Golden Gate Park
Ranked 3rd best neighborhood in San Francisco
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Great for
- Parks & Recreation
- Clean & Green
- Gym & Fitness
- Neighborly Spirit
- Public Transport
Not great for
- Nightlife
- Cost of Living
- Shopping Options
- Childcare
- Schools
Who lives here?
- Families with kids
- Professionals
- Singles
- Retirees
- LGBT+
Got a burning question? Why not ask the locals! Simply ask your question below
Reviews
Golden Gate Park
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Parking
- Public Transport
"A lovely escape with lovely history"
I love Golden Gate Park. Yeah, I know, who doesn't love a park in the middle of a congested city? But, Golden Gate Park is different from other city parks. It has a lot of cool history, it runs smack into the water, and has some really oddball accoutrements. Apparently, the San Franciscans of the 19th century already knew the city was gonna get out of control, population-wise - because they designated land to build a park as an escape for the future congested folk. The cool part about this park is that it was entirely made of sand dunes when Civil Engineer, William Hammond Hall took on the task of parkifying the place. You would never know by standing in the lush green with thousands of different kinds of plants and trees that no life was there just over a century ago. I only know because I read about it in the museum while waiting for my dinner reservation.
There are all kinds of different areas with different themes in the park to sync with the diversity of San Francisco. And, there is tons to do in this park. There's a multitude of dog runs and you can play tennis and fly fish in one day in one park. How's that for cool? Also, there is a garden dedicated to only plants and flowers that Shakespeare mentions in his writings which I think is really unique. Getting to the park is easy but the park is so expansive it's next to impossible to enjoy everything it has to offer in just one day. There is archery, horseshoes, a museum and a school all in one park -- so, take that New Yorkers!!
One side note I have to mention as well: go to Beach Chalet for a drink at sunset. It's kind of old folks in design as far as restaurants go, but it has one of the best sunset views I've ever seen.
There are all kinds of different areas with different themes in the park to sync with the diversity of San Francisco. And, there is tons to do in this park. There's a multitude of dog runs and you can play tennis and fly fish in one day in one park. How's that for cool? Also, there is a garden dedicated to only plants and flowers that Shakespeare mentions in his writings which I think is really unique. Getting to the park is easy but the park is so expansive it's next to impossible to enjoy everything it has to offer in just one day. There is archery, horseshoes, a museum and a school all in one park -- so, take that New Yorkers!!
One side note I have to mention as well: go to Beach Chalet for a drink at sunset. It's kind of old folks in design as far as restaurants go, but it has one of the best sunset views I've ever seen.
Pros
- Tons to do!
- green
Cons
- homeless population
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Tourists
- LGBT+
- Students
- Country Lovers
- Beach Lovers
Golden Gate Park
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Clean & Green
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Parking
- Public Transport
"The Great Escape"
Golden Gate Park is one of the most beautiful locations in the city. The long strip of grassy terrain and redwoods spreads over 1,000 acres and extends over three miles long. It stretches from the Panhandle to the Pacific Ocean and boasts one of San Francisco’s oldest landmarks.
With plenty of peace and quiet, the Golden Gate Park is the ultimate getaway from the bustling streets of Downtown San Francisco. Every weekend, hundreds of people gather with their friends and family for picnics, lawn games and other outdoor activities. Bring a racket and play on any of the 21 tennis courts that line the eastern edge of the park or lug a golf bag along nine holes of golf at the Golden Gate Golf Course. Many San Francisco residents also use the windy trails as a running track or bicycle lane. The park is also home to Kezar stadium, where many high schools play league championships.
When the clouds come in, visitors swarm to the California Academy of Sciences and the De Young Museum. Between the two, guests can soak up a whole day of science and culture between the two.
Public transportation is a bit rare in this area. Muni buses only come so often and its distance from downtown and other lively neighborhoods can make traveling a long commute.
With plenty of peace and quiet, the Golden Gate Park is the ultimate getaway from the bustling streets of Downtown San Francisco. Every weekend, hundreds of people gather with their friends and family for picnics, lawn games and other outdoor activities. Bring a racket and play on any of the 21 tennis courts that line the eastern edge of the park or lug a golf bag along nine holes of golf at the Golden Gate Golf Course. Many San Francisco residents also use the windy trails as a running track or bicycle lane. The park is also home to Kezar stadium, where many high schools play league championships.
