Free in San Francisco

As usual, while doing some research for a proposed blog topic, I end up coming across something completely unrelated that compels me to post about that instead!

Living in the city is expensive, to say the least. I am surprised Gavin Newsom hasn't proposed a "taking up space" fee for full-time residents. Worry not, for there are many things in San Francisco that are ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Thanks to a fabulous blog called "Free in SF" and a little Googling, I was able to put together a pretty good list of things to do without going broke.

Botanical Gardens (Strybing Arboretum)

Escape to a unique urban oasis of extraordinary beauty. Enjoy the San Francisco Botanical Garden's world of gardens, excellent horticulture library, bookstore, and education programs. The San Francisco Botanical Garden is open daily, 365 days a year and is free to the public. Weekdays: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Weekends & Holidays: 10 am to 5 pm. FREE GUIDED WALKS are given daily at 1:30 pm.

First Tuesdays

Downtown: Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, and Cartoon Art Museum (pay what you wish).

Golden Gate Park: de Young Museum and the Conservatory of Flowers

Outer Richmond district: Legion of Honor

Third Wednesdays (Academy of Sciences)

The Academy of Sciences is free on the third Wednesday of every month, which this month will be on May 20. Check out the new living roof!!!

Fun facts: The new building cost $500 million dollars. The roof contains 1.7 million native plants. Sixty-eight percent of the building’s insulation is from recycled blue jeans. The Philippine Coral Reef tank holds 212,000 gallons of water. Inside the rain forest exhibit, it’s 82-85 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity is at least 75%. The blue-whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling is 87 feet long.
Open 9:30 am - 5:00 pm in Golden Gate Park @ 9th Avenue (near bandshell)

And of course, the scenery is ALWAYS free!! Now get out there and enjoy the City!

Do you have a suggestion for this list?? Email me at hcstockham@msn.com