Golden Gate Park

"Formerly known as the Beer and Wine Garden, the Whale’s Tail is a new summer-only cocktail bar located off the JFK Promenade. It will offer brunch cocktails and food trucks, and is set to open from noon to 6 p.m. at the 14th Avenue East Meadow starting Memorial Day weekend." - Paolo Bicchieri

"Golden Gate Park was formed out of an expanse of sand dunes to the west of the city in the nineteenth century—a history that is still discernible in the rolling topography of much of the park’s more than 1,000 acres. Over 13 million people visit the array of gardens, lakes, trails, museums, and monuments each year. Some of the most popular attractions are clustered to the east, including the de Young art museum, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Japanese Tea Garden. A little farther on is Stow Lake, the largest body of water in the park and a good spot for boating and strolling. Just past Spreckels Lake is a bizarre sight: a herd of American bison. Generations of these iconic beasts have been kept in the park since 1892; they mostly stand around the paddock like idling, hairy bulldozers. Children enjoy seeing the Dutch Windmill at the west edge; they may not be so fussed about the nearby Tulip Garden, but they’ll like the waterfowl pond in the Botanical Garden and the carnivorous plants in the Conservatory of Flowers. There are three playgrounds, too; the Koret contains a colorful working carousel from 1914. Active visitors can tour the park by Segway or check out the golf course, the disc golf course, or the archery field. Festivals take place throughout the year, and the Music Concourse hosts free concerts on Sundays in the summer. By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Contributor"

"With some 24 million visitors each year, this is the third most visited park in the US. The crown jewel among the city’s 220 public green spaces, it was founded in 1871 by engineer William Hammond Hall and master gardener John McLaren. Beyond the regular trees, plants and streets of a park, the features here range from the California Academy of Science and Dutch windmills to an archery field and summer festivals. Tour the area by foot, bike or rollerblade."