Welcome back to Condo Weekly’s lifestyle column! We provide you with useful insider tips on getting the most out of your city: in this case, San Francisco and the Bay Area. This week, one of our lifestyle columnists is covering a great weekend spot that combines cosmopolitan culture and outdoor activities: Golden Gate Park (part 2).

Last week I visited Golden Gate Park. With 38 unique attractions and a total length of over 3 miles, one article wasn’t enough to do this attraction justice. Though techies may prefer a visit to the California Academy of Sciences, the artistically inclined might opt for a visual experience. Enter the de Young museum and the Conservatory of Flowers.

This is part 2 of Golden Gate Park.

CW pro tip: If you’re a San Francisco resident, be sure to mention it

Admission to many museums and attractions, like the de Young Museum of art and the Conservatory of Flowers, is significantly lower if you are a San Francisco resident. On Saturdays the de Young is free for all Bay Area residents. When I went to the Conservatory of Flowers, however, they made it clear that you must live in San Francisco to get the $5 discount. If you’re a resident, and you visit frequently, you might also consider a museum membership.

CW pro tip: See the park from the top of the de Young

The Hamon Observation tower, like the main lobby and cafe, is accessible to the public without a ticket. However, unlike the other two, you may have to look around for the entrance to this lesser-known gem. Take the elevator that is hidden down a corridor to the right of the ticket desk (you can also just ask for directions from a docent). Once there, you can ride it straight to the top of the building.

This is the Hamon Observation tower, a glass-encircled room that gives visitors stunning views of Golden Gate Park. This is the best place to see the unusual roof on the California Academy of Sciences (it’s a domed lawn), but you might also catch a glimpse of your house from here. On a clear day, you can also expect a 360 degree view of San Francisco, Marin, and the East Bay. The wooden floors will make you feel like you’re in a penthouse apartment that went a little too far with the floor-to-ceiling glass. Maybe that’s why it’s also an exclusive wedding venue that you can rent out for reception dinners.

The Hamon Observation Tower is open Tuesdays - Sundays from 9:30 am to 5:15 pm.

My Trip

I parked inside the Music Concourse garage, located underground, just as I did in my previous article. Because I came on a Friday this time (my other visit was on a Saturday), it was slightly less crowded. Schools do take trips to these museums, however, so be wary. After I exited the underground garage, I walked out onto the Music Concourse (basically a park), and headed east. My destination? The Conservatory of Flowers.

When I last visited the Music Concourse, I noted that it felt very European. After seeing it for a second time, I’m going to reconsider and say that you could also find it in America’s northeast. What makes this area unusual is the number of larger-than-life statues that are dedicated to war heroes and notable historical figures. Outside of city hall, there aren’t many areas in San Francisco like it. These statues are scattered around the park, and it’s interesting to read all of the plaques and see what these people did to deserve to be immortalized in bronze.

Though these statues are not billed as a main draw, they are worth checking out. Though you might expect to find San Franciscans, these statues are true throwbacks that pay homage to the likes of Beethoven, Francis Scott Key, and Goethe.

As I continued down the street towards the Conservatory of Flowers, I also saw a number of roller skaters. There was even a couple playing music from a boombox and rolling around on a circle of asphalt like they were ice skating.

The Conservatory of Flowers is easy to spot. The white Victorian building stands out starkly against the green landscaping that surrounds it. You will also see pops of color from the flowers in the large garden out front. It sort of reminded me of Main Street in Disneyland.

When I went, there were many people taking pictures of the grounds outside. The primary attraction, however, is inside the building. The Conservatory of Flowers greenhouse is over 100 years old (they may have done some renovation in that period of time) and is home to a variety of flowers and greenery from all over the world. Their impressive reputation might be why they charge $11 just to enter if you’re not a San Francisco resident (for those who are, make sure to bring ID).

The first thing I noticed when I entered the greenhouse was the toasty temperature. Make sure to wear removable layers, because the greenhouse is warm. It was like stepping into a literal rainforest. This actually makes the conservatory an ideal winter attraction, because it’s artificially spring all year.

I entered a large central atrium that was filled to the ceiling with tropical plants. There were also two additional wings branching out of the atrium. The left wing consisted of Potted Plants and Special Exhibits, as well as a surprise gift shop. The right wing housed the Highland Tropics and Aquatic Plants.

Because the Conservatory only has two wings, you can see nearly every flower in the building very quickly. Make sure to get a glimpse of the water lilies in the Aquatic Plants section (quote from a guy behind me - “those are the most perfect water lilies I’ve ever seen”).

The carnivorous flowers are also notable, and located near the artificial lake that holds the water lilies. They hang in clusters from above, so watch out. You can buy plants from the Conservatory of Flowers, and I noticed a woman carrying a plant with her on my walk back to the de Young.

When I exited the Conservatory I noticed a hot dog stand on the perimeter. This is useful to know because there is technically only one “real” stand alone restaurant in the park, and it’s near the beach (over 45 minutes of walking away). Most of the food options you will find in Golden Gate Park will be either a) inside the museums or b) from a cart or truck.

The de Young Museum has its own garden display outside, but it’s pretty minimal. Because it was 2:00 pm I decided to eat lunch, as I did during my previous visit, at the de Young Museum Cafe. This time I opted for more casual fare (they also have a menu of hot items like soups, meats, and pastas inspired by visiting exhibits). I got a standard tuna sandwich on a round white bun. It was a step up from your typical cafeteria fare, but it was convenient nonetheless.

After I ate I bought my ticket (it’s a little sticker you wear on your lapel). The man working the desk explained the visiting exhibit to me, a 70 foot long video about colonialism. It was inspired by a French wallpaper print called “Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique”. It turned out to be both enthralling and disturbing (the colonists and native polynesians don’t exactly get along) but he strongly recommended it. Pro tip: you can also take a guided tour with a headset from the cart near the entrance. As an added bonus, admission to the de Young includes admission to the Legion of Honor, which is near The Cliff House and just outside the Presidio (you’ll need a car).

The design of the de Young is appropriate for an art museum. It’s very large and looming yet still modern and minimalistic. In addition to the visiting exhibits, the de Young also has a set list of mainstay exhibits. Many focused on art from regions in Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. The African wing, located on the second story, is particularly interesting due to the way that it’s displayed. You can get a 3D view of many of these sculptures because they are located in the middle of the room.

You’ll also find a section on modern art on the first floor. These first floor exhibits are fairly straightforward to navigate. Basically, just enter and keep walking in a circle.

The last thing I had to see at the de Young was the Hamon Observatory tower. If you want to see this, you’ll have to be sure to get there before it closes at 5:15.

Before leaving, I made sure to swing by the gift shop. I saw a lot of Ed Hardy merchandise (from a previous exhibit) on sale for 50% off. I guess there isn’t a lot of overlap between people who wear Ed Hardy and those who go to the de Young.

Pro Tip: if you buy one thing, be sure to visit the wall of picture postcards located downstairs. They’re basically like taking a miniature version of your favorite paintings home with you. They also have an extensive collection of art books.