Designed in 1871 by park commissioner William Hall, the Golden Gate Park is over five kilometres long and 800 metres wide, and a favourite spot for residents and visitors to walk, meet, relax and picnic. Over 405 hectares of landscaped gardens and walking trails through woods and lakes make the park a green oasis in one of the USA’s most vibrant cities. Starting at the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood, the park runs all the way down to the Pacific Coast.
Take a step back in time to San Francisco’s renowned hippy years by finding the Janis Joplin tree or joining in with one of the drum circles that spring up around the park. Get a group of friends together and hire a couple of paddleboats and spend some time gliding across the lake. The park is bursting with flowers, with a beautiful tulip garden and the world’s largest flower conservatory, the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers.
The park is home to the world famous California Academy of Sciences, and within it there is a planetarium, a rainforest, an aquarium and countless interactive learning opportunities. The academy also has a “living” building, with a fascinating roof covered in greenery. The nearby De Young Art Museum is one of North America’s best, and displays work from artists across the Americas, Africa and Asia. Head to the top of the museum for some great views across the city.
From science and art go straight to culture at the serene Japanese Tea Gardens. With its manicured lawns, decorative bridges and tea shop, it’s like rural Japan in the heart of San Francisco.
Then it’s nature’s turn. The park is home to a collection of gulls, warblers, woodpeckers and herons, as well as lakes filled with frogs and turtles. Best of all is the herd of mighty bison who live in an enclosed field to the north of the park, next to Spreckels Lake. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can pull on a pair of roller-skates to explore the park, but watch out for the hills!
You can get to Golden Gate Park by public transport – the Muni runs there from locations throughout the city. If you’re driving, you can try your luck with parking in one of the streets surrounding the park, or simply head straight to the car park on Fulton Street and 10th Avenue. The Golden Gate Park is best explored on foot or by bike.
