Golden Gate Park: Why This Small City Green Is So Well-Loved By The Locals

The Golden Gate Park is one of the most beloved landmarks by San Francisco residents and tourists. Its green lawns, lakes, thousands of plants make for the perfect escape within the city. Records show that it gets more than 24 million visitors annually. The Golden Gate Park is the 3rd most visited park in the United States.

The Park occupies 1,017 acres of land and is home to many parks, gardens, lakes, and public spaces. It is larger than Central Park in New York by about 20%. The Park has been around since the late 1800s and has played a huge part in the growth and development of the community.

Popular Culture

The Golden Gate Park is a venue for some of the most exciting events in the city such as the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival every August (think: Coachella but in the Bay Area) and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (October).

Like most scenic spots in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Park has been a setting for some movie scenes such as The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015), Contagion (2011), Pursuit of Happyness (2006), and Star Trek IV: Voyage Home (1986).

National AIDS Memorial Grove

The National AIDS Memorial Grove was built to commemorate those who lost their lives and were affected by the AIDS outbreak in the 1980s. It is meant to be a place to heal and remember.

In those days, AIDS was a mysterious disease with no known cure or treatment. The serene environment of Memorial Grove is one of the most visited spots in the park.

Flora And Fauna

Only a small percentage of the Golden Gate Park is considered “natural”. The park is built on sand and shore dunes, on which different trees and plants were planted to stabilize the land. So far, the remaining natural spots are Whiskey Hill, Strawberry Hill, Oak Woodlands, Lily Pond. The only native tree in the park is the California live oak.

Aside from the animals found in the aquarium and museums, visitors can find other animals like buffalos at the Buffalo Paddock and bison in an enclosed area. There have been sightings of coyote ups and mountain lions in the past.

Landmarks And Attractions

Japanese Tea Garden

Tickets: Adult– $6.00 residents & $9.00 non-residents, Youth (12-17) - $4.00 residents & $6.00 non-residents, Child (5-11) – $3.00, Children 4 years old and under – Free, Senior (65 with ID) – $4.00 residents & 6.00 non-residents
Free admission Mon-Wed-Fri when entering before 10:00 am

Strybing Arboretum

Hours: Open daily starting 7:30 am
Free admission for San Francisco residents (present proof of residency)
Tickets: Adults - $9.00, College students with ID - $ 6.00, Youth (12-17) $6.00, Children (5-11) $2.00, Children below 4 years old – Free, Senior (65 with ID) - $6.00, Families (2 adults with more than 1 child) - $19.00

Conservatory of Flowers

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Tickets: Adult (18+)– $9.00 (residents), $9.00 (non-residents), College Students with ID - $6.00 (residents), $4.00 (residents), Youth (12-17)- $6.00 (residents), $4.00 (non-residents), Child (5-11) – $2.00 (residents and non-residents), Children below 4 years old – Free, Senior (65 with ID) – $6.00 (residents), & 4.00 (non-residents)

*admission is free every first Tuesday of the month

California Academy Of Sciences

Tickets: Adult (18+)– from $34.50, Youth (3-17) – from $27.00, Student (18+ with ID) - $30.00, Senior ($65 with ID) - $30.00, Children below 2 years old - Free
Ticket prices are subject to change depending on the day of the week

Golden Gate Park Aquarium

Hours: Open daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm; Sundays from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tickets: included in the California Academy of Sciences admission

Golden Gate Park Windmills And Tulips

Tickets: Free

Buffalo In Golden Gate Park

Tickets: Free

De Young Museum

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 am to 5:15 pm, Fridays (March to November) until 8:45 pm
Tickets: Adults – $15.00, Senior (65+) - $12.00, Students with valid ID – $6.00, Youth (17 and under) – Free, Members – Free

Activities In The Park

The Golden Gate Park has many areas for sports and recreation. Aside from the activities that each attraction has to offer, the park also has soccer fields, horseshoe pits, and lawn bowling areas. It is also a great place to practice photography. The different nooks and gardens in the park make for the best backgrounds. Some even do their pre-nuptial photo shoots in the park!

Golden Gate Park Playground At The Koret Children’s Quarter

Carousel Cost: Adult - $2, Children (6-12) - $1, Children under 5 years old – free

Stow Lake Boathouse

Boat Rental Cost: Row boats – $22.50/hour, Pedal boats - $28.50/hour, 4-6 passenger boat - $38.50/hour

Accessing Golden Gate Park

The Golden Gate Park is open every day. Some areas may be closed for various reasons, so check the website for announcements. Entrance to the park is free, but some attractions may charge a fee. The park can be accessed through the north entrance and south entrance. Visitors can park at the Music Concourse Garage, which has about 4,700 parking spaces total. The Golden Gate Park Shuttle operates on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays for free from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.