Golden Gate Park - Part 2 + Ocean Beach

To understand the layout of Golden Gate Park, you first have to understand Ocean Beach.  At the far western part of San Francisco, Ocean Beach is a rugged, cold stretch of sand dunes stretching from Daly City up to Sea Cliff.  Golden Gate Park ends at the beach and the park's design is closely related to the weather conditions the coast brings.  It can be cold, windy, and foggy any time of year on Ocean Beach.  And it's usually at least one of those things at all times, if not all three.  This is not Cancun folks, it's freakin' Scotland West. 

They had this weather in mind when they built Golden Gate Park, building up huge dunes with rugged vegetation and trees to block the harsh cold and wind blowing in from the ocean.

"I won't let you out of my sight!!!"

The beach gets its fair share of surfers, and the swells looked to be about 7-8 feet.  I saw countless people picnicking, sunbathing, swimming in the icy surf, and enjoying the weather.  I walked up for a mile or so snapping photos and looking for decent sea shells.  I turned right into Golden Gate Park right behind the Beach Chalet and near the Dutch windmill.  The Chalet has an exhibit on the history of Golden Gate Park which I found to be quite interesting.  It also has one of the only restaurants with open ocean views in SF. 

The City of San Francisco originally commissioned Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York's Central Park, to design it.

Western entrance to GG park

Well, it worked.  Temps in the park are at least ten degrees warmer at all times than down on the beach and it's easy to forget that the place is right on the ocean.  The park, despite being nearly identical in size and shape to Central Park, looks quite different.  It's more dense, more wooded, more rugged, and doesn't have any tall buildings surrounding it.  You can easily get lost on its paths and end up turned the opposite direction of what you thought.

anyone know the name of this flower? me neither

There are soccer fields, and a former polo grounds which they also use for sports.  Additionally, there are several small lakes and a golf course on the western edge of the park.

I saw some policeman on horseback writing out parking tickets to hardened criminals taking their kids to soccer practice (while ignoring the revelry on the eastern end of the park).  They block off the main roads on the weekends to the bikers and runner don't have to worry about any cars.  It's a great place to spend a lazy day with a group of friends.  My goal one year is to do Thanksgiving dinner in the park if the weather cooperates.