Golden Gate Park

I love Golden Gate Park. Yeah, I know, who doesn't love a park in the middle of a congested city? But, Golden Gate Park is different from other city parks. It has a lot of cool history, it runs smack into the water, and has some really oddball accoutrements. Apparently, the San Franciscans of the 19th century already knew the city was gonna get out of control, population-wise - because they designated land to build a park as an escape for the future congested folk. The cool part about this park is that it was entirely made of sand dunes when Civil Engineer, William Hammond Hall took on the task of parkifying the place. You would never know by standing in the lush green with thousands of different kinds of plants and trees that no life was there just over a century ago. I only know because I read about it in the museum while waiting for my dinner reservation.
There are all kinds of different areas with different themes in the park to sync with the diversity of San Francisco. And, there is tons to do in this park. There's a multitude of dog runs and you can play tennis and fly fish in one day in one park. How's that for cool? Also, there is a garden dedicated to only plants and flowers that Shakespeare mentions in his writings which I think is really unique. Getting to the park is easy but the park is so expansive it's next to impossible to enjoy everything it has to offer in just one day. There is archery, horseshoes, a museum and a school all in one park -- so, take that New Yorkers!!
One side note I have to mention as well: go to Beach Chalet for a drink at sunset. It's kind of old folks in design as far as restaurants go, but it has one of the best sunset views I've ever seen.

Golden Gate Park is one of the best places to relax in the city. It's huge, which is impressive because San Francisco is not a large city. When I go here, I often get lost, because the roads zig zag and are not always labeled clearly (but that's part of the fun, right?).

I run, rollerblade, and bike here, and enjoy the miles of paths that the park provides. You could spend all day here enjoying the great weather that SF often has to offer. (But beware, the Sunset, which is south of the park, often has very cold temperatures that can roll into the park, so bring extra layers!) There are also a lot of open green area where you can have a picnic, read a book, or watch the dogs run around.

If you want to do something more structured, then you could rent a boat on Stowe Lake or see one of the many exhibits in the park (like the Conservatory of Flowers). I prefer to use the park as my own personal oasis for exercise and relaxation.

This is an easy destination to get to. There are plenty of bus lines that run along the side of the park, like the 5 or the 21.

One of the great things about Golden Gate Park -- if you want to be in the park rather than driving through it -- is the fact that John F. Kennedy Drive is closed between Stanyan and Park Presidio. This is such a fabulous thing for people who want to use the pavement (skaters, roller blades, biking) with out worry about cars.

The amphitheater near the De Young Museum is an awesome site you'll want to check out if you're in the park and especially if you're at the De Young or the Japanese Tea Garden. The Tea Garden is free after 4 daily (or used to be), so save a few bucks by going later in the day.

The botanical garden is not to be missed. Nor is Stowe Lake -- where you can paddle boat if you're so inclined.