America's national parks are treasures worth exploring, and the best part? You don't always have to open your wallet. With 63 official national parks and more than 400 additional sites managed by the National Park Service, there's no shortage of stunning landscapes to discover. Some parks charge entry fees-typically $20-$35 per person or per vehicle-but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the beauty for free.
9:00 am Japanese Tea Garden's Free NYE Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park) FREE* *Free from 9-10am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; otherwise non-resident admission is $12 - $16 depending on the season. San Francisco residents are always free with valid ID 9:00 am Noon Year's Eve at Bay Area Discovery Museum (2025) $28* *Free for Bay Area Discovery Museum members 9:30 am Free Kwanzaa & Noon Year's Eve 2025/2026 at SF's Thrive City (Chase Center) FREE*
The Box SF presents EAT ME!, a monthly artisanal food fair, kicking off on January 10-11, 2026! Enjoy a flavorful weekend at The Box SF each month while exploring a wide selection of artisanal food products from local culinary vendors. "Eat Me!" Artisan Food Fair January-December, 2026 Saturday | 11a-5p Sunday | 11a-4p The Box SF, 1069 Howard Street, SFFREE Public Entry - Tickets not required
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse gardens in the world. A unique urban oasis, the garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park, offering 55 acres of both landscaped gardens and open spaces, and showcasing over 9,000 different kinds of plants from around the world. One of the most beautiful spots is the Japanese-design inspired "Moon Viewing Garden," (pictured above) located in the Mild-Temperate Climate section in the Northwest portion of the gardens. [ view map]