Golden Gate Park: Perfect Family Park For North Californians?
Besides being a highly populated and sophisticated city, San Francisco boasts several green havens, with the most prominent of them being the famous Golden Gate Park. This park is not just a giant patch of grass, where visitors can enjoy throwing frisbees and having picnics. To be precise, it is the city’s life line; a verdant oasis where revelers can relax and reconnect with nature.
In its own respect, Golden Gate Park is a paradise, complete with gorgeous gardens, lakes, monuments, playgrounds, trails and picnic groves. It boasts a wide array of cultural venues and events, where visitors have the chance to experience the outside world. It is the only place in San Francisco where you can see great art, row in a boat, ride a carousel, watch American bison, smell exotic flowers, take pictures in a Chinese pavilion, and sip endless cups of Japanese coffee all day long.
Spending time in this magical park is easy. However, given all that it has to offer, you will find it a daunting task when deciding which places to visit, or what to do first. To help you plan your visit, we have highlighted a few of the park’s special features, and also things you should consider doing.
1. Explore The Park On Wheels
If you have ever visited Golden Gate Park, you must be well aware that it is expansive. Covering approximately 3 miles from east to west, and half a mile from north to south, you will find it hard to be able to visit the best places, if you opt to walk.
Adding some wheels to the mix will add extra excitement to the whole experience. You can explore the park on your bike, skateboard, roller skates or use a Segway, whichever you find more convenient. This way, you will be in a position to explore and discover more. If you don’t own a bike, why not rent one at the park, or even better, go for a guided biking tour? If you are looking for an exquisite experience, ask for a guided Segway tour from the San Francisco Electric Tour Company, located within the park.
Whichever mode you opt for, remember that there are locations within the park that are designated for only pedestrians. Be sure to pay attention to the park’s road signs and observe the traffic rules.
2. Find Some Tranquility
The park is a collage of hills, meadows, lakes, and gardens, which makes it the ideal place to have a picnic, sunbathe, relax, toss a frisbee, or even read a book. With superbly themed locations such as Heroes Grove, Whiskey Hill, Hippie Hill and Bunny Meadow, you will surely find a place that suits your mood. For instance, you might become interested in having a picnic at Bunny Meadow, take a stroll in the Dahlia flower garden, or go swinging at Hippie Hill.
You could also relax on the benches near pretty Stow Lake, or stroll around Shakespeare’s garden, which is actually packed with plants and flowers mentioned in Shakespeare’s poems and plays.
3. Learn Some Science
If you are an enthusiast of sea life, fossils, star gazing, gemstones or tropical plants, the California Academy of Sciences has got you covered. It is a large museum, considered as one of the most environmentally friendly museums in the world, with an emphasis on natural history exhibits. One of its most astounding exhibitions is a rainforest, complete with several species of animals and plants.
This museum also plays host to the Morrison planetarium, the world’s largest digital planetarium, and also the Steinhart Aquarium. In here, you will learn about the Big Bang Theory, extinct animals, and earthquakes. You will also get a golden opportunity to see albino alligators, watch African penguins, observe tropical fish, and even take a walk through a rainforest.
The museum also facilitates a wide variety of family fun activities during the day, and once a week, they host late night adults-only cocktails. Sleepovers for entire families are also available.
4. Enjoy A Wide Variety Of Flowers
If you are a flower enthusiast, it’s a guarantee that you will find it hard to figure out which section of the park to visit, because there are several places with plenty of flowers. However, you will find the Conservatory of Flowers good enough for you. It is an elaborate, Victorian-themed greenhouse with a wide collection of exotic and rare plants. Though the flowers are appealing to the eyes, you will also appreciate the building, which has a 60 foot dome and glass walls all around.
The Conservatory is home to about 1,700 plant species from around the world. If you love Japanese plants and flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden should be at the top of your list. For those who can’t afford to pay entry fees into the garden, there are several other gardens, such as the Dahlia garden, with no entry charges.
5. Visit The Museum
Thanks to the De Young Museum, the park is a perfect place for visitors who love art. Established in 1894, the museum boasts of a wide and permanent collection of art. It has a reputation for hosting huge art exhibitions all year round. If you love art, the museum is a must visit.
If you are not ready to part with entry fees, the Hamon Education Tower Observation Deck has no entry charges. It is open on a daily basis and closes at 4:30 pm. Art is not just in the museums, it is also scattered throughout the park. So don’t close your eyes or you will end up missing some of the best pieces of art.
With so many things to do in San Francisco, it is no wonder that demand of new houses in surrounding areas such as Fremont is climbing. The Golden Gate Park is just one of dozens of things to do if you close to San Francisco!