The Mountain Terrace 17285 Skyline Boulevard • Woodside • CA 94062

Whether you’re driving down from San Francisco or up from San Jose, the final six miles to The Mountain Terrace are sensational. They ascend a mountainside on state route 84, one of California’s most magnificent sections of highway. The scenic road is flanked by sturdy old oaks, dense fragrant redwood groves, and huge chateau-like mansions. There are spectacular bay and ridge views at several spots along the way and, in a couple of places, imposing trees thrust their branches out across the road to form living archways.

If the last leg of the trip is a revelation, a second surprise awaits at the top. Where Highway 84 meets up with redwood-edged Skyline Blvd., there’s a small crossroads settlement. The Mountain Terrace is an unassuming wooden building at the far end of this little village. However, as they say, appearances can be deceiving: The Mountain Terrace’s prosaic exterior conceals glories inside. Once you cross the parking lot and pass through a redwood arbor, what you see takes your breath away: a brilliant green acre of lawn, shimmering in the sunlight, rimmed by oaks and dozens of soaring redwoods. At its far boundary, where the mountain begins to slope to the lowlands, it draws your eyes to a sweeping view of the southern part of San Francisco Bay all the way down to the Fremont hills.

By itself, the lawn makes a perfect spot for an elegant outdoor wedding and reception. But there’s more—once you’ve taken in the lawn, you turn to see a large two-level redwood deck with market lights overhead. Right away you know it would make a superb setting for a stand-up reception, sit-down dinner or any kind of function in between. Just beyond the deck there are more oaks (one with a tree swing) shading chairs beneath them along with a fire pit. The little grove makes a perfect nook partygoers can use to take a break from the main festivities while not losing touch.

There’s still more: Glass doors connect the deck to a substantial indoor space, divided into a dining room and a bar/dance area by a large stone fireplace. The antique bar, made of solid oak, has hefty Doric columns carved into it and is backed by a massive three-part mirror. The room’s hardwood floor invites carefree dancing (there’s an area where a band or DJ can set up). The dining area, which can also be used for dancing, looks out through picture windows onto the deck and lawn. In winter, with a roaring fire inside and mist-shrouded redwoods outside, it makes a cozy wedding and reception site by itself.

As a facility, The Mountain Terrace is a “three-fer”: stunning lawn and view, inviting interior, and grand redwood deck. Then there’s the drive up, which will put your guests in such a good mood, by the time they arrive they’ll be ready to fully enjoy the charms of this very special place.