Angelika Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is surely familiar to many of you. This green oasis in the heart of the city stretches almost from the city center to the ocean and rivals Central Park in New York in terms of fame. Although there are plenty of homeless people and teenage runaways loitering on the side paths, the park also offers a botanical garden with native plants, a large greenhouse with rare plants ("Conservatory of Flowers"), and a Japanese tea garden. Additionally, there are two relatively newly renovated and modernized museums: the "De Young" art museum and the natural history museum "California Academy of Sciences," which includes an aquarium and a planetarium.
City dwellers hungry for leisure soak up the sun in Golden Gate Park on weekends, play soccer, rollerblade, take walks, or ride their bikes. The more adventurous put on their dancing shoes and practice swing dancing. Every Sunday between 11 AM and 2 PM, swing enthusiasts meet near the De Young Museum on the sidewalk of John F. Kennedy Drive and dance their hearts out. The event is free, and everyone is welcome to join. There is even a small dance lesson for beginners from 11 AM to 12 PM.
Since 1996, there has been an event called "Lindy in the Park". The event takes place regularly in Golden Gate Park. Lindy Hobbers (hence the name), Chad Kubo, and Ken Watanabe initiated it. If you, like me, live with someone who is an absolute dance grouch, that's not a problem. You don't need a partner to participate in swing dancing. Everyone dances with everyone, so be brave, dear tourists!
And here's a little insider tip: In the The De Young Museum around the corner, anyone can go up to the observation tower without paying admission to the museum. Clear days reward you with fantastic views of Golden Gate Park, the city, the ocean, and the Golden Gate Bridge.