Shakespeare Garden
Small walled garden in Golden Gate Park planted with species mentioned in Shakespeare’s works. Each plant labeled with the relevant passage. Free, dawn to dusk.
Attraction Category: Parks & Outdoors
Tree Fern Dell (Mescaline Grove)
A sunken hollow of towering tree ferns in Golden Gate Park, nicknamed Mescaline Grove since the 1960s. Dense canopy, prehistoric plants, and a two-minute walk that drops you into a rainforest.
Golden Gate Park Bison Paddock
A herd of American bison has lived in Golden Gate Park since 1891. Small paddock in the western half of the park, free to see from the fence along JFK Drive.
House of Air
An indoor trampoline park inside a renovated military airplane hangar at Crissy Field in the Presidio. Thousands of square feet of trampolines, ninja course, and foam pits.
Golden Gate Park Lawn Bowling Club
The oldest municipal lawn bowling club in the United States, operating in Golden Gate Park since 1901. Free lessons on weekends, no reservation needed. Three greens next to Robin Williams Meadow, with an Edwardian clubhouse from 1915.
Free Gold Watch
A screen printing shop on Waller Street that also runs a pinball arcade in the back. About 60 machines, 50 cents to $1 a game, one block south of Haight Street.
Circus Center
A nonprofit circus school where you can take a single drop-in trapeze or aerial silks class with no experience. Also hosts public performances in a small theater. Founded in 1984.
Lincoln Park
A 100-acre park in northwest San Francisco built over a former cemetery. Home to the Legion of Honor museum, an 18-hole golf course, and access to the Lands End Trail.
Anglers Lodge & Casting Pools
The Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club offers free fly casting lessons in Golden Gate Park, organized in 1933 and casting on three concrete pools built by the WPA in 1938. Patient instructors, no equipment needed.
Baker Beach
A mile of sand at the southwest edge of the Presidio, with the Golden Gate Bridge visible from the beach.