When the clouds come in, visitors swarm to the California Academy of Sciences and the De Young Museum. Between the two, guests can soak up a whole day of science and culture between the two.
Public transportation is a bit rare in this area. Muni buses only come so often and its distance from downtown and other lively neighborhoods can make traveling a long commute.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Tourists
- LGBT+
- Hipsters
- Students
- Country Lovers
- Beach Lovers
Golden Gate Park
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"A must-see area"
Golden Gate Park is one of the best places to relax in the city. It's huge, which is impressive because San Francisco is not a large city. When I go here, I often get lost, because the roads zig zag and are not always labeled clearly (but that's part of the fun, right?).
I run, rollerblade, and bike here, and enjoy the miles of paths that the park provides. You could spend all day here enjoying the great weather that SF often has to offer. (But beware, the Sunset, which is south of the park, often has very cold temperatures that can roll into the park, so bring extra layers!) There are also a lot of open green area where you can have a picnic, read a book, or watch the dogs run around.
If you want to do something more structured, then you could rent a boat on Stowe Lake or see one of the many exhibits in the park (like the Conservatory of Flowers). I prefer to use the park as my own personal oasis for exercise and relaxation.
This is an easy destination to get to. There are plenty of bus lines that run along the side of the park, like the 5 or the 21.
I run, rollerblade, and bike here, and enjoy the miles of paths that the park provides. You could spend all day here enjoying the great weather that SF often has to offer. (But beware, the Sunset, which is south of the park, often has very cold temperatures that can roll into the park, so bring extra layers!) There are also a lot of open green area where you can have a picnic, read a book, or watch the dogs run around.
If you want to do something more structured, then you could rent a boat on Stowe Lake or see one of the many exhibits in the park (like the Conservatory of Flowers). I prefer to use the park as my own personal oasis for exercise and relaxation.
This is an easy destination to get to. There are plenty of bus lines that run along the side of the park, like the 5 or the 21.
Pros
- peacefull
- green
Cons
- homeless population
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Tourists
- LGBT+
- Students
- Country Lovers
Golden Gate Park
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"An urban oasis"
Golden Gate Park is one of San Francisco’s greatest treasures. This 1,000+-acre park is home to an impressive array of cultural institutions, gardens, festivals and entertainment options. The best way to visit Golden Gate Park is to take public transportation, bike, or walk from a nearby neighborhood. You can drive but parking may be challenging, especially on the weekends. Typically the morning and early afternoons see the best weather in the Park. Always be prepared and bring extra layers because the fog can quickly blow in and chill things off, sometimes by 20 degrees.
There are so many things to explore in Golden Gate Park. Most popular is the centrally located DeYoung Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers. All four of these cultural institutions are exquisite and offer something for everyone. Stow Lake is a fun place to spend the day enjoying a rented rowboat and picnic lunch. The Stow Lake vendor also rents bicycles and surreys that can be taken out on JFK Drive on car-free Sundays.
If you enjoy walking or biking, the park has hundreds of trails and paths to explore. Very few people take these unbeaten paths and oftentimes you will have long stretches of trail to yourself. When I need some peace and quite I often begin a walk at the Aids Memorial Garden, a serene and solemn asylum. From the Memorial, several nice paths branch out in the area southwest of MLK Drive.
There are so many things to explore in Golden Gate Park. Most popular is the centrally located DeYoung Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers. All four of these cultural institutions are exquisite and offer something for everyone. Stow Lake is a fun place to spend the day enjoying a rented rowboat and picnic lunch. The Stow Lake vendor also rents bicycles and surreys that can be taken out on JFK Drive on car-free Sundays.
