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The Strybing Arboretum (Golden Gate Park, SF) AA - B **** 1.5+ miles; Transit; Rainy Weather
Yes MORE Last time we were there I overheard a young girl who was being dragged out the exit complain "But we haven't seen everything!" I never feel I've seen everything, and always encounter features I hadn't noticed before: sculptures, things blooming, a fragrance garden... once we saw a family of raccoons foraging near the duck pond. Details:The Arboretum is on the south edge of Golden Gate Park, west of Ninth Avenue, within a few blocks of a lot of nice restaurants, and is served by San Francisco Muni #44, or Judah streetcar N to 9th Ave, where there's a wheelchair accessible stop. Parking is on the street, where there are two blue spaces by each of the two entrances, but on weekends you may have to park a few blocks away. The nearest accessible restroom to the main entrance is in the County Fair Building just outside the garden's main entrance. I'm told this is sometimes locked. Inside the garden, there is an accessible restroom near the north entrance.No dogs or bikes are permitted in the Arboretum (service dogs excepted). Hours are 10 to 4:30 or 5; then they lock the gate, so if you might be staying later, make sure your wheelchair fits through the extra-large turnstile so you can get out. Last visit August 2005 |
It's
remarkable that one of the best places to be outdoors in the Bay Area
is right in the middle of San Francisco. And to me the best place to
be in Golden Gate Park is the Arboretum. This beautiful botanical garden
has a maze of paved paths, very accessible except for a few steep stretches.
Some paths are dirt, and many of these are useable also. They wind among
all manner of plants, shrubs and trees, including many California natives.This
is where I read the name tags to identify plants I've seen elsewhere.
There's also good bird-watching, but no name tags on the birds, alas.