Like a microcosm of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park has a lot of activity packed in to a small area. There's an art museum, botanical gardens, biking and roller blading trails, a Japanese tea garden, paddle boat rentals, a polo field and an outdoor concert venue that gives live performances all within this 3-mile long park. The Presidio and Lincoln Park Golf Courses, with their bayside splendor, are both located within a mile of the park. If you're looking to experience the park and the surrounding area, the best way to do so is through one of the local hotels.
Great Highway Inn
Located on Ocean Beach, the Great Highway Inn has the ocean to one side and is only a block from Golden Gate Park. The rooms are clean and comfortable. While they may lack some of the amenities of the 4- and 5-star hotels in Fisherman's Wharf, they have one-, two- and three bed layouts and the upper floors offer views of the ocean. There are shops and restaurants located a short block from the inn but if you want to stay even closer, Ladda's Restaurant serves delicious Thai food and sits adjacent to the hotel.
Great Highway Inn
1234 Great Hwy.
San Francisco, CA 94122-1062
(415) 731-6644
greathwy.com
Seal Rock Inn Restaurant
Located next to the world-famous Cliff House, four blocks from Golden Gate Park and "look out the window distance" to Lincoln Park Golf Course, the Seal Rock Inn offers units that can accommodate an entire family. The beds are Sertas for 5-star comfort. The baths have marble tile from floor to ceiling and several of the units have fireplaces for those chilly San Francisco nights and ocean breezes. There's a small outdoor pool with a seating area for lounging and the Seal Inn Restaurant offers breakfast and lunch until 6 p.m. You can also arrange for outside patio seating which comes with an ocean view.
Seal Rock Inn
545 Point Lobos Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 386-6518
sealrockinn.com
Stanyan Park Hotel
The Stanyan Park Hotel is located on the Western end of Golden Gate Park. Built during the turn of the century, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The facade out front resembles a fine old home in San Francisco but inside it has 36 rooms and award-winning service and amenities. The hotel is a throwback, seeming without the modern conveniences, but instead furnished with Victorian era pieces. There is, however, cable television, free Wi-Fi and a work space if needed. Some of the larger suites have up to 900-square-feet of living space. The rates at the hotel include a continental breakfast and there's free parking across the street from the hotel.
Stanyan Park Hotel
750 Stanyan St.
San Francisco, CA 94117-2725
(415) 751-1000
stanyanpark.com
About The Author
Patrick Cameron is a freelance writer with 10 years of diverse experience in consumer goods branding, promotions and retail communications. He works out of his home in Denver, Colo. He received his Bachelor of Arts in mass communication from the University of Minnesota.
