7 of the Best Things to Do in Golden Gate Park
with Kids
Golden Gate Park covers almost 1,017 acres of land in the middle of San Francisco and offers so many fun activities to experience with your family.
Here are some of the best things to do in Golden Gate Park with your kids, along with some fun facts about San Francisco’s beloved outdoor, recreational space.
What is Golden Gate Park?
Golden Gate Park is a family-friendly, urban park located in the middle of San Francisco, California.
Similar to Central Park in New York City, Golden Gate Park is filled with museums, gardens, walking trails, biking paths, playgrounds, lakes, trees, grassy meadows, and wildlife. It’s a great escape from the bustling city without having to cross city borders.
This special urban park covers 1,017 acres of San Francisco ground, so it’s clear to see that any family can easily spend an entire day here, exploring.
Where is Golden Gate Park?
Golden Gate Park is a long and narrow stretch of urban recreational space , located in the north-west part of San Francisco.
It is about half a mile, north to south, and over 3 miles east to west.
The park is easily accessible from San Francisco districts like the Sunset, Richmond, Cole Valley, and Haight-Ashbury.
Family-Friendly Activities in
Golden Gate Park
With 1,070 acres of beautiful, outdoor, recreational space, visitors can easy spend the day wandering Golden Gate Park without getting bored.
The park features wonderful museums that’ll intrigue your curious kids. It’s covered in grassy meadows and tree-lined walking trails, perfect of running and playing. Plus, it has fun little hidden gems strewn throughout to keep the entire family entertained for hours.
Let’s jump into the best family-friendly activities to do in Golden Gate Park with your kiddos on your next adventure to San Francisco.
Koret Children's Quarter
The Koret Children’s Quarter is a local favorite for many visitors in Golden Gate Park.
Located at the eastern end of Golden Gate Park, this large playground offers so many fun things for youngsters to do.
Here your kids can test their bravery by climbing up really high on a pyramid-shaped, rope structure or by scaling a concrete wall, shaped like a wave.
There’s also a big concrete slide where you’ll find daring kids using pieces of cardboard to speed down them. Bring your own cardboard! This is a big hit for kids and adults alike.
In addition to the great playground, The Koret Children’s Quarter also features a whimsical,1914 carousel that children and adults can enjoy for an affordable price.
How much are carousel tickets at the Koret Children’s Quarter?
- Adults: $2
- Children ages 6-12: $1
- Children ages 5 and younger: FREE
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is a wonderful place to take the kids when visiting Golden Gate Park. This science-packed place is a research institute, aquarium, and natural history museum located right in the middle of the park!
What will I see at the California Academy of Sciences?
- penguins
- an albino alligator
- an albino python
- planetarium
- indoor rainforest
- earthquake room
- a living roof
- aquarium
- cafe
- gift shops
- and so much more
How much does it cost to get into the Academy of Sciences?
Admission prices vary depending on the day of the week and time of day. Here is a rough average of admission prices, however, checking the museum’s calendar will give you a more accurate price.
- Adults: $40
- Youth 3-17: $30
- Seniors: $32
Surrey Bikes
On any given day at Golden Gate Park, you are sure to come across a surrey bike or two. Riding a surrey bike through the park with your kids is a great way to spend some fun quality time.
A surrey is a 4-wheeled bike that can be powered by 2, 4, or 6 people, so it’s an excellent activity to enjoy with your whole family.
Where can I rent a surrey in Golden Gate Park?
You can rent a surrey bike and traditional bikes at Parkwide Bike Rentals and Tours, which usually has a rental station located right behind the Golden Gate Park Bandshell in the park’s music concourse.
How much are surrey rentals in Golden Gate Park?
- 2-person surrey : $35/hour
- 4-person surry: $45/hours
A few tips for riding surrey bikes.
- They don’t go very fast, so expect a slow leisurely ride.
- Since they don’t go fast, it’s best to stay on roads that are free of cars, if possible.
- They are fairly easy to pedal as long as you’re on flat ground, so stay clear of big hills.
Japanese Tea Garden
Want to feel like you’re in a totally different country? If so, this one’s definitely for you.
The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park is a tranquil, Japanese-style garden you wouldn’t think was located in the heart of a bustling city.
While it isn’t quite the type of park to let the kids throw frisbees in, it is definitely a place you should take your family for it’s calm, serene beauty.
The garden is a very popular destination for visors to the city and once you step foot inside, you will immediately see why.
