I saw fish jumping at Lloyd lake today! This lake is so aesthetic. Under a small water fall there…read moreis a stone path in the water that you walk through to enter the main walking path. It's so cute and perfect for photos. There's a grassy area on the far end as well as some kind of ruin, with columns made of marble. There are a few benches and always lots of ducks! This is a great spot to meditate as it's off the main walking path.

I spent some time here this past weekend, picnicking at the lake, taking a nap in the grassy field,…read moreand though it's a rare occurrence to bring a book with me, it was the perfect opportunity to catch up on some reading too. There's free street parking on JFK Drive, right in front of the pond, as well as a beautiful waterfall in the corner, flowing into the lake. I enjoyed admiring the views, the surrounding trees and flowers, and waterbirds galore (seagulls, geese, even adorable baby ducks). The dirt trail bordering the lake is perfect for taking a leisurely stroll or going for a run, with park benches and the lovely Portals of the Past monument along the pathway. I absolutely enjoyed a quiet afternoon here, with an alluring atmosphere and ideal weather this past Saturday. No it's not as breathtaking as other similar spots at Golden Gate Park, like Blue Heron Lake, but it's no less deserving of 5 stars.

Such a pretty area in GG Park. It's a paved loop trail that goes around the lake and I believe it's…read morea few miles total. Plenty of parking, but do come early as it gets quite busy. There's a gift shop and little boat rental place. Bathrooms in the parking lot near the boathouse. Lots of birds here- please give them space so they keep coming back to this special oasis in the city. They add much of the charm here!

One of my favorite lakes in Golden Gate Park to walk around. I believe it used to be called Stow…read moreLake. There are a couple of the circular loop paths to take and the outer path takes around 30 minutes to complete one look. Along the way, you get great views of birds, fishes, and boats. You can rent the paddle boats to circle around the lake. After the outer loop, you can walk over a bridge to do the inner loop which offers great views once you walk to the top. There are plenty of small attractions to see including a Chinese Pavilion. Parking does get kind of difficult at times.

One of the cherry blossom trees at Lake Metson is in full bloom. The other one hasn't started to…read moreflower yet. Lake Metson is a long hike from the closest parking lot by the cycling track. It is best to bike here.

This lake is so green. So quiet and beautiful! It is small although…read more Highly recommend it.

The middle lake has since gotten an upgrade and now is filled with water next to a stream with a…read moresmall waterfall (though the last time I was there that part was dry). It's more lush compared to the dry patch of dirt it was before and worth checking out. Out of the 3 I like North Lake the best as it feels the most rustic and natural whereas the other two feel man made. It's a great place for a birder. Birds are everywhere. North Lake has monthly cleanups through Golden Gate Bird Alliance where you basically garden and get rid of non native plants.

Just returned home after my walk at Chain of Lakes (adjacent to Fulton). The pictures that I am…read moreadding relate to the little bridge that crosses over what USED TO BE an absolutely charming pond that featured a cool variety of ducks and raccoons romping in the water, This area has be totally neglected and it is basically more. Overgrown brush, tree branches cover the area and the pond is nothing but thick green scum. see pics. Ok, maybe the green scum can't be dealt with but the hideous overgrowth can! For this part of the park, I give it 2 stars. The rest of the park is of course a 5 rating. It would be nice if the Park and Rec would RE-PAINT the narrow path or put up at least 2 signs to indicate NO bikes or SCOOTERS. One trash can for this size park area is also ridiculous given that 95% of the time it is locked up! and dog waste bags scattered around the can not in it. C'mon..

Great short walk out into the Bay…read more I love discovering these little natural park gem. This looks like a new little park that is great to eat lunch and then take a easy walk on a levee out into the Bay. I saw two great blue herons and a man fishing at the tip of the levee path. Treat yourself to a visit at the plant nursery across the street from the parking lot. There is limited parking here, but plenty of street parking.

