Glorious Golden Gate Park

Good morning everybody!

It’s another glorious day here in sunny California. In celebration of the morning sunshine that is pouring through our windows, I’d like to share with you one of my favorite spots in San Francisco. As the third most visited city park in the US and 20% larger than Central Park, Golden Gate Park receives it’s fair share of foot traffic on a yearly basis. Although it’s not much of a secret, Golden Gate Park has so many attractions, fields, forests, and pathways that it is easy to seek out your own secret garden… and that’s just what Eva and I set out to do on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

From the Japanese tea garden to the bison paddock, the Academy of Sciences to Stow Lake… from the Conservatory of Flowers all the way down to Ocean Beach, there’s bound to be something to tickle everyone’s fancy. Eva and I, on the other hand, weren’t interested in touring the art museums. We didn’t want to see where the buffalo roam. We weren’t crazy about dipping our toes in the ocean. We only had an hour or two to explore, and we just wanted a bit of adventure… whatever it might happen to be!

Our adventure began where nearly every “Emily and Eva” adventures begins… the bathroom. After our tanks were empty, we were ready to set sail and jump aboard our ship of exploration! We first dropped anchor among a grove of twisty, curvy trees. Climbing through them proved to be more difficult that we imagined, but we giggled our way along the branches.

Onward and upward! We sailed right into a set of rings, the first station in a parcourse of exercise points located throughout the park. Shall we give it a shot? Why not!

Next came the hop-kick, bound to be a new Olympic event in the upcoming Summer Olympics.

The leg stretch and the balance beam rounded off our not-so-sweaty exercise stint while exploring Golden Gate Park.

The sun was slowly sinking, and in order to reach the end of the park, we we’d need to pick up the pace a bit.

The infinite ocean stretched out before us as we neared the west end of the park. Here, along the park’s coastal boundary, two windmills stand proud, guardians of the coast.

Murphy Windmill, constructed in 1908, stands at the south edge of the western boundary. Once used to pump water for the park, the windmills fell into disrepair. Thanks to a restoration project, both windmills once again stand proud and beautiful. On the north edge, the Dutch Windmill (not pictured) is paired with a massive tulip garden, a gift from Queen Wihelmina of the Netherlands. Oddly enough, here in Golden Gate Park, my two “homes” join forces to make a childhood favorite come to life!

It was time to turnabout and hustle back to the car before darkness fell… as beautiful as Golden Gate Park is during the day, I’m not so sure how safe the curvy, tree-lined pathways are during the nighttime.

Before disembarking the ship of exploration and hopping back in the car, we couldn’t resist one final jump shot… a ritual souvenir for us silly sisters!

What about you? Do you guys have a favorite hang-out near your childhood home?

Have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you tomorrow!