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Hi, my name is Jamie Hopper and I'm with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.
In this Get out and Play episode we are featuring the wonderfully romantic park location in
your very own Rec and Park backyard, this is your chance to find your heart in San Francisco
with someone special.
Our first look out is here, above Haight Ashbury at Buena Vista park, San Francisco's heavily
forested hill, a favorite for couples and dog walkers.It's as old as it's famous near
neighbor Golden Gate Park and both have a significant stance of coast live oak forest,
a refreshing retreat from the urban life. The romantic pass the meanders up and down
Buena Vista Park leads you a canopy of oaks, red woods, pines, cypress, and eucalyptus.
Chill out in this pleasant and quiet environment, where you might see butterflies fly between
the monkey flower, fennel, and dandelions. Squirrels are hunting for their next meal
and blue jays fly between the tall eucalyptus. Buena Vista Park is A.D.A. accessible, public
transit is plentiful, take the 6, 24, 37 or 71 bus.
We've conquered the steps, we've shared the pathways. we've have watched the dogs and
we have enjoyed the beautiful view Buena Vista Park has to offer, this is the place to take
someone special on a romantic stroll and enjoy a beautiful look out.
Welcome to Corona Heights, located in the heart of the eclectic Castro district, Corona
Heights offers a spectacular view of the downtown sky line, and the iconic bay bridge and on
towards the east bay.
Corona Heights park is one of the city's best kept secrets, unlike Twin Peaks it is hardly
ever crowded. Instead on any given sunny day you will probably just run into a few locals.
>> hop on a 37 bus to get there without any parking worries. The Heights offers a fenced
in dog park where locals bring the four legged friends to run freely with other dogs and
a small patch of grass for the small dogs It's just a great park, It's just wonderful
for the city to provide these kinds of parks and the dog owners really appreciate it.
As you climb the hillside steps,take the time to notice the wonderful wild flowers which
carpet the grass lands and keep your head up on look out for hawks and other bird life.
Be sure to take your camera and be prepared for the view of the city that you won't soon
forget. The summit of Corona Heights is prominent with beautiful red rock formations, that are
perfect to relax on with someone special while you watch the sunrise from the east bay over
the bay.
This is another one of our great look outs, we are at Mount Davidson, Mount Davidson has
the highest point of elevation in San Francisco, hitting a whopping 928 feet, This is the place
for you to bring someone special, don't forget the dogs and enjoy all of the pathways, trails
and greenery that surrounds you. Mount Davidson provides a peaceful 30 acre
oasis of public, open space and great hiking trails. The spectacular view, offers a perfect
place to watch the sunrise or sunset with someone that you love.
It's just a good place to get away from, you know, the hectic life of the city and come
up here and listen to nature and get the fresh air. Oh, the view is fantastic! And I think
that it is better than Twin Peaks.
Wear sturdy shoes to conquer the western slope trails, where the densely grown vegetation
and fog drip give hikers the feeling of being in a rain forest.
Mount Davidson is also a great park to escape from the noise and the bustle of the city
with your partner. Take the 36 bus and it will drop you right at the entrance. It is
quite a hike to the top here at Mount Davidson but the view is worth every step of the way.
This is the place and the look out to bring that someone special.
Golden Gate Park's largest body of water is a very enchanting Stow Lake. It is popular
spot for strolling as well as picnicking and pedaling around in boats which can be rented
at the boat house. Created in 1893, the lake was designed for leisure boating and a promenade
horse drawn carriages, the 12 acre doughnut shaped-like surrounds strawberry hill island,
a wooden hill named for the wild strawberries than once flourished on its flanks. A pleasant
trail follows the lake's perimeter, passing Huntington falls, 110 foot water falls, two
bridges connect the lake shore trail to strawberry hill island where trails follow the shore
line and climb to the hill's summit and the highest point in Golden Date Park and more
than 400 feet. You can still catch glimpses on the western side of the city through thick
groves of trees which make this hill top a romantic look out. Take the N train and Stow
Lake is A.D.A. accessible. Stow Lake has a peaceful atmosphere where you can enjoy the
warm, San Francisco day, with sunning turtles.
Amble along the lake and watch ducks, swans and sea gulls gliding, nesting, and dozing.
Stow Lake is a tranquil spot to stroll, enjoy each other's company, rent a boat and sail
away. Many couples come to take a boat ride around the lake, floating under bridges, and
passing the Chinese pavilion and the water fall for a quiet getaway from the busy city
life making for a memorable and magical experience.
Located on 19th avenue and Sloat Blvd, the wonderous Stern Grove is the place to wear
your hiking boots and bring the family and don't forget the dog because Stern Grove has
so many strolls to offer you and your loved one. Sigmund Stern Grove is a truly hidden
gem in the city, the park is rich with high Eucalyptus trees and nasturtium. Long paths
that allow you to meander around the trees are perfect for the dog walking in a wooded
environment.
I enjoy the space and the history behind this space, the diversity of nature that exists
right here in such an urban city and the concrete streets and cars that we have this oasis of
the natural environment kind of reminds us of what San Francisco initially was,
There is a section for dogs and plenty of parking.
Plentiful transits are the 23, 28, 20 l or 91 bus can get you there easily and the park
is A.D.A. accessible.
