Tracypie

Howard is great, it runs one way North to South and if you are visiting it is close to lots of attractions. The Metreon is a block away , there's shopping at Westfield Centre, the InterContinental Hotel, Yerba Buena and the Moscone Center. It's also easy to get on and off the freeway from here.

I love Fifth because it's near everything. You can enter Westfield Mall from 5th, it's close to Market Street and one block from Yerba Buena and the Metreon. So much to do in a small area. Westfield Center has everything - high end and low end stores, a movie theater and an awesome to die for eatery in the lower level. You can access it through BART or get their via MUNI. There are also plenty of parking garages connected and nearby which is your best bet if you drive. Street parking is next to impossible.

Front street has a variety of things to offer stretching from Jackson Street to Union Street. Starting at Jackson Street there is a beautiful park called Sydney Walton Square Park. This is a great place to take stroll or coffee break if you work down in that area. At Front and Jackson you have the famous Kokkari restaurant which offers some of the best Greek food in the city.Cross over Broadway and head further North and you'll see Channel ABC 7 and NBC 11 news stations along with other business offices and various parking lots. At the far north end (corner of Union & Front) is a Stiljl cafe.

This is the perfect place to raise a family. It's located off the beaten path with leafy trees, a church at the corner and nearby access to San Tomas Expwy which has lots of strip mall shopping on it, including fast food if you are in a pinch. Super close to 280 freeway. Good schools nearby. Lots of families on the street and friendly neighbors.

Cisco Way is dedicated to Cisco. Each side of the block is lined with Cisco office buildings and there are more than 20. The buildings are secure, you need a badge to get in. There is not a cafeteria in every building and they are not open to the public. VTA is the transportation of choice if you need to get over this way or driving. Plenty of parking lots available and people usually drive from building to building. Quiet mostly, great wi-fi access.

There is only one reason to go to Cherry Street in San Carlos and that's for sushi. Ganko Sushi has the best sushi on the peninsula (in my opinion). I've been eating there for over a decade. Always consistently, fresh and delicious. The service is awesome from the no-nonsense waitress.

Other then Ganko Sushi, there is a big parking lot and a couple of office spaces. It is also SUPER close to Laurel Street where there is tons of shopping. So, get some sushi and then walk it off and do some shopping.

Baker Street is a quiet, leafy street lined with trees. All residential and close to Presidio. Parking is a bit tough and often you have to park on nearby California. It's not too busy with cars, and it's a great place for couples or to raise a family. Clean and safe. Good for families, not good for singles as it is far from everything. You can get to Fillmore area but it's still a bit of a hike.

Greenwich is a great place to live because it is close to everything in North Beach. Close to Washington Square Park, close to great restaurants, close to the library and Telegraph Hill. It's pretty quiet and has that neighborhood feel to it.

There are some great schools nearby, plenty of public transportation, and parks. Definitely a great place to raise a family and if you are single, a great place to access the heart and vibe of North Beach without the noise.

The Mission is one of those places that has great food, a good nightlife, but it's sketchy in some places even during the day light hours. It has some really cool shopping areas and combined with the great restaurants can make it trendy.

The people do not seem overly friendly, perhaps that's because they are guarded. I don't particularly like going to the Mission by myself and I really hate going at night. It's not like Hunter's Point or anything like that, but at night in some parts, it just feels like the ghetto.

The nightlife is great if you are single. So many places to hang out at that are hip and trendy. You can get anything from jazz to grunge. It's very cool in that respect and like I said, some of the best food in the city.

Market Street goes all the way through the Castro and that's where I was today. The thing about the Castro is that it's vibrant, flamboyant and trendy. If you were gay and never lived in the Bay Area and then all of a sudden moved here and were free to be able to come out as you are and be widely accepted into a loving community, then this would be the place for you.

For those not into that lifestyle, the Castro still offers up some really good restaurants, great little boutique local shops and a fun atmosphere (although I wouldn't recommend bar hopping here unless you were gay). In mid-June everyone struts their stuff, gay,lesbian, transexual, transgender - you name it for the Pride Parade. It's quite a site to see!

The Castro is friendly and is a great community.

Bryant Street runs from the Embarcadero to Cesar Chavez over in the Mission. Down by the Embarcadero it's clean and leafy but as you head further West toward the Mission it gets a little dirtier and way down near 12th it gets a little sketchy. I was down there today to go to Bed, Bath and Beyond, REI and Nordstrom Rack, so during the day, it seems fine. I just wouldn't walk around there at night.

It does have some good shopping between 7th and 9th (REI, Nordstrom Rack, Trader Joe's, Pier1 Imports, Bed Bath & Beyond). There's also the Concourse at 8th and they usually have trade shows there of all sorts. From crafts to green energy.

