One Of The Largest Urban Parks In The U.S. Is In Northern California, And It’s Magical
One of many jewels in the crown of the City of San Francisco is the famous Golden Gate Park. To say that it is magical is an understatement, as it offers such a wide array of natural, cultural, historic, recreational, and other amenities that attract an estimated 25 million people a year. Come along as we explore just a few of those amazing spots.
The land on which today’s Golden Gate Park now stands was once covered by sand dunes created by the strong winds coming off of the Pacific Ocean.
In an attempt to create an urban amenity that the San Francisco residents could enjoy, an engineer by the name of William Hammond Hall drew up the first plans in 1870.
The park is still roughly the same size as when it was originally designed, today spanning approximately 1,017 acres.
For example, the Dutch Windmill, built in 1903, were originally established to pump water throughout the park. Today they are a beacon and symbol of not only the Dutch but other immigrants from all over the world who settled in the San Francisco Area.
Golden Gate Park is home to several museums, including the California Academy of Sciences.
Both residents and visitors alike enjoy traditional and disc, golf, tennis, boating, fishing, roller skating, biking, hiking, and other al fresco pursuits.
There are so many things to see and do here, that it’s hard to single out just a few. But suffice to say that a visit to Golden Gate Park will leave a lasting impression, drawing you here again and again to explore something exciting and new!
Have you been to Golden Gate Park? If so, what did you enjoy the most? We’d love to see your photos and hear about your experiences there.
For over 25 years Lysa Allman-Baldwin has fed her wanderlust for “everything the world has to offer” by passionately writing travel and feature articles for numerous global print and online publications. A Digital Nomad, Lysa is also a professional speaker, workshop facilitator, and author.