It's really just a half-mile, man-made spit of land that juts out to the bay in the workaday area…read moreof India Basin. However, the setting is offset by atmospheric wetlands that attract a variety of birds that look quite comfortable on the shoreline. The end of the singular trail doesn't offer that much of a payoff unless you like the sight of mammoth cargo ships anchored seemingly permanently in the middle of the bay. There are unexpected sights like a Buddhist altar hidden in a windswept tree grove (photo: https://bit.ly/3wA6hFU) There's also what looks like a dilapidated pier sunken at both ends (photo: https://bit.ly/2UzDJPx). I guess I would be remiss in not mentioning the Eco Center which looks to be a children's education center, although I've never been inside due to COVID restrictions and its limited hours. Normally I'd suggest you walk the footbridge to the newly renovated Hunters Point Shoreline, but pedestrian access points looked to be closed for the rest of 2021. You can still walk around or drive onto Evans to get to the rest of India Basin. RELATED - Lost in Hunters Point? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AOvRKv

Tasty food, prompt service with a pretty view of this sweet little lake.The prices are pretty high…read morefor a counter order type of place

We were glad to have this snack bar while biking through Golden Gate Park. Our pup was getting a…read morelittle parched and so were we. We had plenty of water but we did get a drink and a small snack and set on a bench to enjoy the view of the lake. The stuff was nice enough to give me an empty cup for the bottle of water I had for my dog and we all had a nice cooling drink. There is parking and places to lock up your bike as well as plenty of picnic tables and benches for you to sit in the shade and enjoy a snack near the water. It's not just chips and soda either, you can actually get a sandwich and soup if you need something more hearty. It's also connected to the boat dock so you can grab yourself something before or after an outing on the water.

I am not sure if people are confusing the Quintara Avenue and 14th Avenue steps at the end of the…read moreHaight 6 Muni bus which is just for locals who live in neighborhood that knows about it since is just plain cement steps with no art on it like those mosaic steps on Kirkham. This is my first time at this park. It's small and local great for dog walkers as I seen a lot of dogs on my short time here and some kids playing at the playground. . Nice circular path park. Quiet and neighborhood friendly dog walkers.

Hmm, I wonder if any local residents are thinking of bedazzling the Mandalay Steps the way it was…read moredone with the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps with decorative ceramic tiles. There are two more steps with the Mandalay Steps, and maybe that was the breaking point. Too bad because they're just concrete and in constant need of sweeping in its current state. Or maybe that was the intention to isolate this park for residents and not welcome unsuspecting tourists. It's actually a further climb to the park, and unlike Grandview, it's a real park, very woodsy and replete with all the accessories including a renovated playground. There are likely views from certain vantage points, but it was enshrouded in fog when I was here. OK, back down Mandalay. Geronimo!....oh wait, that's politically incorrect, isn't it? RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2EI8eIJ

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more I didn't know San Francisco had its own Fountain of Youth. OK, I knew we had one, but I thought it was at the Red Door Spa near Union Square. But I guess Elizabeth Arden isn't the only one holding the key to your eternal childhood. This spring, according to Ohlone legend, apparently allows women sipping its water to pump out kids over a long life. I don't know what the water does to those of us who don't reproduce, but it is a congregation place for COVID-weary teachers needing to take their charges on a field trip. Why not? After all, there's a stone well from which presumably the water springs and plenty of flora and streams in which the kids can frolic to the delight of their teachers. Of course I did not partake of the frolicking as I didn't want to get 5-10 at Folsom State, but I still enjoyed the bucolic setting from a distance. RELATED - Exploring the Marina? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2HyFdzC

El Polin Spring has a very short trail appropriate for a leisurely stroll. During the winter the…read morecreek runs through but it's pretty much dry for the rest of the year. Bathrooms are located at the base as well as about 5 parking spots. During the weekend unrestricted parking is available on the street however it's permit only during the week. At the beginning of the trail there are a couple of picnic tables and remnants of the base of an Adobe house from colonial days. You can always hear lots of birds chirping and it's populated with wildflowers in the spring. The trail is a loop about a quarter of a mile which is good for people that want to get out for something short. To hike farther, at the loop take a left and there is a trail that goes up by the playground. This trail can circle around with the Lovers Lane trail which is about 1.5 miles. Another option is to take a right before the spring which goes up to the Ecology Trail which you can circle around as well.