My in-laws just moved here about six months ago and it is a super cute location. Most of N. Humboldt is occupied by Woodlake Apartments which used to be a former college campus. The grounds of the apartment complex are huge, with 6 pools, wide pavements and geese. However, it's not just seniors who live here, families and couples live here. It's a really nice community. There's a Safeway and Walgreen's right around the corner with a Starbucks, nail salon and gas station too. If you want retail therapy you'll have to go into downtown San Mateo or downtown Burlingame, both about equal distance from N. Humboldt.

Alhambra runs from Cervantes and then turns into Francisco St after about 4 blocks. It's very residential, yet so close to the action of the Marina on Chestnut Street. It's pretty quiet overall. There's a school nearby on Fillmore and a library a few blocks away on Chestnut. There's also a lot of retail therapy on Chestnut in the other direction.

Alhambra is also close to the Marina Green (about four blocks) which is big long patch of green grass.

Francisco in the Marina district is one of those streets where it can be really quiet away from the noise. On the flip side, if you want a piece of the action, you just walk one block over to Chestnut. Public transportation is only a block away, along with bars, restaurants, gym, movies and retail stores. If you are single, it's a great place that's close enough to the action, yet far enough away where you can get a good night's sleep.

Great retail therapy. Plus, 2 movie theaters and tons of bars/restaurants all within a few blocks.

There is little to no parking on Avila but there is a strong sense of community among its neighbors. For Halloween this year they blocked off the street and had a Halloween block party for all of the families. Kids could run out into the street with no worries. Lots of houses, lots of families. Super close to the heart of the Marina on Chestnut Street where you can find a gym, movie theaters, drug store, cafes, restaurants, and bars. Great location.

I was visiting a friend yesterday during the day (a weekday) and I accidentally took up 2 parking spaces. To be honest, my car is rather large so unless you had a SMART car or Mini, it probably wouldn't have fit.

After visiting for about 3 hours, I returned to my car to find a note on the windshield that said,"Hey Jerkoff, Why are you taking up 2 parking spots? Good way to get your car keyed!!" - While I appreciate the "warning" I feel like that could have been said a bit nicer.

Aside from the grumpy neighbors, whoever left the note had a point. The parking is super tight. It's extremely beautiful with all old Victorian homes in beautiful pastel colors and is one block from the famous Alamo Square park. So I can see why they got a little grumpy, but they should have known I didn't live there and was just visiting. Cut the visitors a break.

I lived in San Mateo for 15 months and it was great then, but now it's even better. In the past few years the downtown has burst with new businesses. There's a movie theater - right near the train station, new restaurants and cafes, plus a lot more spas and salons. It's becoming almost as upscale as Burlingame. It's also super easy to get around and walk to things.

Everything that is worth seeing is located between 2nd and 5th avenues from El Camino until about one block South of B Street (toward 101 freeway).

They even have a wine festival where local merchants participate and you go from place to place and sample wine and food. A festive family event.

I lived here for almost 2 years when I worked down in Silicon Valley. I wanted to be close to the city to go out at night, yet not have a heinous commute to work. Belmont was only about 30-35 minutes to Silicon Valley (45min with traffic). It had a cute little downtown shopping center at Alameda de las Pulgas & Ralston Avenue which offered everything from a supermarket to a post office to hardware store. It literally has everything you need.

The other great thing about Belmont is that it's close to 2 malls - Hillsdale and Palo Alto which was great for weekend shopping. Super friendly. Good schools and close to 2 community/local colleges: Community College of San Mateo and College of Notre Dame.

4th Avenue is THE place to be in San Mateo in terms of shopping and dining. From El Camino to the 101 Freeway you'll find something to tickle your fancy. There are a ton of great restaurants from sushi to sandwiches and Italian to fine dining. You will not be disappointed. I also love the fact that you can go workout at Equinox Gym or 24 Hour Fitness right up the street. There's a great little park near by (Central Park on 5th) to sit and have lunch or go for a stroll.

Also, 4th Avenue is super convenient to the CalTrain which drops you off at 2nd Avenue right downtown.

My sister-in-law lives here and her husband was also raised here and it has developed over the past several decades. 9th Aveneue is a great location for a family because it's far enough away from the downtown, located near a cute park (Central Park) off of Laurel Ave and close to St Matthew's church. It's not that far to walk to downtown but it will take about 20 minutes.
Draeger's supermarket is nearby at 5th and there's a 24 Hour Fitness at 4th. Downtown is less than a mile if you want to walk it. But there's also plenty of parking available.

I've watched B Street develop over the past five years or so into a quaint shopping mecca competing with the likes of 4th Aveneue in San Mateo. B Street is residential at one end and gradually turns into cute coffee shops, boutiques, and more just as you pass 9th Street and more so as you pass 5th street heading into downtown. The train does go by a block away, but although you can hear it, it seems more like background noise. It's a great location because you can walk to downtown San Mateo from B street and get around easily.

