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Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Home to many concerts and performances during the summer months which are free to the public, including the Stern Grove Festival.
Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove, locally called Stern Grove, is a 33-acre (130,000 m2) recreational site located on the West Side of the city of San Francisco California USA in the Parkside District. It is administered by the city's Recreation and Parks Department and is the concert setting for the Stern Grove Festival, which has taken place annually since 1938.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Stair risers comprise a colorful mosaic added during a 2005 renovation of the stairs. Climb to the top then go left or right to find a way into Grand View Park.
Worth visiting because of the stupendous views it offers over downtown San Francisco, Golden Gate Park, the Pacific Ocean, Marin headlands, and across to the Sutro Tower.
formerly the Strybing Arboretum
One of the largest botanical gardens on the west coast, the Botanical Gardens cover 55 acres with thousands of varieties of plants from around the world and multiple specialized gardens and miles of trails (seriously, the place is huge). One of the most unique attractions is the Redwood Trail, which runs through a naturalistic redwood forest reminiscent of the ones north of San Francisco along the Californian coast. There is also a bookstore and library on the premises, near the main entrance. Free guided tours of the gardens depart from the bookstore daily at 1:30PM with an extra tour on the weekends at 10:30AM. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays another free tour departs from the Friend Gate at 2PM.
Previously known as Stow Lake, it was renamed in 2024, though many locals still use the old name. This pleasant lake surrounding Strawberry Hill, a scenic island with excellent views and great picnic spots, is an excellent place to relax. Boating (several types for rent) is available from a boathouse, which is open daily from 11AM-5PM. The ruins of the Sweeny Observatory are on the top of the hill, which was destroyed in the 1906 Earthquake. A Chinese pagoda sits on the edge of the island, which was donated by Taiwan in 1973, nearby the artificial waterfall.
With roses and other flowers mentioned in his plays. A bust of Shakespeare sits at the opposite end from the entrance.
The oldest public Japanese garden in the country, with beautiful plants, ponds, bridges, and Japanese-style structures including a tea house. Tours are available every Wednesday and Sunday at 1PM starting at the main gate.