Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is San Francisco's greatest free gift to families — 1,017 acres of parkland stretching from the Panhandle neighborhood to Ocean Beach on the Pacific coast, packed with world-class museums, playgrounds, gardens, wildlife, and open space. At 4.8 stars across nearly 44,000 reviews, it's the most beloved destination in San Francisco, period.

For families visiting San Francisco for the first time, Golden Gate Park is the strategic anchor for multiple days of activities. The park contains: the de Young Museum (SF residents under 18 free), the California Academy of Sciences, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, the Koret Children's Playground (with its legendary cement slide), a bison paddock (free, open daily), a botanical garden (free for SF residents), the Carousel at Strawberry Hill, Stow Lake, and multiple lesser-known gems.

On summer weekends, JFK Drive closes to cars — the entire main road through the park becomes a cycling, skating, and walking thoroughfare. Renting bikes at the eastern end of the park and riding all the way to Ocean Beach is a quintessential San Francisco family experience that most tourists miss.

The park's fog and wind are real factors: even on days that look sunny from the eastern neighborhoods, the western end of the park near Ocean Beach can be 15 degrees colder and completely socked in. Layers are non-negotiable for any GGP visit.

For visiting families without a car, the N-Judah and 5-Fulton Muni lines provide easy access to multiple park entry points. Parking exists but fills on busy weekends — arriving before 9AM is the strategy for parking success.