A day at the park

If you happen to be visiting San Francisco and want to spend some time at Golden Gate Park, here are some ideas to jump start your day. Public transit easily brings you to 9^th Avenue and Lincoln near the Botanical Gardens. A block up at Irving Street there is an array of breakfast choices within a short radius. If you get there early, try Arts Cafe and grab a bite at the counter. Art makes delicious egg dishes at very reasonable prices. You want something a little more portable? How about stopping at Arizmendi Bakery and getting a fresh fruit scone or pastry with some coffee to go? Or there’s Posh Bagel where you can get a breakfast sandwich, or Jamba Juice for a smoothie. Then head back down 9^th Avenue to Lincoln. Cross the street and you’ll see the gates to enter the Arboretum on the left (opens at 9am on the weekend). There are plenty of trails for nature walks with plants from all over the world, and plenty of benches to rest and breathe in the fresh air. This park is an oasis within the city.

If you get a late start, there are plenty of take-out options for lunch including pizza, burgers, burritos, Chinese, Thai, sushi, etc. All are good choices for a nice picnic in the park. To fill up the afternoon, you will find an assortment of nearby options. A short walk to the only pier on Stow Lake offers pedal and rowboat rentals for an hourly rate. Nearby, relish in the beauty and indulge in the tranquility of the Japanese Tea Garden, truly a must see! The De Young Art museum, newly reopened after a major renovation, houses a large permanent collection, an indoor/outdoor café, sculpture garden, and separate room for the monthly Artist-in-Residence program. And this is all within a small section of the park!