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This pleasant slope, a short walk from Haight-Ashbury, was the celebrated site of stoned-out gatherings in the 1960s.

The park’s oldest building, a copy of London’s Kew Gardens, shelters more than 20,000 rare and exotic plants.

Coming upon the Giant Tree Fern Grove, with its huge, curling proto-flora gathered around a small central lagoon, is like venturing into a primeval forest. Just a bit farther to the west, the Rhododendron Dell contains the largest array of these gorgeous blooms (850 varieties) of any US garden.

This area provides the cultural focus for the park, dating from 1894. There are free concerts on Sundays and events sponsored by the San Francisco Opera (see War Memorial Opera House and San Francisco Ballet).

This eternally delightful garden is full of refined detail: bonsai trees, rock gardens, exotic plantings, and pagodas.

This charming English garden features the 200-odd flowers, herbs, and such, mentioned in the Bard’s works. Bronze plaques quote appropriate passages.

This vast area is home to more than 7,000 species from countries with climates similar to that of San Francisco. Environments include a Redwood Nature Trail, a Primitive Plant Garden, and a Biblical Garden.

Strawberry Hill is actually the large island in the middle of this placid lake, which is ideal for boating. Don’t miss the elaborate Chinese moon-viewing pavilion on the island’s eastern shore, a gift from Taipei in 1981.

American buffalo were first brought here in 1894. In 1984 a small herd was given a home again, roaming under the eucalyptus trees.

The windmill, and the tulip garden that surrounds it, were both gifts from the queen of the Netherlands in 1902. The windmill is one of the world’s largest and was restored in 1981.