Lovely location for an event! I've been to several here but the one that sticks out is the annual Pistahan- Filipino festival. The gardens boasts lots of space for vendors to set up their tents and put a big stage, there's the adjacent center with restrooms and a big auditorium for indoor activities and exhibitions, and there's an upper level where you can see beautiful views of the garden and the surrounding cityscape. It's also next to the Metreon so you can pop in for a movie or browse the different floors of fun stuff. Beautiful spot! Several ways to get there - you can take Bart to Powell or Montgomery or take the ferry and walk from ferry building. Look forward to the next event! read more

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A beautiful gem in the middle of the most beautiful city. Tucked away amidst the sky scrapers - open greenery to chill and walk around or host an awesome festival, a majestic waterfall feature, shops and restaurants nearby with plenty more close by like at Union Square, an awesome and open children's playground with many attractions, and even other attraction a like a carousel, a bowling alley, and ice rink. Plenty of photo ops whether a tourist or a local. read more

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We took a walk after our brunch and ended up at this peaceful and beautiful spot . Perfect day to take in its beauty in nature ! Great spot to relax in San Francisco! read more

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Here mainly to meet up with friends who wanted to come to the Pistahan Festival. I think it's great that Yerba Buena Gardens is host to so many free and wonderful events throughout most of the year. There's a stage with a huge grassy area in front of it. They put out lots of chairs for anyone who wants to be entertained. Wonderful place to gather on a sunny day for any event. There's also a playground with play structures for families needing entertainment for kids and a merry-go-round nearby. The fountain with the M.L. King Memorial is a great piece of educational fun to walk under. On a hot day, the mist from the fountain is welcome. The Metreon next to the Gardens also is convenient for food or entertainment for hours and hours if you're looking to kill time! I've come here many times before, but never thought to write a review. It's about time! read more

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First time here, I cam here specifically to see the statues of the Alebrijes y Nahuales that are here from Mexico for a short time. This garden is very nice, well kept and there is a lot to see and do. I enjoyed walking around and exploring the area. There is a carousel and a play ground for kids, lots of things to see and do and learn. Many places to sit and people watch or day dream I felt safe walking around and exploring everything. There are places to eat and grab a snack. I would come back here again read more

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I've visited Yerba Buena Gardens many times, but haven't even seen it all, as it's quite large and made up of so many elements. There are areas where teens seem to hang out near the Fun Zone/Amphitheater. But the entire place has plenty to offer for families and individuals of all ages. This past weekend I passed by several of the gardens on site including the Butterfly Garden, Reflection Garden, and Crepe Myrtle Garden which was absolutely beautiful with countless fountains flowing on a Monday during sunset. I also crossed the Great Lawn, a large open space ideal for picnicking, and stopped by one of my favorite parts of the gardens, the MLK memorial, captivating with its tunnel of cascading water (if you've never been, it's worth checking out, especially with the MLK holiday coming up). I also viewed and admired several of the artworks found throughout the gardens, such as Chico MacMurtrie's Urge to Stand sculpture near the Children's Creativity Museum, with an intriguing effect for viewers, and Sarah Sze's Double Horizon, located on the walkway crossing over Howard Street, depicting a boulder split open revealing a mirrored image representative of a resistance to change through the passing of time. Besides special events and the Metreon attached to the gardens, Yerba Buena offers several other attractions and entertainment like bowling, skating, and a carousel. The place is well kept, and though I saw a few homeless hanging out here, it didn't seem to interfere too much with the engaging setting the Yerba Buena Gardens create. read more

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It's been awhile since I got a chance to come here at night. I got to come last Saturday night after an event. I love the view here at night with city lights. It was a wonderful stroll around the area with my husband. I love the view here and I can stay here all day. Night view and day view have different feels. You must come visit with the day and then during the night. A wonderful place to be! read more

What an amazing place. The Alebrejies in the Yerba Buena Gardens were so beautiful. They were worth the trip. Not only awesome art but there was a small circus. They have weekly events over the summer. read more

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This is a great place for kids to play. There's a large grassy area as well as a very nice playground. It's amazing that this is downtown. read more

