Most of my guests who venture into Golden Gate Park go to the Japanese Tea Garden. And they should. I’m not a garden guy, but every time I visit I’m moved by the precision and beauty which gives me a sense of tranquility, a state of mind I generally have in short supply but especially these days
Next door is the DeYoung museum, which is not as popular with tourists. I get a fair number of guests who say they are not “museum people,” which is fine, but a quality I don’t share. I love museums, but you do you. Like I said, I’m generally not a garden guy. But even if you’re not a museum person, the DeYoung has three free things that make it worth visiting.
Part 1: The Observation Deck.
The observation deck doesn’t seem like it should be free, which is why most guests, and a lot of locals don’t know about it, even when pay to go into an exhibit.
This twisted tower has a 360 degree view 14 stories over the park, with views of the park, downtown, Richmond and Sunset districts and the entrance of the bay in the distance.
Go into the DeYoung lobby, and near the ticket counter a sign will direct you to the elevator. Take time to enjoy the wire sculptures by San Francisco artist Ruth Azawa in the elevator lobby.
I will grant that this is not the most dramatic view in the city. San Francisco, thanks to the hills, has a staggering abundance of good views. But few are in a tower, enclosed, and don’t require at least somewhat of a climb.
And people who are not museum people or garden guys can agree on one thing: everyone likes a good view.
Free DeYoung thing Parts 2 and 3 arrive soon.