hollywood, most famously in <em>Dynasty<\/em>.<br>Again, the theme is the same: <strong>places with character continue to attract attention over time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What This Means in Real Estate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Walking through Filoli, I kept thinking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In today\u2019s market, many people focus on timing, price, or trends.<br>But long-term value often comes from something deeper:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Location with lasting appeal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thoughtful design and livability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A story that connects people to the home<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Care and stewardship over time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most successful homeowners I\u2019ve worked with over the years didn\u2019t just buy property.<br>They invested in something they believed in\u2014and <strong>held it with purpose<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just like Filoli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Inspired Me<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This visit reminded me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Legacy is built through devotion.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Devotion to your values<br>Devotion to your craft<br>Devotion to creating something that lasts<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For me, in real estate, that has always meant asking:<br><strong>What value can we bring that goes beyond the transaction?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because in the end, the most meaningful homes\u2014<br>like Filoli\u2014<br>are not just places to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They are places that <strong>carry stories forward<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that made it the perfect place to celebrate another year\u2014<br>not just of life, but of continuing that purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Main Entrance \u2014 Where Every Story Begins There are places you visit\u2026 and places that stay with you.Filoli is one of those rare places. This year, I chose to celebrate my birthday there\u2014not just for its beauty, but for what it represents: legacy. What made the visit even more meaningful was experiencing it with a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":791,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[221],"tags":[227],"class_list":["post-4830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sightseeing","tag-filoli-woodside-historic-estates-gardens-bay-area-attractions-luxury-homes-inspiration-architecture-legacy-what-to-do"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Juliana Lee","author_link":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/author\/juliana-lee\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Main Entrance \u2014 Where Every Story Begins There are places you visit\u2026 and places that stay with you.Filoli is one of those rare places. This year, I chose to celebrate my birthday there\u2014not just for its beauty, but for what it represents: legacy. What made the visit even more meaningful was experiencing it with a&hellip;","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/791"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4830"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4834,"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4830\/revisions\/4834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/julianalee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}