what is there to do in golden gate park with kids

1. Start your day at a museum. First off, be sure to grab or download a Golden Gate Park map. ...
2. Eat lunch on the Music Concourse or at local food trucks. ...
3. Spend the afternoon at the Children’s Playground or Conservatory of Flowers. ...
4. If you still have time, visit the San Francisco Botantical Garden or Stow Lake. Walking west past the baseball diamonds, families will reach the San Francisco Botanical Garden. ...

What to do in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco?

One of the best activities to do in Golden Gate Park is to soak up the sunshine and have a simple picnic! If you have kids, plan your picnic in Mother’s Meadow, which is a grassy area with a playground for children. You can enjoy a picnic with your family, and your kids can play when they’re done eating.

What is the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park?

(The other one is the Legion of Honor Museum, which is not located in Golden Gate Park.) The de Young Museum is home to textiles, sculptures, paintings, and artifacts from several countries all over the world.

What are the best places to stay near the Golden Gate?

Pagodas and the Tea Service - Perfect place for a quiet getaway right in the middle of the Golden Gate Park. 6. Conservatory of Flowers In the right hand room was a tropical rain forest with a fine mist every other x5 mins to keep all the exotic plants...

What is there to do in Outside Lands Park?

This park is also home to many famous museums, and every summer, Outside Lands Music Festival takes place in the park. This festival welcomes some of the world’s biggest musical artists. In addition, every October, there’s also a free music festival in the park called Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

Does Golden Gate Park have a playground?

Generations of San Franciscans (and young visitors from around the world!) have fond memories of the children's playground and carousel in Golden Gate Park's southeast corner. The playground, called the Sharon Quarters for Children when it opened in 1888, is thought to have been the nation's first public playground.

How much time do you need at Golden Gate Park?

about two and a half hoursThroughout your adventure, you will learn more about the history of the park, who built each area and what you can expect when you visit each attraction. The entire journey takes about two and a half hours (including a 30-minute Segway training session).

What is free at Golden Gate Park?

During the day, Golden Gate Park is free. Special attractions, such as the museums require fees (including Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers). When is the park closed? On foot, visitors are not allowed in the park between midnight and 5am.

Is Golden Gate Park worth visiting?

The park offers so much to see and do, it could take an entire day to experience all that it has to offer. Trails, picturesque picnic spaces, playgrounds, sports courts, gardens, museums and more can be found within its evergreen borders.

How long is the loop around Golden Gate Park?

Check out this 6.3-mile loop trail near San Francisco, California. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 2 h 9 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, road biking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

How long does it take to walk through Golden Gate Park?

2 h 30 minExperience this 7.3-mile loop trail near San Francisco, California. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 30 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

Is the Golden Gate shuttle free?

The free Golden Gate Park shuttle operates seven days a week. Newly expanded shuttle service includes a route from Haight and Stanyan streets, along JFK Drive, to Transverse Drive, with stops along the way at some of the park's most popular attractions.

Do you have to pay for the Japanese Tea Garden?

The Japanese Tea Garden is currently open daily. Admission is FREE! No reservation is needed to enjoy the Garden.

How much does it cost to go to the Japanese Tea Garden?

General AdmissionAdults (March – Sept)$12Adults (Oct – Feb)$11Seniors (ages 65+ w/ID)$7Youth (ages 12-17)$7Children (ages 5-11)$31 more row

What is special about Golden Gate Park?

It houses some 1,700 species of aquatic and tropical plants, many of them rare, including a 100-year-old giant Imperial philodendron, a world-renowned collection of orchids, giant water lilies, and carnivorous plants.

Are there homeless in Golden Gate Park?

Homeless encampments continue to exist in Golden Gate Park.

Is Golden Gate Park walkable?

Golden Gate Park is located on the far West Side of the city. It's about a 20-minute drive from downtown, but you can get there through Muni buses and train lines as well. The park has miles of walking trails and biking trails that are easy to get completely lost in.

How do you get around Golden Gate Park?

Getting to and Around the Park Golden Gate Park is located on the far West Side of the city. It's about a 20-minute drive from downtown, but you can get there through Muni buses and train lines as well. The park has miles of walking trails and biking trails that are easy to get completely lost in.

How large is Golden Gate Park?

1.583 mi²Golden Gate Park / Area

Can you drive through Golden Gate Park?