If you enjoy walking or biking, the park has hundreds of trails and paths to explore. Very few people take these unbeaten paths and oftentimes you will have long stretches of trail to yourself. When I need some peace and quite I often begin a walk at the Aids Memorial Garden, a serene and solemn asylum. From the Memorial, several nice paths branch out in the area southwest of MLK Drive.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
Golden Gate Park
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Lack of Traffic
- Public Transport
"Peaceful Part of San Francisco"
Golden Gate Park is the place to go if you’re new in San Francisco. Golden Gate Park has everything non-materialistic you will ever need. And by that I mean everything you’ll need to have a fun relaxing, peaceful, quiet time. Here at Golden Gate Park you can bring the family, friends, lover and enjoy every second of it. Here you’ll find sites like the Japanese Tea Garden, definitely a great place to go to with your lover or as tourists. There are also two very big museums in Golden Gate Park which is the De Young Museum with famous exhibits such as the Tutankhamun exhibit. There is also the Academy of Sciences Museum which gets really busy on Wednesday mornings when admission into the museum is free. I believe it is still very busy on Wednesdays to this day just because of its popular displays and exhibits within the museum.
If you want to do some recreational stuff without having to spend money on museum tickets, you could bring cereal, bread, or any type of grain food to the small ponds and lakes and feed the birds and ducks there. Be sure to go to the smaller more secluded lakes and ponds because you don’t want all the seagulls taking all the food. It’s also fun to bring children while doing this kind of stuff because they love playing around with animals.
There are many small roads throughout Golden Gate Park, so I would definitely recommend taking a random stroll or job through Golden Gate Park because you never know where you will end up, don’t worry, it won’t be Narnia.
If you want to do some recreational stuff without having to spend money on museum tickets, you could bring cereal, bread, or any type of grain food to the small ponds and lakes and feed the birds and ducks there. Be sure to go to the smaller more secluded lakes and ponds because you don’t want all the seagulls taking all the food. It’s also fun to bring children while doing this kind of stuff because they love playing around with animals.
There are many small roads throughout Golden Gate Park, so I would definitely recommend taking a random stroll or job through Golden Gate Park because you never know where you will end up, don’t worry, it won’t be Narnia.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
Golden Gate Park
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Lack of Traffic
- Public Transport
"Peaceful Part of San Francisco"
Golden Gate Park is the place to go if you’re new in San Francisco. Golden Gate Park has everything non-materialistic you will ever need. And by that I mean everything you’ll need to have a fun relaxing, peaceful, quiet time. Here at Golden Gate Park you can bring the family, friends, lover and enjoy every second of it. Here you’ll find sites like the Japanese Tea Garden, definitely a great place to go to with your lover or as tourists. There are also two very big museums in Golden Gate Park which is the De Young Museum with famous exhibits such as the Tutankhamun exhibit. There is also the Academy of Sciences Museum which gets really busy on Wednesday mornings when admission into the museum is free. I believe it is still very busy on Wednesdays to this day just because of its popular displays and exhibits within the museum.
If you want to do some recreational stuff without having to spend money on museum tickets, you could bring cereal, bread, or any type of grain food to the small ponds and lakes and feed the birds and ducks there. Be sure to go to the smaller more secluded lakes and ponds because you don’t want all the seagulls taking all the food. It’s also fun to bring children while doing this kind of stuff because they love playing around with animals.
There are many small roads throughout Golden Gate Park, so I would definitely recommend taking a random stroll or job through Golden Gate Park because you never know where you will end up, don’t worry, it won’t be Narnia.
If you want to do some recreational stuff without having to spend money on museum tickets, you could bring cereal, bread, or any type of grain food to the small ponds and lakes and feed the birds and ducks there. Be sure to go to the smaller more secluded lakes and ponds because you don’t want all the seagulls taking all the food. It’s also fun to bring children while doing this kind of stuff because they love playing around with animals.
There are many small roads throughout Golden Gate Park, so I would definitely recommend taking a random stroll or job through Golden Gate Park because you never know where you will end up, don’t worry, it won’t be Narnia.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
Golden Gate Park
"One of the best parks ever"
No trip to San Fransciso would be complete without a trip to Golden Gate Park. This park is actually larger than Central Park! It is a major tourist destination and one of my favorite places in San Francisco.
The park is very accessible. In fact, it is next to Haight-Ashbury (another favorite haunt of mine.) It is also the place to go for large outdoor gatherings. You definitely get the vibe that a lot of "free love" has taken place in this location. The park really is quite lovely. You can see some gorgeous trees and amazing foliage.
