In the late 1800s, California's first state engineer, William Hammond Hall, and his assistant, a Scotsman named John McLaren, transformed more than 1000 acres (405 hectares) of sand dunes into a wondrous haven in the midst of the city, christened Golden Gate Park after the eponymous strait nearby. Stretching over 50 blocks from Stanyan Street to the Pacific Ocean, the lush landscape is etched with numerous trails for walking, jogging, biking and horseback riding, alongside a golf course, bowling greens, a lake with paddle boats, soccer fields and a baseball diamond. From the Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers to the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park encompasses a wealth of scenic beauty and cultural intrigue within is expansive embrace. There are also several playgrounds, a quaint carousel, an aquarium, a buffalo reserve and an outdoor bandshell where open-air concerts are hosted each summer.
Located at the western end of Golden Gate Park is San Francisco's biggest beach. It extends from Fort Funston in the south, to the Cliff House in the north. Typically, the cold winds, fog and low San Francisco temperatures deter any regular beach activities (unless you're lucky enough to be there on a hot day) but visitors fly kites or just walk along and admire the views of Seal Rocks and Point Lobos. Adventure seekers love surfing here. There are also bonfire pits provided on the beach for the general public; to claim one, go early in the evening.
The Elizabeth Gamble Garden is a 2.5-acre (one hectare) property that includes a historic Victorian home, carriage house, tea house, a gazebo, and formal and demonstration gardens. The garden is home to fruit trees, a herb garden, several varieties of irises, perennials, roses, wisterias and a Mediterranean garden. If you come at just the right time of year, you may even see the garden at the peak of its cherry blossom season! Home gardening classes taught by master gardeners are offered throughout the year, and tours are available for groups of eight or more who call in advance; the property is also a popular site for weddings and wedding receptions. Admission is free to the public every day during daylight hours, though the office is only open during weekdays.
A fabulous mix of undulating savanna grassland and evergreen forests, Enid Pearson-Arastradero Preserve teems with wildlife and natural bounty. Hugging the Arastradero Lake, the grassy knolls and hills make way for forested areas and nature trails. Much favored among bikers and hikers, most of the trails in the park are open through the year. Mountain lions, bobcats and deer are found aplenty here, so are many species of birds that flock around its pristine water bodies.
The Baylands Nature Preserve is known for its birdwatching and is considered one of the best birdwatching areas on the West Coast, offering both tidal and fresh water habitats. This park boasts of a total of 1940 acres (785 hectares) of swampland, which is the largest tract of undisturbed swampland remaining in the Bay Area, and 15 miles (24 kilometers) of trails. Besides birdwatching, visitors can also enjoy canoeing, kayaking or windsurfing in the ponds and lakes. Educational signs have been put up in place to educate visitors about natural habitats. Kids will love Baylands too as it is home to the Palo Alto Duck Pond and the trails too vary in difficulty levels. This park is open daily from 8a till sunset.
Located in Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences is one of the greenest buildings in the city and has a platinum certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The museum features the renovated and expanded Steinhart Aquarium, complete with a hands-on tide pool and the well-known alligator swamp. Other exciting features are the Morrison Planetarium, the four-storey rainforest dome, and the Tusher African Hall. In addition to these educational gems, the museum features other natural history exhibits as well as exhibits about global warming. The Academy Café offers international cuisine, while the elegant Moss Room restaurant is the only dining option available in the park past museum closing time.
The EcoCenter is managed by the Environmental Volunteers, a non-profit institution that spreads awareness about science and nature among the general public. Acting as the headquarters of this organization, the EcoCenter has been constructed using non-toxic and recycled material, green design principles and eco-friendly practices. This center has interactive exhibits and touchscreen displays through which visitors can learn about climate change, the sky and earth. It conducts tours of the building to educate visitors about sustainable methods of construction and maintenance and also conducts numerous summer camps, classroom and school programs. Boasting of some of the best educational activities in Palo Alto for kids and adults alike, the themes covered include bird watching, hiking, programs and lectures on nature art and natural sciences as well as research training in which visitors generate data that actually helps scientists. Nature lovers can also volunteer at this center or donate money to support its endeavors.
Since a decade, this community garden is bringing together gardeners of different skills to teach the residents of Sunnyvale the art of growing organic food in house. These gardening techniques are exposed even to the children so that they know the importance of organic produce.Volunteers and donations are welcome improvise the park
Located within the expansive bounds of the San Bruno Mountain State Park, this namesake mountain is home to both radio towers as well as many endangered flora and fauna. Among its main inhabitants is the San Bruno elfin butterfly, a rare subspecies endemic to the state. The mountain is also the home of several Franciscan fog zone plants. A number of trails that lead up to the mountain offer incredible vistas of the San Francisco skyline.
Located along the coastline of Venice Beach, Elmar beach is a perfect place to spend a leisurely day with your friends and family. This beach sees smaller crowds and is one of the most scenic hidden gems of Hal f Moon Bay State Beach. Spend your day biking or taking a stroll on the beach while you enjoy the beautiful sunset with your loved ones. Elmar beach is also popular for birdwatching.
The idea behind building this fort in 1861 was to fend off attacks by the Confederacy. It proved to be a non-issue, though. This place went on to achieve cinema immortality as the spot from which Kim Novak took her plunge into the San Francisco Bay in the Hitchcock classic Vertigo. There are spectacular views of the Marin Headlands from just beneath the soaring south anchorage of the Golden Gate Bridge. Tours are offered and the museum houses a collection of military memorabilia. Take note, it is usually very windy at Fort Point, so dress accordingly.
This seven-acre sanctuary is a tribute to the memory of those lost to this so-far incurable disease. Located on the east end of Golden Gate Park, the grove was conceived in 1989 by a group of San Francisco residents and received national status by President Clinton and Congress in October 1996. Renovation for the Memorial began in 1991 and it is a beautiful landscape with thousands of new trees, plants, six flagstone gathering areas, 15 benches, and numerous granite boulders. Today it is the site of memorial services, reflection, and events such as World AIDS Day.