Places
in San Francisco
Green Spaces
Arboretum / Botanical Gardens
in Golden Gate Park
Free to enjoy.
Monday - Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday - Sunday & Holidays 10 am - 5 pm
(415) 661-1316
http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org
55 acres of land stretch across San Francisco, laying out the foundation for a symphony of plants, flowers, and trees to share the roaring sound of nature with the public. A visit to this magical display of greenery consists of more than 7,500 varieties of flora from across the globe. As a result, the San Francisco Botanical Garden is the largest of its kind on the West Coast.
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is situated about the Golden Gate Park with a main entrance found on Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. When coming from the Japanese Tea Garden, this attraction may also be reached through the Friend’s Gate.
Crissy Fields
Crissy Field Center, Café & Bookstore is located
at 603 Mason Street, Presidio, SF CA
Monday - Sunday 9 am - 5 pm
(415) 561-7690
https://www.parksconservancy.org/our-work/crissy-field-center-facility
Crissy Field is the park area along the northern shoreline of the Presidio of San Francisco. It is southeast of the Golden Gate Bridge between the Palace of Fine Arts and Fort Point. Mason Street runs parallel to Crissy Field.
Golden Gate Park
Always Free
Visit the Academy of Sciences, Conservatory of Flowers, free year-round outdoor concerts, de Young Museum, Japanese Tea Garden, etc.. Go explore!
Justin Herman Plaza, located at the foot of Market Street at the Embarcadero, just behind the Hyatt Regency Hotel. It is just across the street from the Ferry Building.
Urban Spaces
Central YMCA Rooftop Garden 220 Golden Gate Avenue SF, CA
(Between Dale Pl & Leavenworth St)
94102 (415) 885-0460
http://www.ymcasf.org/
100 First St. Outdoor Terrace
For a South of Market outdoor terrace, walk down First Street until you come to 100 First St. just across Mission Street. Take the elevator up to the second floor.
343 Sansome St. Roof Garden
Walk along Market Street to Sansome Street, then turn left on Sansome until you're just past Halleck Street, to 343 Sansome. To get to the roof garden, take the elevator to the 15th floor. Step out to a gorgeous view of the Transamerica Pyramid.
The Embarcadero
The Embarcadero is the eastern waterfront roadway of the Port of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, along San Francisco Bay. It begins at the intersection of 2nd and King Streets near AT&T Park, and travels north, passing under the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. The Embarcadero continues north past the Ferry Building at Market Street, Fisherman's Wharf, and Pier 39, before ending at Pier 45. A section of The Embarcadero was known as East Street, which ran between Folsom Street and Drumm Street.
Roof garden at Crocker Galleria
Crocker Galleria is located on Post Street between Montgomery and Kearny streets. Take the escalator to the top floor and follow the sign to the roof garden. Step out onto the rooftop of the Wells Fargo Banking Hall (formerly the Crocker Bank); this lush open space provides a wonderful place for a brown-bag lunch or for take-out food from one of the many nearby restaurants.
Wells Fargo Rooftop Garden
One Market Street at Stuart Street, Stuart Tower, seventh floor. A photo ID is required to obtain a visitor pass at the security desk. Enter on Market Street, between Spear and Stuart
Embarcadero Center and Maritime Plaza
Approach from Sansome Street, between Sacramento and Clay streets. Cross Sansome Street and ascend a regal stone staircase with Roman columns, an arched pergola and a stair-step fountain cascading with water. On your right is the Old Federal Building and your left is the Park Hyatt Hotel, The staircase deposits you on Embarcadero Center's Promenade Level. Ahead is the Cinema and beyond that the black metal grid of the Maritime Plaza Building. Follow the walkway left through the Embarcadero Center Building 2 (2EC).
Roof Terrace at Crocker Galleria
If you want more solitude than the busy roof garden offers, cross over to the Crocker Galleria's Roof Terrace in the northwest corner on the same level.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts & Garden
This beautiful public facility is conveniently located at Fourth and Mission Streets. Reverend Martin Luther King memorial fountain you can walk under!
San Francisco Public Parks
San Francisco has many beautiful parks scattered throughout its neighborhoods. Here are some resources to help you locate a park in your area, or if you would like to visit a park.
SF Parks & Recreation
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's Mission is to provide enriching recreational activities, maintain beautiful parks and preserve the environment for the well-being of our diverse community.
Check the website for features, news & events, activities, facilities.
Balboa Park
Pool: 51 Havelock St San Francisco, CA 94112 (415) 337-4701
Dolores Park Nob Hill / Grace Cathedral
Marina, South Park, Washington Square
Balboa Park is a neighborhood and public park in San Francisco, California. The neighborhood (sometimes referred to as Mission Terrace, Cayuga, or Ingleside) is located between Mission Street and Interstate 280 north of Geneva Avenue and the park is located on San Jose Avenue, north of Ocean Avenue. Inside the park there is a public swimming pool, a children's playground, a stadium, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and the Ingleside police station.
Beaches
Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach is the widest and longest expanse of sand on San Francisco’s shores, extending from the Cliff House to Fort Funston along the Pacific Ocean.
Hyde St. Pier
The pier is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Various historical ships are anchored to the pier, some available for self-guided or docent-led tours. Among the ships on display or in storage are the Balclutha, an 1886 square rigged sailing ship, as well as C.A. Thayer, Eureka, Alma, Hercules, Eppleton Hall, and over one hundred smaller craft.