Golden Gate Park has some interesting attractions including the Conservatory of Flowers, The AIDS Memorial Grove and the Japanese Tea Gardens. Also the Academy of Sciences is a big natural history museum also situated in Golden Gate Park. My favorite of these places is the Conservatory of Flowers. It gave me a chance to see quite a few types of flowers that I had never seen before.
Another cool thing about Golden Gate Park is that there are historic windmills. They used to actually pump water into the park.
The only downside to the park is that there are a lot of homeless people. In fact, this park is known for its large homeless population. However, many of them seem very nice and peaceful.
The park is very accessible. In fact, it is next to Haight-Ashbury (another favorite haunt of mine.) It is also the place to go for large outdoor gatherings. You definitely get the vibe that a lot of "free love" has taken place in this location. The park really is quite lovely. You can see some gorgeous trees and amazing foliage.
Golden Gate Park has some interesting attractions including the Conservatory of Flowers, The AIDS Memorial Grove and the Japanese Tea Gardens. Also the Academy of Sciences is a big natural history museum also situated in Golden Gate Park. My favorite of these places is the Conservatory of Flowers. It gave me a chance to see quite a few types of flowers that I had never seen before.
Another cool thing about Golden Gate Park is that there are historic windmills. They used to actually pump water into the park.
The only downside to the park is that there are a lot of homeless people. In fact, this park is known for its large homeless population. However, many of them seem very nice and peaceful.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
Golden Gate Park
"Sunday is a Fun Day"
One of the great things about Golden Gate Park -- if you want to be in the park rather than driving through it -- is the fact that John F. Kennedy Drive is closed between Stanyan and Park Presidio. This is such a fabulous thing for people who want to use the pavement (skaters, roller blades, biking) with out worry about cars.
The amphitheater near the De Young Museum is an awesome site you'll want to check out if you're in the park and especially if you're at the De Young or the Japanese Tea Garden. The Tea Garden is free after 4 daily (or used to be), so save a few bucks by going later in the day.
The botanical garden is not to be missed. Nor is Stowe Lake -- where you can paddle boat if you're so inclined.
The amphitheater near the De Young Museum is an awesome site you'll want to check out if you're in the park and especially if you're at the De Young or the Japanese Tea Garden. The Tea Garden is free after 4 daily (or used to be), so save a few bucks by going later in the day.
The botanical garden is not to be missed. Nor is Stowe Lake -- where you can paddle boat if you're so inclined.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
Golden Gate Park
"Activity has no limit in Golden Gate Park"
This neighborhood is great for fun and recreation. Golden Gate Park is a haven away from the urban chaos and I am told from the locals that over 75,000 people people visit the park on any given weekend.
In the community, you will find so much to do you will have a hard time prioritizing your rec list. But, plan accordingly because you don't want to miss out at the Conservatory of Flowers (featuring an exhibit with over 800 live butterflies that will flit and flutter among you), the Japanese Tea Garden, or the California Academy of Sciences.
Golden Gate Park is also your destination for archery, basketball, biking and skating, golf, fly-fishing, handball, and even sea-lion watching. Equipment rentals are spread throughout the park and items can be rented for reasonable fees.
The AIDS Memorial Grove is located at the intersection of Bowling Green Drive and Middle Drive East, and is a touching and solemn spot of reflection built and maintained by caring volunteers.
Whatever you want to do on those coveted sunny San Francisco weekends, Golden Gate Park will provide.
In the community, you will find so much to do you will have a hard time prioritizing your rec list. But, plan accordingly because you don't want to miss out at the Conservatory of Flowers (featuring an exhibit with over 800 live butterflies that will flit and flutter among you), the Japanese Tea Garden, or the California Academy of Sciences.
Golden Gate Park is also your destination for archery, basketball, biking and skating, golf, fly-fishing, handball, and even sea-lion watching. Equipment rentals are spread throughout the park and items can be rented for reasonable fees.
The AIDS Memorial Grove is located at the intersection of Bowling Green Drive and Middle Drive East, and is a touching and solemn spot of reflection built and maintained by caring volunteers.
Whatever you want to do on those coveted sunny San Francisco weekends, Golden Gate Park will provide.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