The second you step inside the gates, you’ll see classical Japanese elements like tall arched bridges, stepping stone paths, stone lanterns, beautiful pagodas, koi ponds, and zen gardens.
One of the most special things about San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden is the tea house where you can sit and enjoy Asian snacks, treats, and teas, while overlooking the serene grounds of the garden, so make sure you carve out some time to this
How much is admission to the Japanese Tea Garden?
- Adults $10-$13
- Youth ages 12-17: $7
- Children ages 5-11: $3
- Seniors: $7
Botanical Gardens
The Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens is another great place to spend quality time with the family. It’s a special place that is dedicated to the preservation of a wide array of plants through collection and cultivation.
This 55 acres of landscaped gardens, ponds, and open spaces is home to 8,000 different kinds of beautiful plants from all around the world.
Like other areas of Golden Gate Park, it is extremely easy to get lost in the Botanical Gardens while simply strolling down it’s many walking paths.
However, what’s pretty magical about the Botanical Gardens is that there is so much to see is such a small space. While you are walking, one moment you might find yourself in the middle of a cathedral of redwoods and then the next moment you’ll find yourself strolling through a forest of bamboo.
It’s all within a few steps of each other. You can see so much, is such little time.
How much is admission to the Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens?
- Adults: $10-$13
- Children ages 12-17 : $7
- Children ages 5-11: $3
- Toddlers ages 4 and under: FREE
Stow Lake
Exploring Stow Lake is another great activity to do in Golden Gate Park with the kids.
It is a man-made lake located in the park and has been around for over 11 decades. It’s a great place for any family looking to take a break form the busy city since it’s a very popular place for bird-watching, paddling, running, and strolling.
The fully-paved loop that takes you around the circumference of the lake is about 2 miles long and can take roughly 45 minutes to complete. It’s a great way for energetic youngsters to get out their energy while watching pedal-boaters on water and spotting sun-bathing turtles on dry logs.
You and your family can also get on the water by renting a row boat or pedal boat at the Stow Lake Boathouse.
How much is it to rent boats at Stow Lake?
- Row boats: $26/hour
- Pedal boat: $32.50/hour
- 4-6 passenger pedal boat: $45/hour
Strawberry Hill
Another great kid-friendly activity to do at Golden Gate Park is explore Strawberry Hill.
Strawberry Hill in a hill that occupies a little island in the middle of Stow Lake and is accessible by bridges.
This sweet little island offers so much to explore as you navigate its 2-mile walking loop that takes you all the way to the top of the hill, where you’ll get great view of the city and Stow Lake below.
Then, your descent will take you back down the hill where you’ll come across a tall waterfall, bridges, and a Chinese pavilion.
While exploring Strawberry Hill you’ll also come across things like butterflies, birds, insects, beautiful landscaping, and an occasional, friendly dog taking a walk with it’s owner.
Is the Strawberry Hill loop stroller-friendly?
While the hiking loop is considered easy, most of the trail is unpaved. The loop also requires to you climb stairs and hike inclines, so it’s best to explore Strawberry Hill without a stroller.
Fun Facts About
Golden Gate Park
- Golden Gate Park is 20% bigger than Central Park.
- It is one of the worlds largest man-made parks.
- Golden Gate Park is home to 10 lakes.
- There are 2 man-made waterfalls in the park.
- The park was built on sand dunes.
- This park is home to two water-pumping windmills.
- Golden Gate Park was a refuge are after the 1906 earthquake.
- There are 19 statues hidden throughout the park.
- Only 2 of the park’s 19 statues are of females.
- There are a handful of little, fairy doors hidden in the park.
- A herd of bison lives in Golden Gate Park.
- 24 million visitor visit the park each year.
In Conclusion
Spending a Day at Golden Gate Park with Children
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is a very popular place to escape the busyness of its surrounding neighborhoods. With it’s miles of beautiful, recreational space, both local and visiting families can easily spend an entire day enjoying all that this space has to offer.
You can start your day learning and soaking up science and observing interesting animals at the California Academy of Science. It’s perfect for all curious, young minds, eager to learn.
When you’ve had enough indoor fun, you can head outside to explore gorgeous spaces like the Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Tea Garden.
And to really end the day with a bang, burn a little more energy on a surrey or pedal boat, or hike around Stow Lake and up Strawberry Hill, to work up a healthy appetite just in time for dinner.
Regardless of when or how long you spend at Golden Gate Park with your family, you’ll walk away with some wonderful, San Francisco memories.
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