Best San Francisco Parks by Vibe

Located next to the historic McElroy Octagon House at Union and Gough, this fenced-in park is frequented by dog owners and parents with children. It is beautifully landscaped with paths, trees, shrubs, flowers, benches, and grassy areas.

Historic & Happening Park

Famous Park

Waterfront open space

John McLaren Park is a huge park in the heart of San Francisco with a gorgeous view of the city. It is really easy and relaxing to stop by and take a break from the busy streets to appreciate where you are, what you are doing, and live in the moment.

At 312.54 acres, McLaren Park is the third largest park in San Francisco by area, after Golden Gate Park and Presidio. The park is surrounded mostly by the Excelsior, Crocker-Amazon, Visitacion Valley, Portola and University Mound neighborhoods, so it is the perfect spot to stop and experience what San Francisco has to offer!

The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District of San Francisco, California, is a monumental structure originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in order to exhibit works of art presented there. One of only a few surviving structures from the Exposition, it is the only one still situated on its original site. It was rebuilt in 1965, and renovation of the lagoon, walkways, and a seismic retrofit were completed in early 2009.It remains a popular attraction for tourists and locals, and is a favorite location for weddings and wedding party photographs for couples throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and such an icon that a miniature replica of it was built in Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim.

The mile-long Baker Beach lies at the foot of rugged serpentine cliffs west of the Golden Gate. Large waves, undertow and rip currents make the beach unsafe for swimming, but it provides panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands and Lands End. You can fish or check out the shorelife along the beach and rocky shoreline.

How to get to Baker Beach:
You can hike to Baker Beach in the Presidio. There’s a parking lot on Bowley or you an take the #29 Muni bus. Then talk the steps down to the beach.

At 922 feet in elevation, Twin Peaks is second only to Mt. Davidson in height, offers spectacular views of the Bay Area, and is a world-famous tourist attraction. Originally called “Los Pechos de la Choca” (Breasts of the Maiden) by early Spanish settlers, these two adjacent peaks provide postcard views and a treasure trove of animal and plant diversity. Most visitors to Twin Peaks drive (or take a tourist bus) to the north peak parking lot to enjoy 180-degree views of the Bay Area.

The Lyon Street Steps are steps located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco and connect Pacific Heights to Cow Hollow. The steps span two blocks of Lyon Street, between Broadway and Green Streets. The stairs offer views of the San Francisco Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts and the Presidio forest.

The social center of hip, walkable, tree-lined Octavia Blvd is this pocket park, featuring Burning Man–inspired temporary sculpture installations, picnic tables, and a playground. At the eastern end is the PROXY project, a car-parking lot that’s become a people lot with the inspired addition of shipping containers to serve as eating, drinking, and shopping venues.