The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour

View the splendor of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and uncover its secrets on this self-guided walking tour. Immerse yourself in the magic of GPS-playback on this stroll through the park. 

• Find out about arrogant tycoons, and one giant, stuffed 150-year-old grizzly bear on this hike around the famous park
• Hear from San Francisco Chronicle journalists Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight who crafted this tour from the best unknown stories around the city
• Do it all in 90 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish
• Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it
• Use the virtual tour option at home

Golden Gate Park is a serene oasis in the heart of San Francisco. It’s larger than New York’s Central Park and is filled with museums, lakes, bison, a Ferris wheel and more than a thousand acres of meadows, redwood groves and curated gardens. But it didn’t get this way without some drama.

The story of Golden Gate Park is also the story of arrogant tycoons humbled by natural disasters, gunfire and graft. It's the story of a city that honors its fallen and of one giant, stuffed 150-year-old grizzly bear (that happens to be on the California flag). You'll find all of the above on this walking tour by San Francisco Chronicle journalists Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight, the team behind Total SF.

Some of the highlights include:

• Conservatory of Flowers: Discover the (controversial) first museum in Golden Gate Park.
• AIDS Memorial Grove: Hear the inspiring story of a volunteer-driven sanctuary built out of love.
• California Academy of Sciences: Learn about the museum's resident 90-year-old fish and reindeer-friendly roof.
• Stow Lake: See some of the most stunning and underrated views in San Francisco.
• Music Concourse: Visit where the Golden Gate Park Band has been performing for San Franciscans for 139 years. You'll hear the band's music during the tour and can learn more and support the band at goldengateparkband.org.
• Sweeny Observatory and Monarch Grove: Tour the ruins of a shrine to wealthy excess, and hear about the park's ties to the bear on the California flag.

This tour combines Peter and Heather’s love for exploring San Francisco with the time they’ve spent scouring The San Francisco Chronicle archive for the best stories that no one is talking about. Join them on this entertaining 90 min hike through Golden Gate Park for natives, newcomers and tourists alike.

• Conservatory of Flowers, John F Kennedy Drive, San Francisco, CA, USA
• AIDS Memorial Grove, Bowling Green Drive, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Japanese Tea Garden, Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, CA, USA
• de Young Museum, Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, USA
• California Academy of Sciences, Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Stow Lake, San Francisco, CA, USA

Not wheelchair accessible