Conservatory of Flowers
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Conservatory of Flowers, northeast end of Golden Gate Park, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco 94118
Starting Point: 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, south of the intersection of Arguello and Fulton, west of McClaren Lodge, Golden Gate Park
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Conservatory of Flowers info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://conservatoryofflowers.org
Conservatory of Flowers visiting info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://conservatoryofflowers.org/visit/
Golden Gate Park info link (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park
Golden Gate Park Points of Interest (SF Rec and Parks): https://sfrecpark.org/1116/Golden-Gate-Park-Points-of-Interest
Golden Gate Park by car (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1619/Public-Transportation-to-Golden-Gate-Par
Golden Gate Park public transportation (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1618/Getting-to-Golden-Gate-Park-by-Car
Golden Gate Park free shuttle (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1617/Golden-Gate-Park-Free-Shuttle
Golden Gate Park visitors map (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/7301/Golden-Gate-Park-Visitors-Map
Distance:
Walking within the Conservatory of Flowers itself does not add up to a long walk. Having said that, visitors can plan as long or short a walk as they wish, with the entirety of Golden Gate Park available to walk or bike through as part of an outing including a Conservatory visit. Our family’s theory is that there are days when we’re not up for a long walk or hike, but that it’s still better to get out and engage with the world, even if it’s just a short visit to a special place like the Conservatory of Flowers.
Considerations:
• See trail map for official parking areas, or use street parking (pay attention to street signs to avoid tickets). Weekend days are often set as car-free days along this stretch of the park, so parking may be at a moderate distance.
• Public toilet facilities are available outside the Conservatory of Flowers.
• For those using public transportation, MUNI bus lines 5 and 33 run near this part of Golden Gate Park. Check the MUNI web site for more transportation options (https://www.sfmta.com/muni).
• San Francisco’s weather ranges between chilly fog and hot sun, often in the same day. Wear layers.
• There is a fee for entering the Conservatory of Flowers. San Francisco residents pay a reduced fee (show ID).
The trail:
The Conservatory of Flowers, a San Francisco Historical Landmark, is an iconic presence in the northeast corner of Golden Gate Park. Its stunning white outline against the sky transforms into a misty embrace among tropical plants once inside.
In light of parking restrictions with Sunday and part-of-the-year Saturday street closings along this stretch of John F. Kennedy Drive, visitors either have to park at a distance or walk a short distance if using public transportation. Toilet facilities are to the left when facing the Conservatory. After paying the entrance fee (discount for San Francisco residents), visitors walk through one of several doors that keep the heat and humidity inside the Conservatory.
The center entry area showcases not only towering tropical plants, but also the colored glass trim connecting to the glass dome above. If the light is just right, colored light beams down from above onto the lovely patterned floor below. Visual details like the metal patterned floor path are a big part of the Conservatory’s charm.
The architecture and charming details from an earlier era are as enticing as the tropical plants, which vary from one section of the Conservatory to another. Visitors can go through all the displays and rooms in one direction, then pass through the center dome section again to explore the exhibits on the other side.
Watch for delicate orchids, impressive carnivorous plants, and a lovely lily pad pond which reflects the structured ceiling.
My HikingAutism philosophy is that even a small outing to one location is uplifting both mentally and physically. Our special needs son is now able to do long hikes up Mt. Tam, but sometimes a one-stop visit to a place like the Conservatory of Flowers is just the right thing.
With its stunning white contours blazing against a deep blue sky, or melding into the white-gray haze of thick fog, the Conservatory of Flowers is a good one-stop visit site, or makes a good stopping spot for a longer hike around Golden Gate Park. (Conservatory of Flowers Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Through Misty Glass” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Conservatory of Flowers, northeast end of Golden Gate Park, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco 94118
Starting Point: 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, south of the intersection of Arguello and Fulton, west of McClaren Lodge, Golden Gate Park
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Conservatory of Flowers info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://conservatoryofflowers.org
Conservatory of Flowers visiting info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://conservatoryofflowers.org/visit/
Golden Gate Park info link (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park
Golden Gate Park Points of Interest (SF Rec and Parks): https://sfrecpark.org/1116/Golden-Gate-Park-Points-of-Interest
Golden Gate Park by car (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1619/Public-Transportation-to-Golden-Gate-Par
Golden Gate Park public transportation (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1618/Getting-to-Golden-Gate-Park-by-Car
Golden Gate Park free shuttle (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1617/Golden-Gate-Park-Free-Shuttle
Golden Gate Park visitors map (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/7301/Golden-Gate-Park-Visitors-Map
Distance:
Walking within the Conservatory of Flowers itself does not add up to a long walk. Having said that, visitors can plan as long or short a walk as they wish, with the entirety of Golden Gate Park available to walk or bike through as part of an outing including a Conservatory visit. Our family’s theory is that there are days when we’re not up for a long walk or hike, but that it’s still better to get out and engage with the world, even if it’s just a short visit to a special place like the Conservatory of Flowers.
Considerations:
• See trail map for official parking areas, or use street parking (pay attention to street signs to avoid tickets). Weekend days are often set as car-free days along this stretch of the park, so parking may be at a moderate distance.
• Public toilet facilities are available outside the Conservatory of Flowers.
• For those using public transportation, MUNI bus lines 5 and 33 run near this part of Golden Gate Park. Check the MUNI web site for more transportation options (https://www.sfmta.com/muni).
• San Francisco’s weather ranges between chilly fog and hot sun, often in the same day. Wear layers.
• There is a fee for entering the Conservatory of Flowers. San Francisco residents pay a reduced fee (show ID).
The trail:
The Conservatory of Flowers, a San Francisco Historical Landmark, is an iconic presence in the northeast corner of Golden Gate Park. Its stunning white outline against the sky transforms into a misty embrace among tropical plants once inside.
In light of parking restrictions with Sunday and part-of-the-year Saturday street closings along this stretch of John F. Kennedy Drive, visitors either have to park at a distance or walk a short distance if using public transportation. Toilet facilities are to the left when facing the Conservatory. After paying the entrance fee (discount for San Francisco residents), visitors walk through one of several doors that keep the heat and humidity inside the Conservatory.
The center entry area showcases not only towering tropical plants, but also the colored glass trim connecting to the glass dome above. If the light is just right, colored light beams down from above onto the lovely patterned floor below. Visual details like the metal patterned floor path are a big part of the Conservatory’s charm.
The architecture and charming details from an earlier era are as enticing as the tropical plants, which vary from one section of the Conservatory to another. Visitors can go through all the displays and rooms in one direction, then pass through the center dome section again to explore the exhibits on the other side.
Watch for delicate orchids, impressive carnivorous plants, and a lovely lily pad pond which reflects the structured ceiling.
My HikingAutism philosophy is that even a small outing to one location is uplifting both mentally and physically. Our special needs son is now able to do long hikes up Mt. Tam, but sometimes a one-stop visit to a place like the Conservatory of Flowers is just the right thing.
With its stunning white contours blazing against a deep blue sky, or melding into the white-gray haze of thick fog, the Conservatory of Flowers is a good one-stop visit site, or makes a good stopping spot for a longer hike around Golden Gate Park. (Conservatory of Flowers Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Through Misty Glass” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
