Lauren and I were out and about last weekend and I decided to take a short little detour home. Just 5 miles from my little apartment is all this beauty! We drove to Villa Montalvo (Saratoga, California).
It's a beautiful old mansion that is open to the public. They have art shows and music concerts and it's also available for weddings and private events. There are even beautiful gardens to walk through. We didn't stop though, we just drove through...
and Lauren snapped photos from the car...
Isn't it beautiful?
The area around Villa Montalvo is beautiful too...
There are gorgeous homes here...
This one below was Lauren's favorite. She said she wants to live there when she grows up! She's putting a photo of it on her inspiration board...which made me so happy!
More beautiful homes...
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After we left Saratoga we drove a few miles away to Los Gatos to look at more beautiful homes. These aren't as grand as the Saratoga homes but oh-so-charming!!!
I always end up driving by one of my favorite homes, the one with the white picket fence below. I would LOVE to see the inside of this....
I never get tired of driving by beautiful homes! Something about it just lifts my spirits!
Regarding yesterday's post....I laughed when I read that some of you thought I had climbed the tree to put the lights up. Haha...I think my tree-climbing days ended decades ago! I just used a ladder to do it and wrapped and wrapped and it didn't take as long as you would think! If you do it, just make sure you use Outdoor lights!
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47 comments:
This is beautiful! Beautiful like only California can be. It makes me a bit homesick! I was just thinking the other day that I miss Sunday drives. I think that I'll see if I can talk Mr. Tom into splurging on a toodle around the country side. You never know what gorgeous home and garden you'll find tucked away around here!
Thanks for sharing this, it makes me feel warm and happy - like I took a pleasant trip down memory lane.
Love, katy
I luv the beautiful vintage homes over there. And the garden look so green. We have great victorians in Redlands Ca. Where I was born. Thanks for sharing...Julian
You should ask the white picket fence house owners if you can see the inside of the their home! Over the years my mom has been asked by people walking by and she's let them in.
I'm glad to hear you weren't dangling from that tree but I still think you're brave for climbing a ladder! I stood on a chair yesterday and almost fainted.
Hi Cindy
Yes, Los Gatos is beautiful. The homes are so romantic.
xoxo
Betty
I love visiting neighborhoods that have beautiful homes. The Villa Montalvo is a very beautiful house.
I think a trip to that area is in order. such beauty. Thank you for taking us along with you.
Oh my.....I could live in any one of those homes!! Breath-taking!!
Have a Great Day!!
Love,
Marilyn
xxoo
Just gorgeous....all the homes! I'll take the brown one w/ the white fence......I'd be very happy there forever! Thanks for taking us along for the tour....it was a lot of fun!
Definitely lifted my spirits as well...thanks so much for sharing!
OMG, I totally understand that uplifting feeling when driving through beautiful neighbourhoods with aww inspiring homes.
My husband and I both enjoy the drive thrus... but these were beautiful, very beautiful.
Cindy,
Not only are you smart, you ARE ALL TOO FUNNY!! Just reading and looking at your beautiful pictures lifts me daily!Your Sunday drives are awesome!
You are such an inspiration to me, my husband redid my grandma's hoosier cabinet and I am trying to imitate your cabinet, using my great grandmas' crocheting and linens!
Till next time,
Sharon
Hello Cindy, THANK YOU for taking this little side trip and photographing that beautiful home along with all the others. The large homes are gorgeous but the smaller ones to me are much more charming and cozy. Plus I was enjoying seeing the exterior colors as we are trying to choose the right color for our cottage! I hope you have a wonderful afternoon...Maura:)
Gorgeous homes~! I personally would prefer the smaller more charming ones, to the more grand ones. I too love the one you love...just something about a white picket fence and arbor that says welcome home. *sigh* ...just makes a girl's heart sing! :-)
Oh, and I LOVE the lights up in your tree from the last post...so magical! I don't have any trees in my backyard, but I'm considering planting one now! hee hee hee I do have 3 lovely bradford pears all in a neat little row in my front yard and they make me happy. :)
Beautiful homes...those white picket fences with the lovely rose bushes that tangled around them just really do it for me!
