Woodside is a highly affluent and exclusive rural enclave for the Bay Area’s richest families. It has rolling, wooded hillsides covered in Redwood, Oak and Eucaplyptus groves, vineyards, grazing horses and spectacular mansions and estates. It is a bubble of nature and serenity within convenient reach of the big city energy of San Francisco and innovation hub of Silicon Valley. 

History

Woodside was originally a vast and beautiful Redwood forest, home to the native Ohlone tribe, which was displaced soon after Spanish explorers arrived in 1769. The first English-speaking settlers arrived in the early 19th century and recognized the wealth of the lumber. 20-year-old Mathias Parkhurst purchased 127 acres in 1849, naming the land “Woodside”. He began supplying Redwood lumber to San Francisco during the Gold Rush, and later to rebuild after the 1906 earthquake. The Sequoia Redwoods in Woodside today are the 3rd generation growth. The city was officially incorporated in 1956 to maintain its rural residential character.

Things to Do

• Parks: Woodside is filled with parks and open spaces that make you forget you are in one of the most populated urban centers in America. Filioli Estates is a must see 16 acre garden listed on the National Register of Historic place. Folger Estate Stables is an interesting historic ranch preserved within Wunderlich Park, which itself is a Redwood forest with scenic trails. And Huddart Park is another forested area with trails and picnic spots.
• Arts: Woodside is conveniently located next to world class art and music venues in the surrounding Peninsula communities including Stanford, Palo Alto and San Francisco.
• Dining: Woodside has a limited number of quaint favorite restaurants and bakeries. But if you are looking for something more exciting, you have the entire Peninsula community at your doorstep, most notably downtown Palo Alto is just a short drive up Sand Hill Road.