49-Mile Drive from Van Ness/Bay to Palace of Fine Arts
- Follow Bay west to Laguna
- Turn right onto Laguna
- Turn left to merge onto Marina Blvd.
- Follow the 49-Mile Drive signs through the parking area
- Coming out of the parking area, go straight at the traffic light onto Scott Street. You'll find a restroom in the parking lot if you need it
- Turn right on Beach to get to the Palace of Fine Arts
Palace of Fine Arts
- Hours: Open any time
- Location: Near the west end of the Marina and Crissy Field
- How Long: A few minutes for a look around
- Best Time to Visit: Best-lit in the morning and pretty at dusk
It's difficult in the 21st century to imagine the economic benefit of creating such a fine public space and maintaining it. The Palace of Fine Arts was completely torn down in the '60's and rebuilt at great cost. The result? Today, musicians play in the acoustically interesting nooks and crannies of the Palace of Fine Arts colonnade and rotunda. Children toss chunks of bread at the swans, grebes and ducks. Lovers take long and serpentine walks around the pond. Dogs, well, lets hope what they do gets cleaned up...
All and all, the Palace of Fine Arts is a place of enchantment, especially in the early evening when the light streams through the columns and people gather to stroll. Behind the rotunda, you'll find the Exploratorium, one of the finest centers of learning for kids of all ages.
Getting to the Palace of Fine Arts
This little piece of San Francisco history is tucked in the Marina on Baker Street between a quiet residential neighborhood and where Lombard street starts to meander toward the Golden Gate Bridge. You can reach the Palace of Fine Arts by driving on Lombard and following the signs, or from Marina Blvd. If you're trying to locate it on a map, the theatre just behind it is at 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA 94123.Written in conjunction with Martha Bakerjian
