Conservatory of Flowers

The San Francisco treasure that is Golden Gate Park is rightfully considered one of the premier urban parks in America. The park offers so much for every interest, from music concerts to a world-class art museum, from miles of landscaped trails to windswept sand dunes. One of the most historic and interesting sights in the park is the Conservatory of Flowers, which opened in 1879, only a few years after the park itself was starting to be developed. The conservatory stands as a national, state and city historical landmark, and it is the oldest public wood and glass conservatory in North America.

Visiting the conservatory is easy. It is located not far from the de Young Museum, the Japanese Tea Garden and the Academy of Sciences. There is parking along many of the roads in the park, and you can also find parking underground near the de Young. The lawn area in front of the conservatory is great for picnicking, frisbee, or just relaxing in the sun if it shows itself. There are always flowers blooming on the long approach to the building. There are four main rooms inside, each housing plants from a unique ecological zone: aquatic plants, lowland tropics, highland tropics, and potted plants. It is easy to see everything in about an hour, but the several sitting areas among the lush greenery encourage a leisurely visit.

While there is an admission fee ranging from $2 for small children to $8 for adults, every first Tuesday of the month is free.