Cindy,
I love when you take us along on your trips. Tell Lauren she did a great job with the photography.
Northern CA is truly a magical place to live! Thanks for bringing it to life for the rest of us.
Marilyn (in Dallas)
I too love to drive past beautiful homes like these.
I love to wonder about how they look inside and what the lives are like of the people and families that dwell there.
Someday soon, I will be over in your neck of our California woods..LOL!!! When I do, I'd love a driving tour with you.
Or at least get some directions...HEHEHE
These are so beautiful. It reminds me to visit there again sometimes soon. It's nice driving down in that area. I should take some pictures like you next time I drive down there. Thanks for sharing these photos!
Beautiful homes. One can daydream, right!! ;-D
xoxo
Janie
What a lovely place. Don't you wonder what those people do for a living and how they can afford to live there. I always want to stop and knock on the door to ask. Though I never would of course.
Have you ever stopped and toured the mansion? I would love to see the inside.
Saratoga looks gorgeous! I would love to drive through and dream as well. thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the tour of all the lovely homes! :)
Those are beautiful. I would be thrilled to live in any of the homes pictured!
I prefer the homes in Los Gatos....so pretty! Thanks for the tour Cindy. California is so beautiful hopefully Hubby and I will get there one day to visit his family.
Love the mansion. My aunt lived in Los Gatos in the 1970's. She lived on a beautiful ranch.
Cindy....Beautiful photos of the mansion and grounds! I think I like the Los Gatos area because I am a lover of homes with "character". Isn't it wonderful when we discover something beautiful so close to home?~Hugs, Patti
Hello Cindy, thank-you for sharing the beautiful photos. They are remarkably gorgeous houses. I've never been to California, so this is really a treat. Happy that you had such a nice day. Beverley
Bonjour Cindy,
Thanks for the lovely tour. I'm sure you could work decorating wonders in these homes.
Good week to you,
Mimi
Very beautiful! Great photos! They would make a wonderful book! ♥
Villa Montalvo is just amazing! Looking at charming homes is just the best :)
Beautiful homes and I just love California!
So beautiful! A lot different from Kansas, not that Kansas isn't great! ;)
Cindy,
can i repost your pic in my blog? they're so cute and inspirational too.. hehe
thanks in advance!
Lauren has good taste just like her mom!
Oh what gorgeous homes! Thanks for taking us with you:)
Oh!!!!!! these houses and garden are gorgeous, so romantic !!! I love them so much!!!!
Hugs
Cathy
Sweet sighs of happiness!
Please stop by an enter my French Basketeer tote giveaway.
Your making me homesick!! Las Vegas doesn't have anything as beautiful as Villa Montalvo. It has some of the most beautiful hiking trails.
What a beautiful area! Thanks so much for sharing all the lovely photos.
They are true beautiful movies houses!
I would like to live in one of those houses :)
xoxo
Kátia
Hi Cindy:
I too never tire of looking at beautiful homes. It's so fun and inpirational. And yes, there are those times that I think how wonderful it would be to see inside!
- The Tablescaper
Beautiful photos, beautiful blog indeed, don't mind if I put it in my reading list and become ur follower. Thnks..
Suffia.
Wow . Would like to know who lives like that?What a wonderful to live there is so much green and flowers. Just found your blog will be back Laura
Thanks for sharing that beautiful area with us. The beauty all around us is amazing if we just take the time to enjoy. It looks like you and your daughter did just that. She did an amazing job getting pictures. You have trained her well.
I did like the Los Gatos area with all the different styles of houses and I agree, the one with the picket fence was my favorite.
Ouuuu so beautiful!
I'd take charming over Grand any day!
Thank you for taking us with you two!
Hugz, Dolly
come visit
Yes, these are nice. But really, I like your cozy little place much better.
thank you for the virtual drive. That home is amazing and the cottage, flower covered ones are too!
lovely,
Kathy
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