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On Sunday afternoon very quiet and peaceful but the downside so many homeless here , sometimes this garden take over by some convention for party events! read more

It's a nice garden park ...near Union Square...more space to rest and enjoy the sunshine...weekends there may be events or something special to do...festival or show...the park is near Moscone...so many buildings..museums ice skating and children's museum...downtown..sunny and energetic...spent much time here review #3151 review #2121 San Francisco CA read more

The Yerba Buena Gardens is a beautiful green field in the heart of SF downtown art district. It is an easygoing spot to walk, dine, and shop in any time of year, and I like the short walk and city view here. read more

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Yerba Buena Gardens is a nice public park located in San Francisco's SoMa (South of Market) district. You can get some great pictures of the SF skyline here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzUGidfPe8J/ I personally wouldn't go too far out of my way to visit, but if you happen to be within reasonable walking distance, I do think it the Gardens are worth checking out. We stayed close to and my wife was attending a convention at the Moscone Center. That's why we visited this place. One thing that I think is cool about the Gardens is it's integrated with the Moscone Center. The Gardens surround and are built on top of the convention center. It's a great design, both functionally and aesthetically. We explored the entire park which spans two blocks -- a lot of land for San Francisco. The north block has a large 5.5-acre lawn with a pond and waterfalls (the "Esplanade"), restaurants and retail (Metreon shopping mall), art galleries and a theater, and more. The south block has the Moscone Center, a kids playground, a children's museum, an ice skating & bowling center, and more. Hotels, museums (Contemporary Jewish Museum, SF Museum of Modern Art), and parking garages surround the park. The Upper Terrace in the north block, above the MLK Memorial, is where you can see the stunning city views. The park's pedestrian bridge, which connects the two blocks over Howard Street, and various terraced areas have well-manicured landscaping, stairs and walkways, and seating. We visited during the daytime. The grounds were generally clean and we felt safe. I saw at least a couple security guards patrolling the property. We did smell some urine when we sat down on the Upper Terrace, so that was unpleasant and disappointing. Unfortunately, it's become normal in SF. Overall, this is a good, beautiful outdoor space for a pleasant stroll in the city. read more

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This was a fun find close to my hotel! I needed some fresh air so just decided to walk around and stumbled upon the gardens. How beautiful! Tons of green space to enjoy a picnic or just get some sun. It's also close to the MLK Jr. memorial, which is very cool. Overall just a pretty place for a good walk when the weather is nice. read more

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Went to Yerba Buena ( Spanish translation: Good Herbals) Gardens in San Francisco for a private TechCrunch Disrupt event. Usually I come around here and hear some music playing on the stage but this time I came to enjoy some free food in the evening and some drinking with an open bar in the outdoor grass with music at Yerba Buena Gardens courtesy of TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. TechCrunch Disrupt had many events throughout the week in San Francisco and this was my favorite. I got to sample the various food and drink . I first started with dessert and grabbed a Paleta ( Popsicle ) at Pepitos since it was still daylight. I got the Honey Guava and it had a sweet not too sweet natural flavor. I then went to the Churreria to get a churro and it was crispy and soft and had a good cinnamon taste. I then shifted to the food grab some poke at Da Poke Man. The raw fish was so fresh and tasty. I couldn't get enough . I went to El Sur empanadas table which had a good savory different delicious empanadas like the pollo saltado and the carne suave . I then sampled some pork tamales from Cielito Lindo. After having foods from different multiple table tents I decided to pivot and hit the open bar and grab some wine. They had a good selection of red and white wines they served throughout the evening and night. They also had a natural kombucha alcohol drink in a can. Since red wines are my jam they stayed in rotation to the end. I missed going to the Tech Crunch Crunchies Awards and afterparty which no longer exist. At least TechCrunch Disrupt still around. The Yerba Buena Gardens is where good events are conducted In 2024 Tech Crunch had it disrupted read more

