Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA 94118

Golden Gate Park554

in San Francisco, CA 94118

about Golden Gate Park:

With over 1,000 acres stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Haight, Golden Gate Park truly offers something for everyone. It has tennis courts, an exquisite rose garden, a Conservatory of Flowers (conservatoryofflowers.org), casting ponds for young anglers, and even a Buffalo Paddock in the northwest corner of the park. You can also take your children boating at Stow Lake.

Also in the park is the Japanese Tea Garden, Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, the California Academy of Sciences, and the M.H. de Young Museum.

This park is best experienced over a period of time; relish the fact that you can't do it all in one day.

Playgrounds: One of the biggest and best playgrounds in town is the Koret Children's Quarter, formerly known as Children's Playground (off Kezar Drive on the southeast side of the park). It has a huge, gloriously terrifying slide down a hillside, a carousel, and an amazing climbing structure kids can easily get lost in. Most of the structures are designed for kids over age three, so younger kids may prefer the smaller playground located north of the Music Concourse near the 8th Avenue entrance from Fulton Street.

Another compelling climbing structure is right off JFK Drive between the 8th Ave and 10th Ave entrances. It's huge and new and will prove gratifying for the very small and not-so-small.

Biking & skating: This is a young biker's and inline skater's paradise; the northeast side of the park (JFK Drive) is off-limits to cars on Sunday. Inline skaters can bring boom boxes and new moves to a small paved area off JFK Drive, between the Conservatory and the 8th Ave entrance on your right (if you're heading north). But more exhilarating may be the chance to skate on the many acres of paved trails throughout the park.

Stroller walks: The Park is the site of a program very popular with the stroller crowd. On the first and third Wednesday of the month, parents and kids are invited on a one-hour tour of the park. It's a great way to get some exercise and meet other parents in the neighborhood. Click here for details.

Parties: The Park is a popular spot for barbecues and birthday parties. Most people choose the picnic tables in Speedway meadow just off JFK Drive and past Cross Over Drive. Call 415.831.5500 to request a permit.

Contact Information:

Golden Gate Park, Beach Chalet Visitors' Center: 415.751.2766

Friends of Recreation & Parks: 415.750.5105; www.sfparks.org

Boating: 415.752.0347

Golf: 415.751.8987

Fly casting (Saturdays only): 415.386.2630

McLaren Lodge: 415.831.2700

To rent buildings, picnic sites, miscellaneous facilities: 415.831.5500

To rent athletic fields: 415.831.5510

To rent a pool: 415.831.5520

Lawn bowling: 415.487.8787

Tennis: 415.753.7100

Volunteer Opportunities: 415.753.7265, or 415.750.5110

Sharon Arts Bldg: 415.753.7004

AIDS Memorial Grove: 415.750.8340

California Academy of Sciences: 415.750.7145

Strybing Arboretum & Botanical Gardens: 415.661.1316

Asian Art Museum: 415.379.8800

Kezar Stadium/Pavilion rental: 415.753.7032

Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant: 415.386.8439

Park band shell information: 415.831.2791

Walking tours: 415.263.0991 or 415.750.5105

Japanese Tea Garden: 415.752.1171

Muni information: 415.673.6864

getting there:

Bordered by Great Highway, Fulton Street, Lincoln Way, and Stanyan Street. By car, enter from Fell Street or at 8th or 10th Avenue and Fulton Street (two of several entrances). A place you can usually find parking on weekends is in the lot behind McLaren Lodge at Stanyan and Fell Street. To reach the park from downtown or the Civic Center, take Bus 5 or 71 or the N Judah streetcar.

If you are looking for a great place to let your kids run around and play while in San Francisco you must go the the Koret Children's Center in Golden Gate Park. They have play areas for mutiple age groups - a toddler area with wonderful spinning seats and playhouses, a bigger kid area , and an amazing rope climbing course for the big kids. The long slide built into the side of the hill overlooking the playground works best with plastic signs you might see on the side of the road. There are lots of swings and an amazing water feature with concrete formed waves and sea creatues. Restrooms are close by - on the other side of the gorgeous carousel. We went every day we were there and my 2-year old loved it!! Not to be missed!

anonymous

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I took my 2 year old to Koret's Children's Quarter (twice!) while we were on a 3-day vacation here. The local parents (who were very friendly) told me that it's been very revently renovated, and it was great! Plenty of playground equipment suitable for big kids and the little ones, too. It even has a water play area for tiny tots, so bring a swim diaper and a towel. The whole play area is covered with beautiful, pristine sand--my son and I kicked off our shoes and went barefoot on both visits. If you're travelling with little ones who need to run around, don't miss this playground.

Marie

if you climb up the hill overlooking Stow Lake, you can set up lunch on top of the waterfall, sitting on the rocks or a nice log and have the best view in town. it's a hike to get up there so probably want to either use strollers and take the long paved road around or make sure the kids are older to handle the steps!

We visited Golden Gate Park on a rainy Sunday. It was a beautiful park, and we all enjoyed the children's playground and the carousel. However, be prepared to WALK LOTS, and leave plenty of time to get lost. Signage is almost nonexistent within the park, and the sidewalks and trails meander endlessly. Also, be aware that on Sundays they close most of the park roads to cars, making it a day for bicyclists..and even more walking than usual, since parking was on the streets outside the park.

Beth Nakao

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