The attractions and activities at Golden Gate Park are simply gold

If you come to San Francisco, I highly recommend visiting Golden Gate Park. With over 1,000 acres of parks, gardens, picnic areas, museums, and lakes, there are endless activities to choose from. I suggest renting a bike to be able to see as much of the park as possible while enjoying the views and fresh air.

Some of the most popular attractions can be found on the Eastern side of the park, including the Botanical Gardens, Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, and the Academy of Science. Be sure to find the giant roaming buffalo and bison by Spreckles Lake, and take a paddle boat out on Stow Lake to admire the scenery. The western side of the park opens out to Ocean Beach and a local favourite, the Beach Chalet Restaurant and Bar.

Golden Gate Park is such a unique part of the city, it’s a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and as soon as you enter, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a whole new world.

An open landscaped oasis at the Botanical Gardens features different flowers and plants from all over the world.

A serene Japanese-style garden complete with pagodas, a koi pond and a tea house can be found at the Japanese Tea Garden.

Sip on a cup of hot tea in a traditional Japanese Tea House overlooking a beautiful koi pond.

Ride paddle boats on Stow Lake and admire the lush landscape of the park from a unique perspective.

Meet an albino alligator, visit the living roof, and learn about wildlife from all over the world at the Academy of Science, a natural history museum and research institute.

The Conservatory of Flowers, a historic greenhouse full of rare and unusual plants, is as beautiful outside as it is inside.