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I've passed by the fountains so many times but never stopped to explore the park. I'm glad I did, because this is an oasis in the middle of downtown SF! There are plenty of places to sit and relax, whether it's on the grassy fields or benches spread out the park. It connects to different parts the downtown area, such as the Metreon and the bowling/ice skating rink. If you walk along the elevated area, you'll get views of the city. Take the path away from the Metreon, and there are also a lot of murals and stair art. *Verdict: Good place to soak in some Vitamin D while grabbing a bite to eat/drink or just relaxing! read more

Yerba Buena Gardens - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

We took our son & grandbaby here for a quick visit. She loved the play area and was well entertained for about and hour and a half. Its kinda maze-like & some directions or arrow signage for people with strollers would be really useful for newcomers. Also, more accessible restrooms. There was one near the Children's Creativity Museum but it was one, gender neutral bathroom that was quite busy & smelled of urine. We initially wanted to go to the Children's Creativity Museum but not at the $20/person price since she's only under 2 & we couldn't find enough info on activities on their website. The things I did see didn't seem like a toddler would understand nor enjoy yet so we'll save that for a couple more years. There was a reggae festival going on & I was worried about the smell of marijuana coming over to the park area but it was far enough away that it didn't. We only smelled it as we walked back toward mission. We don't mind it but we didn't want our little one being exposed too much. The festival did seem cool & I would have liked to check out the vendors & foor available but again, with a little one, it wasn't an option for us this time. read more

We discovered Yerba Buena Gardens after visiting the Children's Creativity Museum and were so impressed by how big it is. It's a wonderful park for kids, with a large play area for older children and a separate, smaller section specifically for toddlers. In addition to the play areas, there's a huge grassy space perfect for enjoying a sunset or relaxing with friends. It's also a great spot for dogs to run around. We were pleasantly surprised and will definitely be back! read more

Great little park in the middle of downtown. If your not here for an official festival or event - its a great place to spend a moment with some green around you right before or after a movie at the Metreon. Went here on a weekend and it was very clean and no crazy - grab something from a nearby place and enjoy it here - maybe Lemonade or Starbucks. This is the neighborhood where you expect trouble and yet I personally didn't spot much - is it safe for you? I don't know. Should you bring your kids here? I think it depends and you should keep an eye on them. Sometimes I meet an odd person in the city from a very affluent place like Blackhawk. I ask them what brings them here. They reply something like 'I want to experience life.' I think that is a fair thing to say. This is the place to experience life - hiding in the suburbs has its drawbacks. Came the day of Outside Lands 2.0 - on that day in the evening there was such heavy fog and at around 6:30 pm and more toward the other side of the city there was even technically rain. Strange thing in the summer. There is the garden with waterfall, the convention center and the arts center. Other points of interest just steps away like SFmoma. The green and clean area as well as the little waterfall or fountain drew me in. A place I've probably walked past many times I took a second to enjoy. A great place for some prayer or meditation - whatever your into - lets not turn this into some stink of politics or religion... All you need to know is it is a very tranquil place. read more

We went for a walk to enjoy the exposition of the alebrijes y Nahuales that are place there for couple week on a Sunday afternoon. The plants and gardens are very well maintained the water fall very nice. A lot of securities all over the park so people can feel safe. A lot of benches and water fountains to refill your water bottles also. read more

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A nice day retreat. After our museum hopping, we wanted to rest and take in the city. It's very well maintained. This garden offers an amazing view of the city. There are a couple of restaurants at the top. Museums at the bottom. Worth the a trip. read more

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Unexpected and overlooked, we were trying to burn time and kid-energy and my wife kept insisting there was a children's playground near SF MOMA. We've been here many times and walked through Yerba Buena Center but I couldn't remember it was here. Luckily my wife was right and we found a well designed playground that's a bit of an oasis in the middle of dominating urban concrete. By architect Adele Santos who was a Dean of architecture at MIT, there is a purposeful-intent and ideology behind the playground. It's not surprising it frequently appears on "top playgrounds" lists. The best feature is a huge slide surrounded by a climbing wall. The oldest loved shooting down this slide and then climbing up the wall to do it all again. There's also a sand circle and bridges that provide a lot of play diversity your kids will love. A newer addition is a seperate toddler play area for kids, it's right next to the small community garden which I enjoyed sitting in while watching the kids. The worst part of our visit was a guy yelling to himself sitting on a bench, he left after awhile and the parents just kept the kids away from him and all was well. read more

