World's most beautiful city parks

 

Park Güell, Barcelona

Pavilions that resemble gingerbread houses and a vibrant mosaic salamander fountain greet visitors to Antoni Gaudí’s enchanting Park Güell. Inspired by natural forms, Gaudí combined twisting organic-looking stone features with elaborate, fluid designs. Situated at the top of a terraced hill, his fantastical park has spectacular views of the city, along with paths through the woods and the Casa Museu Gaudí.

 

  

Stanley Park, Vancouver

The temperate rainforest of Stanley Park is almost completely surrounded by water, with both gorgeous skyline views and wild forest of 500,000 cedar, fir and hemlock trees. It connects to the historic waterfront and downtown via a 5.5-mile portion of seawall that surrounds the park, popular with joggers, strollers and cyclists. Rose and rhododendron gardens, nine intricately carved First Nations totem poles, a small golf course, an outdoor summer theater, a seaside swimming pool and areas for lawn bowling round out its charms.

(Photo: Gunnar Knechtel)

 

  

Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands

Timing is everything when it comes to visiting Keukenhof. The park springs to life for only eight weekends annually, between mid-March and mid-May, when more than 7 million cheery tulips, daffodils and hyacinths bloom. As you wander among these flowers, look out for more than 100 works of art and four pavilions dedicated to more exotic species.

(Photo: PR Keukenhof. Oke)

 

  

City Park, New Orleans

The world’s largest collection of mature live oaks — some more than 600 years old — thrives within 1,300-acre City Park. Find a spot to picnic under the shade of these majestic trees, take a horseback ride or wander the sculpture park. From March through October, the Botanical Garden throws seasonal parties with mint juleps and live music. Although damaged during Hurricane Katrina, the park became a special place where “people gathered after Katrina and could feel human again,” according to Catherine Nagel, executive director of City Parks Alliance.

(Photo: New Orleans City Park) 

 

  

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Built from more than 1,000 acres of sand dunes in the 1870s, San Francisco’s beloved Golden Gate Park draws about 13 million annually. It’s no surprise considering cultural attractions such as the De Young Museum and the beautifully manicured Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers. Picnic on meadows, check out the herd of American bison, paddleboat on Stow Lake or head to the far western edge of the park to Ocean Beach — where you can watch surfers do their thing from atop high bluffs.

(Photo: Jamie Hopper)