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California Academy of Sciences |
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Music Concourse – |
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Between Cal Academy and de Young Museum is a bandshell, rows of trees (fairy door in one of the trees), and lots of benches. Perfect spot for lunch outdoors. In summer, often free live music on weekends. |
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Behind the bandshell are restrooms, food trucks and snacks. Here you can rent bikes (kids' bikes are available) and surreys. |
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De Young Museum – |
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First stop, after you've sat on all the nice Andy Goldsworthy stone boulders
at museum entrance, is the Hamon Observation tower. From the observation tower, there's an expansive
view of Golden Gate park, San Francisco neighborhoods, the Golden Gate
Bridge and Marin headlands in the distance. |
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Tip: While you're waiting for the elevator to the observation deck, don't miss exquisite woven artworks by Ruth Asawa, hanging from the ceiling and on the walls. |
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Some of our favorite pieces in museum permanent collection – Three Machines (three colorful
gumball machines) by Wayne Thiebaud, clay and glass work, Pacific Northwest and Hopi Native American art, and exquisite Maya artifacts. |
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Japanese Tea Garden – This Japanese-style garden
was created for the 1894 Exposition. It was designed by Makoto Hagiwara,
who is also credited with the invention of the fortune cookie. Today, explore
this exquisite landscape with a beautiful red pagoda and temple gate, statue of the Buddha, Lantern of Peace, ponds,
waterfalls and sunken gardens. |
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Kids will want to go over the Moon Bridge several
times. Look for a deer, two wading birds, and four frogs (bronze statues) in the garden. Stop in the tea
house for Japanese snacks, sweets, udon, mochi ice cream, tea and soft drinks. |
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Heroes Redwood Grove (JFK Promenade) – |
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Near the Rose Garden is a mini-grove of redwoods. Coastal redwoods were planted as a memorial to soldiers of World War I. It's a peaceful, quiet stroll through soaring redwood trees, light filtering through the branches. |
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To walk through the grove, from the Rose Garden near the entrance from JFK Promenade, you'll see a dirt path through the trees. Follow the path east, it comes out on the promenade, behind the deYoung Museum observation tower. |
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Koret's Children's Quarter and Carousel (Keezar Drive) –
This large playground is a favorite place for local kids. Swing on the toddler swings,
crawl through big tubes, climb on the multi-colored structures, whoosh down the long
slide, splash water and play in the sand. |
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Little kids will also
enjoy the beautifully restored carousel. |
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Picnics – Golden Gate Park is the perfect place
for a picnic. You can spread a picnic out wherever there is a grassy spot.
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There are picnic tables near the Children's Playground, Rose Garden, Pioneer
Cabin, and tables and bar-b-que grills in Lindley Meadow, Marx Meadow (along
John F. Kenney Drive, west of Crossover Drive.) |
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Blue Heron Lake – Blue Heron Lake is a large artificial lake
with an island, Strawberry Hill, in the middle. |
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Rents boats at Blue Heron Boathouse – pedal boats and row boats are available.
As you boat around Stow Lake, you'll pass by the Golden Gate Pavilion, a
Chinese-style gazebo with green-tiled roof, and Huntington Falls. |
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bikes – Next to Blue Heron Boathouse, you can rent bikes and pedal surreys for two, four, or six people. Surreys
are ideal if you have little kids. |
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Climb
up Strawberry Hill – Cross over the rustic bridge, and climb up
the path to the top of Strawberry Hill. At the top, there are fine views
of the Golden Gate Bridge through the cypress trees. |
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Fairy Doors – |
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Look for fairy doors in Golden Gate Park. Fairy doors are tiny doors situated at the bottom of trees – "Welcome Fairies." |
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We've located three doors in the park – and provided maps to make them easy to find. On our blog: Fairy Doors in Golden Gate Park |
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Elk Glen Lake – |
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Small scenic lake with sandy beach, ducks paddling in the water, surrounded by trees, benches to sit down. Lake is located west of Blue Heron Lake and Crossover Dr. |
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Tip: A fairy door is located on the trail around the lake. Check blog post above for map to locate the door. |
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Hellman Hollow – |
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Looking for a place to picnic and kids run around? This is great spot to come on a holiday weekend, when other areas are more crowded and parking is difficult. |
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Very large grassy area with plenty of picnic tables and restrooms. Bring kites to fly, it's usually windy. and balls to toss around. |
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Bison Paddock – Bison, or buffalo as they are more popularly
called, are long gone from the American prairies, but you can see them
in Golden Gate Park. Bison have been grazing in Golden Gate Park for over
a 100 years. Tip: Often the bison are not very visible, grazing far up the field. |
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Beach Chalet and Dutch Windmill –
Stop in the Beach Chalet, now a Vistor's Center and restaurant.
In the visitor's center, there is a wonderful diorama of Golden Gate Park
(complete with gobs of miniature trees.) The murals on the walls depict
scenes from San Francisco in the 1930's. |
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Next to Beach Chalet is the "Dutch Windmill." This 75 ft. windmill was originally built to pump water for use in Golden
Gate Park. The windmill has been restored and the arms move in the wind. |
