Parks & Recreation
San Francisco's temperate climate makes outdoor recreation possible year round. With over 200 City parks and many more in the surrounding area, there is always a close location for running, biking or swimming—as well as hundreds of playgrounds for children. The City park system features 16 large recreation centers, nine swimming pools and five public golf courses.
Major San Francisco Parks
- Golden Gate Park is the largest in San Francisco, spanning nearly a third of the way across the City and sitting on 1,013 acres. Some of the Golden Gate Park amenities include walking and biking paths, the De Young Museum, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, the Music Concourse Area, the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, AIDS Memorial Grove, Stow Lake, Spreckels Lake and the California Academy of Sciences—one of the largest natural history museums in the world. The park also offers recreational activities such as archery, basketball, biking, skating, dog runs, fly-fishing, golf, handball, horseback-riding, lawn bowling and tennis.
- Crissy Field Park is located in the Presidio and has museums, cafes, gift shops and bike and pedestrian lanes. It is a great place for picnics and barbecues and offers views of the City, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Yerba Buena Gardens is constituted of two blocks of public parks in downtown San Francisco. One block is enclosed by Howard and Mission Streets and the second is between Howard and Folsom streets. Part of the park sits on top of the Moscone Convention Center. It features the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts—a contemporary arts center—and Zeum—a children's media and technology museum. Recreational activities also include an ice-skating rink, a bowling alley and a restored carousel.
- Lake Merced is a freshwater lake in the south-end of San Francisco. The Lake is surrounded by golf courses—the private Olympic Club and San Francisco Golf Club, as well as the public Harding Park Golf Club. Recreational activities include bird watching and fishing.
- Buena Vista Park is the oldest in San Francisco and is nestled between the Haight-Ashbury and Buena Vista Districts. The notable view from the lower area is called "The Window" and spans the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean and the cliffs of Drake's Beach.
Major San Francisco Beaches
- Baker Beach extends a half-mile just south of Golden Gate Point, with beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. Located in the Presidio, it connects to the sea cliff near the Palace of the Legion of Honor and the Sutros Baths. It's a great place for picnicking, sunning, walking or swimming—a refreshing spot to relax and unwind.
- Ocean Beach is located in the Sunset District and is the largest and longest San Francisco beach, stretching over four miles. Ocean Beach is a wonderful place for joggers, runners and surfers—it is notorious for its strong waves and fierce currents. It's also a perfect place to watch the sunrise or sunset or to have a bonfire.
- Land's End Beach, located near the Legion of Honor, is known for its views and is great for hikes. The Coast Trail extends through sharp cliffs and offers incomparable views of the Pacific coastline just above the Cliff House.
- China Beach, located in the Richmond District near the Presidio, is ideal for anyone who wants a less crowded beach.
- Crissy Field Beach is located in the upscale Marina District and offers panoramic views of San Francisco's skyline. It is a popular beach for families, dog owners, windsurfers and kite surfers.