And the par's far west end is Pine Lake, one of the city's few remaining natural lakes
and this is your chance to stroll around the lake together hand in hand and let the kids
run free. And the lake also has birds to watch. Stern Grove is a place to find some solitude
from the city and appreciate what you two share with great strolls and wonderful breaths
of fresh air.
Come and experience Lafayette park. And enjoy the people, puppies, picnics, and sunshine.
This is a lovely place to take an afternoon stroll with your loved one hand in hand.
Located at Gough and Sacramento streets in the middle of Pacific Heights, on top of the
city's steep rolling hills, Lafayette park offers a great sunny square of peaceful beauty,large
trees borders long lines of grass and greenery, and the park features comfortably spaced table
and benches, a playground and rest rooms and 2 tennis courts at the end of the park. There
are plenty of flat areas for football, Frisbee and picnics, Lafayette park is very much a
couple's park and there are a multitude of activities you can experience together. Stroll
on the pathways that cross the entire park, bring your dog and watch them mingle with
other dogs from the community or just picnic at one of the many picnic tables and enjoy
all that it has to offer together. Many couples find that this is the perfect park to throw
down a blanket and soak up the sun, this wonderful hilltop park is a majestic place that you
can share with someone that you cherish,Lafayette park is located along the routes of the 1
and the 10 bus and easily accessed from the 47, 49 and 90 buses it is A.D.A. accessible.
Starting off our picnic segment we are here at the lovely and historic Palace of Fine
Arts, located in the bustling Marina District. Originally built for the 1915 Panama Pacific
exposition, the Palace is situated along San Francisco's northern water front, near Persidio's
Crissy Fields and Letterman Digital Art Center. The Palace of Fine Arts is A.D.A. accessible
and easily reached by the 28, 30, 30 x and 91 bus lines, with its elegant rotunda and
columns set against the reflecting waters of the surrounding lagoon and fragrant eucalyptus
trees, the Palace of Fine Arts is one of San Francisco's most romantic settings for special
dates, and memorable proposals. The palace is also a perfect picnic spot to relax with
that special someone while listening to the water and fountains in the lagoon and gazing
at the swans swim gracefully by. Beautiful to view for many locations along the lagoon
and inside of the column is an ideal place to walk around with your loved ones.The Palace
is the most popular location in the city, park system. Reservations for weddings and
other events are available at sfrecpark.org.
A Shakespeare garden contains plants referred to by William Shakespeare's plays and poems.
Welcome to the beautiful and unique Shakespeare garden here in the famous Golden Gate Park.
Located near the de Young museum and the California Academy of Sciences, Shakespeare garden was
designed in 1928 by the California Spring Blossom and Wildfire Association. Flowers
and plants played an important tool of imagery and employed throughout Shakespeare's literary
master pieces. Here is a truly enchanting and tranquil little garden tucked away along
a path behind a charming rot-iron gate which leaves its own romantic magic, this garden
is the spot to woe your date. Stroll around and appreciate the beauty of the unique setting.
The overarching cherry trees and the gorgeous brick walkway and the brick wall, the enchanting
stone benches and the rustic sun dial.
Share the words as you read bronze plaques on the the rear brick wall that fill the garden
with Shakespearean quotes and famous versions from Shakespearean plays. This compact garden
is a sweet park gem to share with someone special. So pack a picnic find a lovely bench
and enjoy the sunshine and soft breezes and let the whimsical words of William Shakespeare
float you and your loved one away.
This is one of rec and park's popular wedding locations and is available for reservation,
hop on the 29 bus and have no parking worries. Shakespeare's garden is A.D.A. accessible.
Just a little pocket park located at the bottom of Russian hill, Fay Park is a secret garden
with an intimate and captivating appeal. Carefully tucked away on Leavenworth Street, one block
away from on the bottom of the crooked part of Lombard street, Fay Park makes the top
of the list for the most intimate picnic settings. Avoid all tourist cars and parking hassles
by hopping on the Powell Hyde or Powell-Mason Cable Car or 30, 41, or 45, or 91 bus.
Fay Park's garden was designed by famous architect Thomas Church in 1957. Grow old along with
me, the best is yet to be, is inscribed on the sun dial, this little gem of a park. a
lush oasis anchored by twin white gazebos, lovely decks, and splashes of colored roses
blooming year round. This is the place to tell someone something special or the place
to declare to your friends and family the commitment you two share. Wedding and events
reservations are available with Rec and Park for this adorable hidden gem known as Fay
Park.
We know there are many other lovely romantic parks in San Francisco, we hope you've enjoyed
this short tour of look outs, picnics, and strolls that are available every day in our
parks. I'm Jamie Hopper with the Recreation and Parks Department, and until next time,
don't forget to get out and play!
for more information about reserving one of these romantic locations, or any other park
location, call 831-5500. This number is best for special events, weddings, picnics in golden
gate park and stern grove and the county fair building or for any athletic fields call 831-5510.
You can write us at reservations 501 Stanyon street, San Francisco California, 94117. Or
just walk in and say hello at Old Log Cabin Stow Lake Drive Golden Gate Park. And of course
you can find more information and reach us at sfrecparks.org.