New iPhone
app and itineraries help tourists and locals
explore the hidden gems of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park
The
California Academy of Sciences’ first iPhone app, the Golden Gate Park
Field Guide is now available.
SAN
FRANCISCO (November 10, 2010) —The California Academy of Sciences
launches its first-ever iPhone app this week, the Golden Gate Park
Field Guide, leveraging technology to help users explore the flora,
fauna, and hidden gems of San Francisco’s 1,017-acre urban oasis. The
park is home to an unparalleled blend of outdoor splendor, history, and
culture, though its sheer size and labyrinthine roads and pathways make
some of those treasures difficult to find. For the first time, the GGP
Guide will bring together practical information and insights about the
park’s attractions, which include renowned architectural landmarks, an
array of plant and animal species, dozens of statues, gardens and lakes,
museums, and numerous sports facilities.
Organized into four key sections, the app encourages observation from a
naturalist’s point of view, and allows visitors to tailor their
experience in Golden Gate Park based on personal interests, mode of
transportation, and other factors. Its key features include:
-
Field Guide:
A dynamic guide highlighting more than 170 of the park’s animal and
plant species, including a few surprises like wild coyotes and
blackberry bushes.
-
Park Map:
An interactive map and live weather data offer valuable practical
information, helping users plan ahead, locate off-the-beaten-path
landmarks, and even find which of the park’s 60 attractions, 4
restaurants, or 15 public restrooms are closest to their location.
-
Adventures:
Tour routes provide ideas to enrich any visit, whether travelling by
foot, bicycle or car. Scavenger hunts help users discover native
species, examples of camouflage in action, and more.
-
Sightings:
“Citizen scientists” can add their own sightings and photos to the
growing database, and help record the park’s biodiversity. Recent
wildlife sightings are even reported in real-time via the app’s map
feature.
The GGP
Guide is now available in the iTunes Store, and at
www.calacademy.org/apps/ggp for $2.99, but early birds can download
it for free for a limited time. The app was designed by Odopod and
developed by SourceN for the California Academy of Sciences.
As a
complement to this new iPhone application, the Academy has developed
tailored itineraries for tourists that offer specific suggestions for
couples, groups of friends, and families exploring Golden Gate Park.
Abbreviated descriptions are listed below; please visit
www.calacademy.org/newsroom/releases/2010/ggp_itineraries.php for
full-length itineraries.
Romance
in the Park
Designed for:
Couples
looking to spend a memorable day together
Overview:
Start
your day in the east end of Golden Gate Park, and visit the newly
renovated California Academy of Sciences or de Young Museum of fine art,
followed by a picnic on top of Stow Lake’s Strawberry Hill. In the
afternoon, visit the Rose Garden, play a round of disc golf, or visit
the park’s tulip garden and 108-year-old windmill – all of which are
free. Finally, enjoy the sunset with a pint of local ale at the
historic The Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant.
Girls-Only Getaway
Designed for:
A group of friends looking for some fresh air, culture, and stellar
cuisine
Overview:
Begin your day with a little friendly competition, and play a round of
golf, or sign up for an archery lesson in Golden Gate Park. For lunch,
grab some BBQ sandwiches at the golf clubhouse for a picnic, or sit down
for a more elegant lunch in the Moss Room. In the afternoon, walk and
talk your way through the Botanical Garden and/or the historic Japanese
Tea Garden. After the daylight begins to fade, the fun continues on
Thursday nights at the California Academy of Sciences’ NightLife event
for adults, on Friday nights at the de Young museum’s Cultural
Encounters events, and any evening at the variety of restaurants and
bars around the nearby intersection of 9th Ave. & Irving St.
Family
Fun in the Park
Designed for:
Families with children
Overview:
Start
your day surrounded by exotic plants at the Conservatory of Flowers, or
the Japanese Tea Garden, both lush and historic destinations. Then,
visit the newly reopened California Academy of Sciences to have lunch
and enjoy the unique combination of an aquarium, planetarium, and
natural history museum together under one roof. To burn off some
afternoon energy, visit the large playground and carousel at The Koret
Children’s Quarter, or check out the live bison and model yacht racing
lake further to the west. Wind down at the end of the day at the de
Young Museum and check out one of their breathtaking impressionist
exhibits on show through January, 2011.
About The
California Academy of Sciences
The
California Academy of Sciences is home to Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison
Planetarium, Kimball Natural History Museum, and world-class research
and education programs—all under one living roof. Admission to the
Academy is: $29.95 for adults; $24.95 for youth ages 12 to 17, Seniors
ages 65+ and students with valid ID; $19.95 for children ages 4 to 11;
and free for children ages 3 and younger. The Academy is free to the
public on the third Wednesday of each month. Admission fees include all
exhibits and shows. Hours are 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Saturday, and
11:00 am – 5:00 pm on Sunday. The Academy is closed on Thanksgiving and
Christmas. During peak periods, including some holiday weekends, an
admission surcharge and extended hours may apply. Visit
www.calacademy.org
or call (415) 379-8000 for more information
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