San Francisco's Best Parks
Gardens, Museums, Views, and People Watching in a California City
This article describes the atmosphere, art, attractions, and activities in San Francisco, California's best parks.
Visitors to San Francisco often find themselves falling hopelessly in love with the city, particularly its parks.
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is world-famous for good reason. A person could spend weeks wandering the expansive grounds, exploring the gardens and museums. Many of the park’s best attractions are located within its eastern half. The historic Conservatory of Flowers is a tropical oasis on a cool San Francisco day. Those lucky enough to arrive during a butterfly exhibit shouldn’t miss the opportunity to stand surrounded by the colorful creatures flying freely in the butterfly room.
Another highlight is the Japanese Tea Garden. Its tranquil grounds, winding paths, and clever bridges are the perfect prelude to one of the best tea experiences in San Francisco. Nearby is the de Young Museum whose intriguing, copper-colored architecture is worth a trip in itself. Those looking for more active pastimes can rent a boat on Stow Lake or head over to Marx Meadow for a game of disc golf.
The Presidio of San Francisco
First a Spanish and then a U.S. military base, today The Presidio is the weekend destination for San Franciscans and tourists alike. The Warming Hut, at the base of Torpedo Wharf, is one of the best places from which to take photos of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. More industrious visitors can follow the Coastal Trail, exploring rocky beaches along the way.
At the opposite end of The Presidio sits the Palace of Fine Arts, a historic structure movie fans may remember as one of the many California locations featured in an Alfred Hitchcock film - in this case, Vertigo. Next to the Palace of Fine Arts is the Exploratorium, an interactive science museum as much fun for adults as it is for kids.
Pioneer Park
Another San Francisco park with wonderful views is Pioneer Park. It is reachable by bus up winding Telegraph Hill or by walking up the lovely (but steep) Filbert Street Steps. Most visitors to the park are there to see Coit Tower, another must-see San Francisco landmark. At the top of the tower is a 360-degree view of the city. At the bottom are gorgeous, Roosevelt-era murals depicting American workers.
Dolores Park
Dolores Park is in San Francisco’s Mission District, a locale filled with gorgeous murals and an abundance of San Francisco’s Latino culture. Although the local murals, historic mission, and city views attract visitors, it remains a neighborhood park. This is where locals come to sunbathe, play games, nap in the grass, and even watch the occasional free movie.
Washington Square Park
Another park where travelers can observe locals whiling away a Saturday is Washington Square Park in North Beach. Here some residents read the San Francisco Chronicle while they wait on the inevitably long breakfast line at Mama’s on Washington Square. Others practice Tai Chi together. In the afternoons, post-brunch dog walkers and Frisbee players ponder which of the many cafes and restaurants of this Italian-influenced neighborhood they will eat at that evening.
Details
Golden Gate Park, between Fulton and Lincoln and between Great Highway and Stanyan
Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JFK Drive, 415-666-7001
Japanese Tea Garden, Tea Garden Drive and Martin Luther King Drive, 415-752-4227
The de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, 415-750-3600
The Presidio, Highways 1 and 101 South of the Golden Gate Bridge
The Warming Hut, Presidio Building 983, 415-561-3040
The Palace of Fine Arts/Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon Street, 415-674-2893
Pioneer Park/Coit Tower, Telegraph Hill Boulevard, 415-362-0808
Dolores Park, 19th and Dolores Streets
Washington Square Park, Filbert, Stockton and Columbus
Mama’s on Washington Square, 1701 Stockton Street, 415-362-6421
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