A car-free route along a portion of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park has existed since 1967, when street closures began every Sunday, on many Saturdays and during holidays and special events, allowing park visitors of all ages and abilities to use the roadway free of car traffic.

Is parking free at Golden Gate Park?

Free Parking Near Golden Gate Park Ocean Beach Parking, also known as Great Highway Parking, is free of charge and accommodates both standard and oversized vehicles. The visitor parking lot also has a few ADA parking spaces. Shuttles run every 15 to 20 minutes between the free lot and several locations within the park.

What to do on Sunday in Golden Gate Park?

Sunday in Golden Gate Park with Kids: Trails, Beach, Golf, Bison, and Waterfalls!

Where to go before heading home to Golden Gate Park?

There are great ones on both the North and South side of the park, but our favorite is to go down the trails close to Martin Luther King Dr, end at the beach, have lunch at Beach Chalet (live music some days) then head back up on the John F Kennedy Drive side.

Why do we call Golden Gate Park our backyard?

We call Golden Gate Park our backyard because… we live in San Francisco and we don’t have much of a backyard. We also spend so much time there! We probably have stepped foot on every place in the park, we love it so much. This is your guide to spending an entire weekend exploring the Golden Gate Park with kids. It’s so worth it!

Where is the Blue Playground in the park?

On the same side of the park (the East side) you explored this morning, there is the Blue Playground (just past the Music Concourse complex ), which is a smaller, more enclosed playground. For a bigger playground with a huge slide, check out the Koret playground on the furthest East of the park.

What is the first place you see on 9th Avenue?

When you enter the 9th Avenue and Lincoln entrance, the first place you will see to the left is the Botanical Gardens. Go in there and let your kids loose! You can wander off to different paths, all are clearly marked. Some paths are not stroller friendly but most of it is, so you will be able to see a lot even with a stroller. (Exploration Time: Average 1 hour, children 4 and under free)

1. Start your day at a museum

First off, be sure to grab or download a Golden Gate Park map. If you have school-aged or preschool kids, head straight to the California Academy of Sciences, where you’ll experience a planetarium, life sciences museum, and aquarium all in one.

2. Eat lunch on the Music Concourse or at local food trucks

If it’s raining, families may opt to eat at one of the museum cafes (both have one), but if the sun is shining, it’s far nicer to eat on the concourse.

4. If you still have time, visit the San Francisco Botantical Garden or Stow Lake

Walking west past the baseball diamonds, families will reach the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Similarly priced to the concervatory, the gardens are open longer hours as they’re out-of-doors, and provide more paths for kids to stretch their legs.

About the author

AUTHOR: Amy Whitley is the founding editor of Pit Stops for Kids and content editor of Trekaroo. She writes on staff monthly as a family travel expert at Go Green Travel Green and Practical Travel Gear, and contributes to Outdoors NW as an outdoor adventure traveler. Find Amy at Google.

What is the best place to visit in San Francisco?

Golden Gate Park. Spend a day or more in the city’s urban gem. Removed from Likes. Tai Power Seeff. Gardens, glades, quiet lakes— Golden Gate Park is the emerald heart of San Francisco, a classic city park where everyone, from first-time visitors to go-every-weekend locals, finds something amazing to see or do.

What is the de Young Museum?

On the north side is the de Young Museum, showcasing a world-class collection of classic art from around the world. Take the elevator to the top of the museum’s eye-catching, asymmetric tower (admission to the tower is free) for a spectacular view of the whole park, as well as the city, bay, and Pacific Ocean.

Is Golden Gate Park part of the Golden Gate Bridge?

We ended up using one of those warm afternoons to enjoy the Golden Gate Park (again, which is not part of the Golden Gate Bridge). The kids enjoyed the children’s area, running around on the playground while we soaked in the sun on an early April afternoon. It was divine.

Is Golden Gate Park a tourist attraction?

The term “Golden Gate Park” itself is a bit of a misleading name for tourists. While you may think of Golden Gate Park as the park near the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s not. There is the urban park known as Golden Gate Park.

Is Golden Gate Park the same as Central Park?

Golden Gate PARK is an actual park similar to Central Park ( see a map and amenities here ). It is owned and run by the city of San Francisco. Golden Gate Park does not include the Golden Gate Bridge. I share all of this as it is easier to plan your visit, and even to decide what you want to do, understanding this distinction.