A beautiful park that is quieter and farther away from the major attractions. After seeing all of the crowded touristy areas, going to Golden Gate Park was a much needed respite. I spent half of my morning just walking through the park, enjoying nature, gorgeous weather, and some random bison (I’m still not sure why they are there). It was definitely a way to unwind and enjoy a more serene side of San Francisco.

Golden Gate Park is a bit far from the city center but it can be accessed by buses. There are some museums and other attractions, so you can combine multiple locations.

Very crowded and a jammed parking lot. But, a great spot to get a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the bay. Perfect spot for a great view. Lots of tourists there!

What a Lot to See in Golden Gate Park by Foot! I parked for free on Martin Luther King Jr Drive near the DeYoung Museum, and took myself on significant walk throughout Golden Gate Park, basically in the shape of a rectangle. The walk took me about two hours. There are several well-maintained, public restrooms along the route. I walked due west as far as the street could go. The Queen Wilhelmina Windmill is on your right, one minute before the street dead ends at the Great Highway. Then I doubled back and went north on Chain of Lakes, east on John F Kennedy Drive, returning on the Crosstown Trail going south which connected me back to Martin Luther King Jr Drive where I had parked. After seeing the windmill (see separate review), I also passed by the bison paddock (see separate review), fly catching pools, Lindley Meadow (see separate review), the Rose Garden (see separate review), Blue Heron Lake, a Dragon art installation, painted streets, and a lilypad-filled fountain at the DeYoung (see photos). If you or if others in your group need to stretch your legs and get some walking steps in, this is a great way to do it - the ocean air smells so good, and the trees really make you feel like you are away from the city. I am very glad I took myself on a lengthy exploration of Golden Gate Park.

A must-do if you’re visiting San Francisco. The park is clean and beautiful, and it has several key attractions within. It’s a much nicer park that Central Park and the park in Montreal, both of which are also Olmsted parks. Although the park is free, most of the attractions are not. You can see the bison free, of course, if they choose to be seen (which they did not while we were there, unfortunately). We rode the pedal boats, which was fun. You get an hour for $35. We also visited the Japanese Tea Room, which was pretty but pricey for such a small attraction. And we went back a different day for the California Academy of Science, which is highly recommended. It’s a very clean museum that is quite honestly, the perfect size for a vacation. It’s a bit pricey, too, but this one is worth the cost.