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Parks

Stinson Beach
Hot Tips for Cooling Off: The Best Beaches at Golden Gate

“Summer” is coming. Be prepared for when the temperature soars above the 60s this fall—discover the best beaches in your Golden Gate National Parks and learn important safety tips for any trip to the surf and shore.

Warming Hut
Best Places to Eat: Fort Mason to the Golden Gate Bridge

Make sure you stay hydrated and well-fueled at these excellent (and ’grammable) nosh spots between Fort Mason and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Barry Spitz
Q&A: Mt. Tam Secrets with Barry Spitz

Mount Tamalpais Trails is your one-stop, must-have resource for exploring Mt. Tam. In this exclusive interview, author Barry Spitz—one of the preeminent authorities on Tam—shares his favorite spot, his recommended hikes, and his greatest challenge in walking every single trail on the mountain.

Tennesee Vallery Nursery
Tennessee Valley Nursery Closes; Its Legacy Grows On

Established in 1987, the Tennessee Valley Nursery closed its nearly 30-year run in May 2016. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, the facility produced thousands of plants for habitat restoration sites all across the parks. In this video, hear from some of the amazing people who made it all possible.

Alcatraz Night Tour
Five Bone-Chilling Date Spots to Warm Your Boo’s Heart

With “boo”-tiful sites aplenty, the Golden Gate National Parks are full of places to take your date on Halloween (or some other dread and dreary night by the Bay)—especially if you want him or her seeking safety and comfort in your arms.

Small butterfly with open, bronze-colored wings, becoming blue towards her abdomen
Where in the Parks Can You Find the Mission Blue?

It’s mission blue butterfly season in the Golden Gate National Parks, and you can catch a glimpse of this endangered species at Milagra Ridge. Learn about this diminutive butterfly—and the plant upon which its survival depends.

Fort Baker
Valentine's Day in the Parks—Date Ideas for Everybody!

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for greeting-card shills, sappy romantics, and the cynics who hate them. Here in the Golden Gate National Parks, we have park sites for everybody on V-Day. Our expert staff chose the perfect place to spend the holiday—with your sweetie, with your buddies, with your puppy, or all by yourself.

Presidio Parklands Project
Acclaimed Design Team Selected for Presidio Parklands

The new 13-acre swath of national parkland, atop the Presidio Parkway tunnels and connecting the Main Post with Crissy Field, represents a major, historic park-making opportunity. James Corner Field Operations—the creative minds who designed the much-admired High Line in New York City—seems up to the task.

Crissy Field sunrise
2013: A Key Year to Unlocking the Power of Parks

We’re thrilled to report that 2013 may have been the most successful year yet for the Institute at the Golden Gate. Look back on a remarkable year of influential reports, national convenings, and impactful pilot programs tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Tennessee Valley trail
Five Family-Friendly Hikes in the Golden Gate National Parks

What’s the perfect dessert after a stomach-stretching Thanksgiving dinner? An exploration of some sweet trails in and around the Golden Gate National Parks, of course! Here are five hikes that will help your whole family work off that holiday meal.