This is one of my favorite places to create memories in San Francisco. There's plenty of open space…read moreto spread out, relax, and create your own experience. _______ Good for: all ages Quick Guide: * Playground: yes -- Helen Diller Playground (great for toddlers and young kids) * Baby-friendly: open space, with some hills * Terrain: steep grassy hills, some flat areas, and paved paths -- good for walking and strollers; some areas may be more challenging for wheelchairs * Bathrooms: available (see map) * Parking: limited -- easier to walk in or get dropped off * Shade / seating: mix of sun and shade with a large grass area * Dog-friendly: yes * Food / supplies: nearby food options and vendors sometimes (I usually bring my own lunch if I'm staying a while) _______ Real-life insight: You can find a calmer area if you move slightly away from the main crowd. Pro tip: Bring a waterproof picnic blanket. If you don't have one, a plastic tablecloth from the dollar store works just as well.

Love the open green space and that there's public SF WiFi !! (At least near the 18th street side)…read moreGreat place to relax and sunbathe, have a picnic or play with your dog. Not crowded on a weekday but definitely would be on a sunny weekend

Enjoyed a sunny day with a short hike and 360 panoramic views of the hometown…read more What I appreciate about this park is there are benches everywhere to admire the view. The lower level is flat and paved and I would recommend for people with mobility issues. The unpaved graveled path to the top of the hill is where you get a birds eye view. It's typically windy but I got lucky this day. Shoes with grip is advised, Note the road to the path is narrow so drive slow.

Had such a good time at this park! I thought it would be more of an open space, but it's actually…read moremore of a walking trail - so bring good walking shoes! The parking lot is fairly small, but you can go down the hill after the lot and park in the neighborhoods, which isn't too far down. Loved seeing so many dogs off leash and enjoying their walk. My dog had such a good time running around! Remember to bring a jacket! It gets super windy as you hike up. The views were also lovely!

Beautiful park by some of the most iconic places in San Francisco. Close by to Grace Cathedral,…read moreFairmont Hotel, the Mark Hopkins Hotel, and the Huntington Hotel. Thus, this park is meticulously manicured and decorated year round, especially stunning during the holidays with decorative lights. Right in the center of the park, there's a fountain here replicated after the Fontana delle Tartarughe (Fountain of the Turtles) in Rome. With how it's laid out, it's picturesque and very popular with locals and visitors. On the side, there's a playground for kids. I remember coming here for Easter egg hunts when I was younger. Now, I bring my pup here occasionally for photos. Located in the middle flanked by 4 streets: California St, Taylor St, Sacramento St, and Cushman St and is reachable by car or via public transportation like the #1 California bus and the cable car - California line. If you choose to walk, you will need to hike up/ or down the hills depending on which directions you are coming from.

What a cute park! It's so clean and well maintained…read more The only downside is having to run around trying to find a bathroom. It's also a little trickier than other parks to access via public transit.

My first association of Mt Tam is from Cowgirl Creamery's best seller, Mt Tam Triple Cream with…read moreHeart cheese. Ever since then, I've wanted to hike this peak, today I have achieved my wish. Early June with mild coastal temp, 50s-60s. Started up Matt Davis Trail in the foggy forest, to Pantoll Campground, to West Point Inn where we can look down to the top of the fog layer, to the Fire Lookout building at the Peak. Then we came down reverse but split off to Steep Ravine and Dip Sea trail after the campground. I've also always wanted to climb that ladder. This hike provided views of the Pacific ocean on the West as well as views of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the East side. I thoroughly enjoyed the cool lush forest, but actually my favorite section was the single track along the slope of the open area after the Mt Tam State Park sign.

Just past SF this park has so many different trail options perfect for all hiking levels. The…read moredownside is this place gets PACKED! My sister and I arrived before 8am at the Watershed parking lot and barely found a space. We did the trail that took us to the West Point Inn for the pancake breakfast and round trip was close to 5 miles so it was a great workout. There's gorgeous views and well! On the way back to the 101 however it's a mess. The road on the way down is crowded with parked cars, which makes driving through challenging. That's the only thing about this park, other than that I'd love to come back in spring when everything is green and vibrant!

I honestly thought I had reviewed this magnificent park before- yet I am now!…read moreThis hidden gem is your reward after walking up the hundreds of gorgeously mosaic tile steps. The views are breathtaking. You can see the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County, Salesforce Tower (basically you see this wherever you are in San Francisco), the coast & much more. I love all the sand at the top of the park. There gorgeous succulents lots of chert rock and stairs on the other side that you can choose to descend. This is another spectacular free destination to enjoy in San Francisco.

How can anyone not like this place? One of my favorite spots in the city, feels a little bit like a…read moresecret. A special little secret hill. Make your way to the top to be rewarded finely with the fantastic view. Do some soul searching, watch the sunset. Say hello to somebody. Make a connection.

We were visiting the de Young museum which is right by Golden Gate Park. After we finished at the…read moremuseum we had a picnic lunch in the park at the music concourse area. The park is huge and museums, lakes, and cultural attractions like the Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, the de Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences. There are lots of park benches for sitting and beautiful water fountains to admire. There is a parking garage close by called the music concourse parking that costs $5 per hour. It's a lovely place to take a nice walk. The gardens are beautiful.

Today I entered the park at 19th Avenue/ crossover and took the pedestrian path up to stow lake,…read moremeandered up and around back to the rose garden and continued through Hero's grove. Then I kept going! When I got to the conservatory of flowers, I turned around and went all the way back and down past rainbow falls, Lloyd lake, past Hellman hollow to Spreckle's lake, said hello to the Bison and took a left and exited just past chain of lakes. What an adventure! I saw red tail hawks, blue jays, blue herons, all kinds of ducks, two turtles and of course the Bison. There are some beautiful views, art exhibitions, interactive displays and tons of photo worthy spaces. There are these beautiful pianos set up throughout the park for the public to play which I enjoyed practicing on. So many of the local plants are blooming so the flowers and trees sing with life. I stuck to the pedestrian trails but there are so many options off the beaten path for both hike vibes and bike rides. With the unique variety of San Francisco weather, it can go from overcast to sunny in a matter of moments, so it's always nice to have layers.

Came on a weekend afternoon. Plenty of free parking on lot…read more Wasn't crowded. Great view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

This beach is always busy, but I love that they added a cute shop at the far end…read more Plenty of parking, clean bathrooms, a surfer rinse area, and dogs can run off leash. The view of the Golden Gate Bridge with rolling fog is gorgeous. We'll definitely be back.

Landscaping is intentional, benches all around, beautiful trees and peaceful crowds. Truly love…read moreevery visit.

We really enjoy coming to Lafayette Park Playground this morning for an early Easter egg hunting…read moreevent--it's quite unique compared to other playgrounds in the city. The layout is more challenging and perfect for little explorers who love to climb, balance, and stay active. My 3-year-old always finds something new to do, and it keeps them engaged for a long time. I also appreciate that babies aren't left out--there are designated areas where younger kids can safely play too. The restroom is conveniently located and clean, which is a big plus for families. That said, some of the rocky edges can be a bit risky for adventurous kids, so it's definitely a place where you'll want to keep a close eye on them at all times. The only downside is parking--it can be pretty tough to find a spot, especially during busy times. Overall, it's a fun and exciting playground that's great for kids of different ages, as long as you're prepared for a bit of supervision and a parking hunt!