Conservatory of Flowers Bicycle Riding / Budget-friendly / Chill / Concerts / Couples / Cover charge / Date Place / Expats / Family / Good for Groups / Great View / Groups / Intimate / Picnic / Romantic / Students / Sunbathers / Tourists / All Ages / All Types / Park / Landmark / Museum / Event Space / Tour

My Take: The Conservatory of Flowers is one of the staple tourist to-dos of San Francisco. Nestled within Golden Gate Park, this mecca of all things botanical is one of those educational venues where you can leave feeling as if you’ve learned something but enjoyed yourself while doing it. The Conservatory looms in the middle of the park like a Disney Princess castle with its white glass atrium. The magic of its exterior enchants the regular passersby and deserves more recognition from locals who decry so-called “tourist sites” such as this. With the lure of beautiful flora and fauna combined with the extremely low price of tickets the Conservatory is guaranteed to be a fun and educational excursion for both young and old alike. The Scene: The Conservatory is mostly filled with families or elderly visitors simply due to the nature of people’s perceptions of museums. Due to the location in Golden Gate Park there are also a lot of tourists with cameras strapped around their neck, snapping picture after picture of each and every flower. The staff are all incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, willing to teach you about what they are so passionate about. There are five rooms and each one brings new delights and flowers you won’t see anywhere else. The Conservatory is kept incredibly warm and humid to preserve the flowers so it’s a great place to go to on a cold San Francisco day. Cocktails/Cuisine: While there is no food or drink allowed in the conservatory there is a snack booth right outside the conservatory as well as an Auntie Ann’s hotdog stand adjacent to the Conservatory that can cure any puckish hunger. Prices: The Conservatory of Flowers is one of the most budget friendly museums in the city. As a student it only cost me $3 and adults cost $7. Definitely bang for your buck. What to Wear: Word to the wise: the Conservatory is very hot and humid. There were moments I felt like I was going to pass out and it seemed as if I couldn’t take off enough clothing. I would advise adhering to the general San Franciscan rule of wearing layers and that way you can always take off a layer if you get hot like I did. Insider Info/ When to Go: The first Tuesday of every month the museum is free to residents, so definitely take advantage of that if you can! Also, there is one mysterious plant that bears the sign “Don’t Smell Me”. The allure of it was extremely tempting yet my friends and I decided to play it safe and not ruin our sense of smell.