A lush, 1,017-acre greenbelt that teems with nature, recreation and cutting-edge museums, Golden Gate Park is San Francisco’s satisfying answer to NYC’s Central Park, but even bigger. Stretching over 50 blocks, the park encompasses picnic grounds, lakes and cultural hubs such as the Japanese Tea Garden, the California Academy of Sciences, de Young art museum, and the San Francisco Botanical Gardens. Every August, the park serves as a venue for the mega music-and-food fest Outside Lands. Note that the most common accessory isn’t a picnic basket but a fleece jacket, as this section of the city is often chillier than expected.
There’s a reason people travel here from all over the world. We have incredible views, world-class dining, diverse neighborhoods, a park in walking distance from every home, hiking trails overlooking bay and ocean waters, spectacular museums and stunning architecture. A bridge or underground BART train leads you to the fabulous towns of Oakland and Berkeley, or you can take a ferry or the Golden Gate Bridge north to beautiful Sausalito and the wine country cities of Napa and Sonoma. Heading south, you’ll find San Jose and other tech cities. The entire Bay Area welcomes you with memorable experiences like kayaking, visiting brewpubs, tasting your way through Michelin-starred restaurants and perching on a rooftop bar to fondly regard the picture postcard vista below you. Here are a few of our don’t-miss activities to make sure you really get the best of the Bay Area.
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