Stretching over a thousand acres from the Haight to the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Park is San Francisco's answer to Central Park -- except bigger, wilder, and with bison. Yes, there is a buffalo paddock. The park is home to the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, and the San Francisco Botanical Garden.
On Sundays, JFK Drive is closed to cars and fills with cyclists, skaters, joggers, and a legendary troupe of roller-skating dancers. Bring a picnic and claim a spot on the grass. You could spend an entire day here and still not see it all.