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Enjoyed an outdoor festival concert with a flamenco group and vendors day. A beautiful space to walk around and see the beautiful MLK memorial waterfall. The bridge was a pretty walk. Checked out the nearby SFMOMA and Children's Creativity Museum. For more: @grace.loves.adventures read more

This review is for the playground. It's very large with a lot of open space in the middle, plus a grass area nearby. I didn't see any obvious restrooms but there may have been one that I missed. Only issue here is on a sunny day, the kids' playing area is very exposed to the sun. There are only a few shaded areas on the sides, more where the parents hang out. read more

I have so much love for Yerba Buena Gardens. I visited here the other day to meet up with my friend and her baby boy. It was the perfect spot to just sit and be - while I waited for them to arrive. I was able to relax on the grassy steps - across from the Jewish Art Museum - listening to an outdoor early evening band set-up. Yerba Buena Gardens is such a key SF resource. It's a little oasis nestled among the high rise buildings. A spot to take a breath, people watch, and just take in San Francisco. Thank you Yerba Buena Gardens for continuing to nourish this city. Trust. read more

So went to Yerba Buena Gardens to check it out . Beautiful plants and peaceful to walk around! Rare plants to see like different species. BUT DON'T bring your furry babies in! These place is horrible for pets owners. We were escorted out and watched the whole time until we left... What a horrible experience! I wish we never experience that ever happen! We had the ok from another employee then were followed about another her colleagues in blue vest.. he followed us to the elevator and stayed by it until we went down read more

Yerba Buena Gardens - This man harassed us all the way out of the park!! - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved the rooftop for a mixer post Semicon conference. Beautiful weather and views of the flowers and water. Nice bar inside with a great whiskey selections and nice bartenders. 1 less star for that seagull that pooped on me, although I guess I got good luck. read more

Yerba Buena Gardens - Rooftop views - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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BRING IN THE ARTISTS!! When it is urban renewal time, it's always a good idea to bring in the artists! I attended a National Art conference just after the nearby SFMOMA had opened, and hoped for the creation of an urban oasis and retreat when Yerba Buena Gardens were completed. Located across the street from the SFMOMA and across the block from the Moscone Conference Center, this park brings a spot of nature to downtown San Francisco. The green grass beckons, and the breathtaking memorial waterfall provides added notes for the soundtrack of nature. You can actually walk behind the waterfall, and get a tiny Niagra Falls experience, with the addition of inspirational quotes. Just strolling through this bit of nature lets you catch your breath from the hustle and bustle of nearby Market Street. The terraced patio above the waterfall also provides views of some of the nearby buildings that are new additions to the Market Street area. St. Patricks Cathedral is across from the park, as well as a new building being built to house the Four Seasons and its condos. The AMC theater and Metreon food courts are nearby, and the Samovar tea cafe has a great view over the park. Park yourself for a while in this grassy oasis and get back in tune with the world. read more

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Yerba Buena Gardens is the perfect spot to relax amidst the hustle and bustle of the city that you are residing within. It really reminded me of spots like Millennium Park in Chicago but with less people. I was lucky enough to be staying near Powell and was instantly hit with the glitz of big cities - large department stores, grungy streets, and... a beautiful park getaway? I did not see the last part coming. The gardens is magnificent for its peaceful nature. There are plenty of bench seating where you can enjoy a meal you grabbed from inside nearby Metreon, people gaze at those basking in the sunlight, and admire the city view. If you're lucky, you may even encounter live musicians and entertainers to keep the mood going. All too often, we rush through our days without pausing to reflect and appreciate living. I invite you to spend some time here at the gardens just for that and see how it can help you get through the rest of your day. read more

