"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost..." - J.R.R. Tolkien
Ahh another Tolkien adventure, well not quite, but hey another freebie gem I stumbled upon while wandering the legendary Golden Gate Park. It's somewhat hidden, but if you keep on the Fulton paths, eventually you'll see a sign to Lily Pond.
Lily Pond is a small pond which has been around for only a few decades filling up an old stone quarry. The size and pathway allows you to circle the pond in less than 10-minutes tops. The short stroll from the Conservatory of Flowers makes the pond an ideal must do for solo wanderers or hobbit families!
All in all, I'd suggest walking around the pond, I didn't see any reptiles, amphibians, on my short stroll, however I know these critters live in Lily Pond. I originally rated Lily Pond at 5-stars, since I'm a sucker for random nature freebies, but I admit my original rating does not reflect my visit, so I must deduct a star. See... my visit did not have a happy ending as I was distracted looking for pond life... Prince Eric stepped in a pile of dog s...!
Hey it didn't end on a storybook note, but it's still beautiful & free! And yes, I forgive you... you fricken irresponsible dog owner who leaves s...! Karma!
Update: I later google searched https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/amp/Lily-Pond-in-Golden-Gate-Park-overrun-3718185.php and found out the pond has been on the decline since invasive plants, and even worse, the aggressive African clawed frog, somehow entered the pond. Efforts by the city to remove the non-native species have been slow (some past attempts), but in the end I have confidence in this progressive green city!
So check-out Lily Pond! Just don't feed mutant Kermit and anything that resembles Creature of the Black Lagoon! And please watch your step, son! read more