What was until 1886
windswept sand dunes, Golden Gate Park is now the largest man-made
ornamental park in the world with lakes, waterfalls, bridges, lawns,
gardens, museums, public art, trails, and cultural attractions. With
a reclamation project begun in 1870, landscape architect John
McLaren stabilized the dunes with thousands of eucalyptus, cypress
and pine trees. Encompassing 1,017 acres, the Park, three miles long
and a half mile wide, is located on the city's central west side and
sits between the Richmond and Sunset Districts. Today, the park's
treelined walkways are filled with hikers, joggers, cyclists,
strollers and skaters. There are expanses of green perfect for
sunbathing and picnicking. Download our printable map of Golden Gate park for points of interest and transit lines at http://www.sfguide.com/map.html. For additional
information, go to www.parks.sfgov.org
and click Golden Gate Park.
MUNI runs free shuttle buses on weekends through Golden Gate Park
several months of the year. The shuttles stop at 21 locations
throughout the Park, run at 20 minute intervals, and connect to
other citywide bus lines.
Call 415-831-2727 or visit the Golden Gate Park website, www.golden-gate-park.com/, for
information.
Park attractions include:
The Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens located off Martin
Luther King Jr. Dr, west of 19th Avenue, is many gardens in one and
features 6000 species of rare and unusual plants. Open weekdays from
8am to 4:30pm; weekends 10am to 5pm. Docent tours offered 1:30pm
weekdays; 10:30am and 1:30pm weekends. Call 415-661-1316 for
information. The National AIDS Memorial Grove is located in the
eastern end of the park, north of the bowling greens and west of the
tennis courts. 415-750-8340.
The de Young Memorial Museum and the California Academy of
Science, adjacent to the Music Concourse, feature world class
collections and special exhibitions.
The picturesque Japanese Tea Garden, the oldest public Japanese
garden in the country, includes winding footpaths, koi pools, an
18th century Japanese Buddha and pavilion for tea and cookies. Open
daily 9am-6:30pm spring through fall; 8:30am-5:30pm during winter;
tea served 10:30am-3pm. 415-752-1171.
Children's Playground, off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, has a
climbing equipment, swings, slides, sandboxes and a historic
Carousel. Rowboats, motorboats and peddle boats can be rented at
Stow Lake off John F. Kennedy Drive; call 415-752-0347
An archery field, opposite 47th Avenue off Fulton, provides bales
for those with their own equipment. The nine-hole Golden Gate Park
Golf Course, located off 47th Avenue, is open daily from 10am to
7pm. Reservations are not required. Call 415-8987for more
information.
There are 12 miles of equestrian trails through the park. Golden
Gate Park Stables, located on John F. Kennedy Drive at 35th Avenue,
offers rentals, lessons and trail rides.
Twenty-one tennis courts opposite the Conservatory of Flowers across
John F. Kennedy Drive at the east end of the park can be reserved by
calling 415-753-7001.
The historic Beach Chalet, at 1000 Great Highway, with restored
WPA-era frescoes and mosaics, houses public restrooms and two restaurants.
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