Just a block away from Main Street, Yerba Buena is the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. This park is strategically located at the center of some of the most popular destinations in this part of the city which include the SFMOMA, Metreon, Moscone and St. Patrick's Cathedral. With its inviting, sprawling green lawn, you'll find a lot of locals and tourists having picnics, playing ball games, or merely laying down lazily in the comfort of this park. there's also lots of benches all over the park. Lots of things to see and do in here. Admire the waterfall with Martin Luther King's Memorial. Explore various Art graffitis and metal sculptures. Frolic by the fountains. Smell the fragrant flowers from the gardens. Visit museums and galleries. Enjoy an afternoon tea or cup of coffee. Or feed that growling tummy with delicious food from the various restaurants surrounding the area. Yerba Buena, Truly an oasis in this side of the city! read more

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When the elaborate Salesforce Transit Central recently opened with its fancy, fountain-spurting, yoga-obsessing rooftop park, I thought the YBG would become a forgotten wasteland in its wake. OK, not really, but isn't it ironic that the rooftop park closed due to cracks in the steel beams supporting it? It's like rain on your wedding day. It's a free ride when you've already paid. Isn't it ironic? Don't you think? It's also ironic that my 4,400th review is about the YBG where I have returned now that I can't walk around the rooftop. But you can walk the circuitous route around the central green area between Mission and the MLK waterfall, which in itself is a lovely sight, especially at night (photo: http://bit.ly/2qSBC7z). A lot of older Asian seniors do that walk. No, I'm not talking about me. Bitch. I'm the one on the bench making fun of the people walking by with special ridicule reserved for smokers. The view from the upper terrace garden is particularly pleasant in front of the reflecting pool, though it's been in a constant state of renovation lately. The other frustration has been the gardens' periodic closures for private corporate events which leaves plebeians like me out in the cold. However, the upside has been the YBG Festival from May to October where you can see a variety of free performances for a variety of tastes. If the idea of creaky steel beams bothers you, come here instead. RELATED - Have a need to decompress in San Francisco? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2QJwjmj read more

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Such an amazing spot to hang while waiting for other places to open. Target is in area too. The peace of the place and space is breathtaking. I love the small place of history with MLK quotes and reflective water area. This is within the art financial area of the city so there's a lot to do here. There's parking structures easy to find. Definitely a must come area when you are here. read more

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Yerba Buena Gardens is my oasis when I'm in the downtown/SOMA areas. With great architectural views of surrounding buildings, cultural institutions like the MOMA, Contemporary Jewish or other smaller museums, YBG is beautiful - a soul satisfying experience. Often times there are ethnic festivals and concerts held here which provide free entertainment. Otherwise, it's just great to have some green space away from the shopping crowds where I can take a deep breath and breathe. When it's a sunny day, there's nothing better than sitting on one of the benches on the upper terrace while gazing at the infinity pool and listening to the sound of falling water. read more

I needed to grab a few things at Target and decided to stop by Yerba Buena Gardens. I got here on Tuesday, June 26th a little before 2:15pm. I used to come here often when coworkers wanted to just sit on the grass and have lunch. We'd spend our whole lunch hour eating, talking, and soaking up the sun. There's a waterfall type installation to enjoy and views of the Marriott and St Patrick's Church. This day, I guess a festival was going on, so there was live music as well. I didn't actually spend much time here, but there was plenty of room on the grass to sit and chill. Even though I don't normally hang out here anymore, it was fun revisiting an old spot. Nice place to just relax. Especially since it can be so chaotic walking around downtown. read more

Yerba Buena Gardens - Waterfalls - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This garden is nice and spacious! Big green grass area in the middle. There's also a little waterfall place where you can take pics. Unfortunately, I came here alone so I just chilled and enjoyed the views here. It's located in the middle of all the dining plaza with an AMC theater. After taking a few photos, I went to the dining plaza and got myself Sharetea! It's a great place to hangout with friends or to take a breather. Parking wasn't bad to find on a Tuesday night. There is plenty of street parking but that also depends on the day and time. read more

