Golden Gate Park, located in the nearby city of San Francisco, welcomes more than 13 million visitors annually and comprises over 1000 acres of lush gardens, walking trails, lakes, playgrounds, picnic clearings, and much more. We are particularly fond of the 3.5-acre Japanese Tea Garden, which includes a five-story pagoda, hand-carved wooden gates, enchanting cherry trees, delicate azaleas, and several koi ponds. The elegant Victorian Conservatory of Flowers, which at 138-years-old is the park’s longest-standing structure, is home to approximately 1,700 unique tropical and aquatic plants, including an internationally acclaimed assortment of orchids and a century-old giant Imperial philodendron. The park’s two windmills, known as the Dutch Windmill and the Murphy Windmill, once pumped groundwater to nourish the many gardens. Though the windmills no longer function, they still provide a delightful Old World aesthetic. It would be impossible to list all the quirky, inspiring, and opulent features of the Golden Gate Park. If at all possible, devote a day to experiencing them firsthand. You’ll be glad you did.