Top Rated Attractions in San Francisco

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.

If you really want to tough it out in the lap of nature, Steep Ravine Environmental Campground is the place to go to. The entire camping site has nine cabins and ten bare-bones campsites. Each campsite has a fire pit and table while the cabins have wood stoves and an outdoor barbecue area. With no facility for running water or electricity in the cabins or campsites, you truly get the feeling of having left civilization although the shoreline highway is only a short distance away. Beautiful views of the North Pacific ocean can be seen from the campground, making this communion with nature complete.

This East Bay water park is fun for people of all ages and is filled with dozens of water activities to enjoy. Some of its most popular rides include high speed water slides, double tube slides, shotgun slides, a wave pool, and a 20,000 square foot (185 square meter) activity pool. Lounge by a pool, whip down a waterslide, or simply slash around. This waterpark has something for everyone! Park amenities include free innertubes, lounge chairs and lifejackets, lots of parking, and so much more. Opening timings are seasonal.