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Not friendly for disabled folks. I brought my service dog who sits there doing nothing and I get constantly harassed. I sit in the same spot daily to study in quiet outside but it hurts me to sit on the concrete because I have some rare joint and connective tissue issues.... so I bring a chair and suddenly I am not allowed to sit where I was sitting anymore. It's a shame this place gets any public funding or donations as an outdoor space. It effectively discriminates against people with disabilities through the constant, ad infinitum microagressions of harassment by security. read more

Yerba Buena Gardens - The offending set up I use to mitigate pain while I try to study in peace. Can't bring a comfortable chair w/o someone telling me "move". - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Yerba Buena was the name of San Francisco before the great city was called San Francisco. And no worries most Americans did not know that tidbit of California history. Heck, I'm a part-time historian & still forget! Yet, there's an urban park in the heart of San Francisco called... Yerba Buena Gardens It's a great little park found between 3rd & 4th Streets in SOMA. It covers over 2 blocks of urban landscape and includes a Martin Luther King Memorial located behind the largest man-made waterfall on the west-coast. The MLK memorial are large etched glass excerpts of his speeches that moved a nation. There's old school southern baptist inspiration in the overall design of the MLK memorial. See it! Other highlights include: An ice skating rink, a bowling alley, and a fully restored 1905 carousel originally located at Playland in the early part of the previous century. The Children's Creativity Museum (Zeum), a children's media and technology museum can also be accessed in the South block. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, a contemporary arts center can be found in the  North block. Eateries within the gardens include the B Restaurant and Grill & the Samovar Tea Lounge on the North block's terrace, Mo's Grill on the South block upper walkway, and a snack shop near the iconic carousel. Nearby attractions include: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora, Children's Creativity Museum (mentioned above), and Cartoon Art Museum. The California Historical Society also has exhibits. The Metreon & theaters are located on the North block. Yerba Buena Gardens I love this little oasis in the middle of a major city. It allows you to think or just zen. Read a book in peace. Just walk amongst the trees and kickoff your shoes on the green grass. I used to come here sometimes for a quiet lunch & just allow myself to take a step-back and not get so consumed with city living... and the best part... its free! read more

Yerba Buena Gardens - YBG in the middle of winter... "You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you're too busy, then you should sit for an hour." - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's one of the beautiful parts of San Francisco. In this concrete jungle, it's important to have a quick reprieve. The grass is kept green, the fountains bubbling, and with a sunny day it's close to perfect. I'm glad they have this in the middle of FiDi. Great if you need a break or want to breathe. Perfect for people watching, and people scamming (some guy's selling blank CDs, more creative than just begging for money I'll give him that). The memorial fountain is beautiful when it's open. You can walk behind the little waterfall and read the quotes engraved on the walls. Great for locals and tourists alike! read more

I love coming here. Grabbing some lunch at the Metreon Food Court, maybe Starbucks at one of the dozen locations across the street, or Sharetea. Yerba Buena Gardens is located just right behind Metreon, on the food court/AMC side, next to the restaurant Lemonade. The scenery and atmosphere here is beautiful. The grass is always green and clean. Trees wrap around for some nice comfortable shade to sit by. A nice, scenic waterfall by the right, a beautiful St. Patrick's Church by the left. Nearby stores, such as Target, Westfield Mall, and muemorus restaurants. You can also enjoy great shows here from time to time. Mostly on the weekends. If you're feeling very artsy, the SF MOMA, the Asian Art Museum are literally 2 minutes away by foot. It's rare to find a clean spot in San Francisco nowadays, since it is such a busy city, but if you're looking for a quiet afternoon, rest after shopping at one of the many stores in downtown SF, or maybe you're in your lunch break, or just want a peaceful day out to take pictures or people watch, this is your place. read more

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This is my favorite urban park in the WORLD! Check out the many music, festival, or demonstrations scheduled, but just go hang out. See shirtless San Franciscans lounging among this City's stunning mix of historic and modern architecture. Don't miss the under-waterfall tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., and my personal favorite: flash dances during Dance Week SF. read more

Yerba Buena Gardens - thanks to whatever photographer posted this perfect upper-deck photo of Yerba Buena - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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