Visit This Beloved Urban Greenspace Like a Local (and No, We’re Not Talking About Central Park)

Visit this beloved urban greenspace like a local (and no, we’re not talking about central park). If you’ve ever dreamt of leaving your heart in San Francisco, it’s likely on the F-Line cable car indulging in the views from Fisherman’s Wharf in true touristy fashion. But there’s so much beyond the typical tourist destinations—and all packed into less than 50 square miles of prime northern Californian real estate. So, next time you visit, instead of heading to get that hundredth pic of the Golden Gate Bridge or trying another fresh catch at the Wharf, consider these other spots that are just as—if not more—appealing. Not to mention you’ll look more like a local than a visitor.

Now, New York City visitors might head to Central Park to grab some snaps for their Instagram pages or TikTok videos, but it’s also a place where locals spend time with family or get in some fitness. Well, SanFran’s Golden Gate Park, located in the Sunset and Richmond neighborhood, is much the same, only there’s over 1,000 acres to have a picnic, get some jogging in, or throw frisbee with the fam. In fact, Golden Gate Park is almost 200 acres larger than Central Park!

With so much open greenspace in the midst of a city with over 808,000 residents, you might be pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do. Plus, it’s got great little spots where you can find some solitude if you want to.

Some of Golden Gate Park’s best attractions are:

• Blue Heron Lake (formerly known as Stow Lake) and Blue Heron Boathouse where you can rent pedal boats, grab a snack, or enjoy a locally crafted beer
• de Young Museum, which is one of San Francisco’s largest
• The incredible Victorian-style greenhouse and garden at the Conservatory of Flowers
• The Paddock, which is where you’ll find those iconic buffalo roaming — yep, there’s a herd of bison in this city park

Now, you could grab a planner and open up your Maps app, ready to plot your course. But Golden Gate Park is so much fun when you just show up and blaze your own trail. You can do so on foot or with a bike rental from one of the shops on Stanyan Street. A perk of renting a bike on Stanyan is that it’s now designated a car-free zone all the way to Crossover Drive. So, you can watch for waterfalls and quirky sculptures instead of motorized traffic on your next visit. You may see the occasional tourist here, but this is definitely the best place to get down with the locals.

If your ready for a green vacation, visit this beloved urban greenspace like a local (and no, we’re not talking about Central Park). Pack your bags to San Fran!