Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco

Golden Gate Park, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco, California 94118

Good for: Half-day trip, families
Price: $7/adult, $2-5/child
Features: Huge greenhouse, rotating exhibits

Golden Gate Park is home to many famous landmarks. One such landmark is the massive greenhouse of the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. Though I’ve lived in the area for most of my life, I had never been to the Conservatory of Flowers and I don’t know why. It’s a huge building that can’t be missed.

As you walk inside, you are immediately immersed in the tropics with beautiful fauna reaching far above into the domed roof. This main section has colorful stained glass lining the upper area and a couple of exhibits to enrich your visit. I was expecting it to be horribly humid like other exhibits but this was pleasant, especially when escaping the San Francisco chill.

Additional exhibits are found in the left and right wings. As you proceed from the Lowland Tropics to the right, you will pass the Highland Tropics before reaching the Aquatic Plants. The still water in this man-made pond create an ideal setting for photographing the amazing water lilies.

Going to the left will bring you through the area of potted plants and then to the special exhibit which rotates periodically. We had a chance to visit the Garden Railway commemorating the 140th anniversary of Golden Gate Park.

The Conservatory is more for plant enthusiasts than just the casual observer. The charm lies in the variety of plants and the care administered to them. We shot some nice photos but didn’t really leave with a deep appreciation for what we saw. I do think this is one spot to hit for a 1-2 hour family outing but expect to fill the rest of the afternoon with other attractions in the park.

Click on thumbnails for larger images.