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Burlingame
By Katie Mehrer
California is a gorgeous state. Few would disagree, but those who have attended the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival know exactly where I’m coming from. It’s not just the pink blossoms, those harbingers of springtime, that make the festival such a draw. It’s all the incredible cultural events that make you want to bring your family back, year after year. Ikebana flower arrangements, unique Japanese music, and even sumo wrestling all play a part in this event. The Cherry Blossom Festival is really a way for Burlingame’s Japanese community to showcase both its unique culture and its sense of belonging to the great American melting pot.
Whether you live in Burlingame or are just visiting, if you love natural beauty like I do, the Filoli Estate should be on your springtime (or anytime) to-visit list. It is one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th Century, and is open for the public to explore and enjoy. Filoli’s emphasis on bountiful gardens, plentiful resources, and self-sufficiency resonate with today’s visitors, and the incredible Eden of its country gardens is simply a work of botanical art. The estate’s annual Mother’s Day Flower Show, summer Jazz at Filoli Concert Series, monthly Afternoon Tea, and art gallery exhibitions keep the estate hopping all year ‘round. May brings Filoli’s volunteer open house, which is a wonderful way to help with spring planting while socializing with old friends and meeting new ones.
If you enjoy Filoli’s grand example of well-preserved eclectic architecture, you shouldn’t miss Burlingame’s “Great Estates of the Peninsula” event in April. This tour behind the gates of some of the area’s incredible Victorian-era mansions will take your breath away. A lecture spiced with photographs and stories will round out your education, leaving you truly in awe of the architectural beauty and fascinating heritage that have been preserved in Burlingame.
But if your interests lie a little more in the modern age, come to the Pacific Coast Dream Machine event at Half Moon Bay Airport, also in April. There, you can view a massive showcase of awe-inspiring hot rods, custom cars, low riders, sports cars, and even homebuilt aircraft. Amusements for kids, great food, and live music make it a grand event for everyone in the family.
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