Golden Gate Park is home to the California Academy of Science, one of our top-rated family museums, but that's only a starter. The children's playground on the Lincoln Ave side of the park has a slide rumored to have the fastest ride in the west; the 1912 carousel has no less than 62 menagerie animals and at the Japanese Tea Garden is especially popular for a tea-and-cookie break.
Other fun family activities include renting a boat on Stow Lake or watching the radio-controlled boats on Spreckels Lake.
Pros and Cons
Golden Gate Park has a lot of things to do, plenty of room to play and entrance is free. On weekends, the main streets are blocked for automobiles so it it's easy to get around without worrying about traffic.On the downside, San Francisco weather doesn't always cooperate with plans for outdoor activities and the park is not close to the main tourist track. If you drive there, parking can be a hassle.
More about Golden Gate Park
Check the Complete Guide to Golden Gate Park to get all the info about the most popular spots.Take a photo tour of Golden Gate Park to see what it's like.
See where it is on a map. It's the solid, bright green marker. This map shows the park and its top spots in detail.