On the border of Japan Town and somewhere between the Tenderloin and Western Addition lies Starr King Way which connects Geary Blvd to O'Farrell where Geary Blvd suddenly becomes a one way street. Every time I take the connector I always feel like I am getting lost until it drops me safely onto Franklin @ O'Farrell. Not the greatest place for your car to break down, but not completely unsafe. It's a necessary route if you are coming from across town.

Nearby church is St. Mary's Cathedral located on Gough at the top of Starr King.

Scotland street is a quiet cut-through to get from Columbus & Greenwich Streets to Filbert near Mason. It's seems like a back alley, but it has homes on it. It's one way and the smell of the burgers and fries from Burgermeister make it a pleasant short cut.

It's also near the North Beach public library, lots of restaurants and coffee shops and Joe DiMaggio playground.

I lived on Jackson at Franklin for a couple of years and it was great. A little noisy because of the traffic on Franklin, but otherwise good. What I loved was walking a couple of blocks down to Polk Street on the weekends and grabbing breakfast at the Bell Tower. They serve alcohol there too so if you are hunger over, hair of the dog I say!

From what I hear, California Pacific Medical Center is the best place to have a baby in the city. It's located between Sacramento and Clay Sts smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood. Not too far away, about a block is Lafayette Park, a beautiful place to walk the dog, or walk the new baby! Great for new parents. Easy to get to other nearby places.Also very leafy.

Big Sac as I refer to it has some great shopping which you wouldn't expect. In some parts of Sac it's busy, but in the leafier part of town it gets more residential and then turns into a boutique shoppers delight! High end boutique shopping, but so much fun.

Near by is California Pacific Medical Center and you are not that far off (just about a 5 minute drive or so) from many parks, including the Presidio.

Locust runs from Pacific Ave to California and is located in Presidio Heights neighborhood. But my favorite part is the part that runs into the cute little strip on California that has great little boutique shops, the famous Bryan's Grocery from the first season of Top Chef, and cafes. Parking is by meter and it gets expensive, but there are a couple of banks you can run into to get rolls of quarters if you need them. Great little place for lunch and shopping.

Located in the Richmond district, I was in this neighborhood today for a social gathering on 23rd Ave between Lake and California. It was very quiet, peaceful neighborhood. Neighbors seemed to be friendly. Seemed like a good place to raise a family. Not too far off the beaten path, and California has lots of stuff on it if you go down a few blocks.

There's CPMC hospital not that far and also the Presidio park is nearby. Residential, but great deli around the corner.

Valparaiso is a quaint little street that's only 1 block long from Mason to Taylor that is residential. It's cute and friendly. It's also super close to downtown North Beach (walking distance). It's also super close to a German bar where if you like beer, it's the place for you! On top of that it's about a block or two from the library and a stones throw away from the restaurants and cafes that define North Beach.

Traffic is very little because it's only one block. I imagine that parking is tight, but isn't parking tough everywhere in North Beach?

In a very mish-mash locale in San Francisco consisting of residential homes, churches and schools, there is also Baker & Banker restaurant on Octavia at Bush Streets. Formerly the home of Quince restaurant, it is nested in a neighborhood but the food is outstanding.

Also there is Lafayette Park which Octavia runs straight through and it is absolutely lovely. Whether you are going for a jog, a stroll, walking your dog, out with the kids - it's just a really nice park.

Because Octavia is so residential and has some good schools nearby it's definitely a place where you can raise a family. Not too much for the single person to do.

Third street is one where if you go the wrong way, you'll find yourself in the armpit of San Francisco's Bayview/Hunters Point area, which is not safe for anyone. However, if you stick West of King street and go North on 3rd, you'll be in the heart of the city. No Victorian's or anything that will make you feel like you are in San Francisco, but there is the hustle and bustle of 3rd street. Lots of traffic - LOTS! Driving up third street during rush hour or on the weekends is always packed. Once you cross over Market Street, however, the traffic eases up. Also, some good shopping if you are walking up 3rd.

Delancey Street is located in South Beach off of Brannan Street. If you live in South Beach then you know Delancey and it's probably where you get your coffee in the morning at the Crossroads Cafe. The Crossroads Café is a training school of the Delancey Street Foundation which provides jobs for people who have hit rock bottom. The cafe was built from and by the community. It has great breakfast and over 40 teas and gourmet coffees to choose from. The rest of Delancey is mostly residential.

Located right in the heart of Union Square, Maiden Lane runs between Kearny and Stockton Streets and is only walkable as it is closed off to cars. High end shops such as Chanel, Yves St. Laurent and Gucci line up along this leafy street. Also Mocca on Maiden is a nice moderately priced Italian place that has alfresco and indoor dining. You definitely get that feeling like you are at an outdoor cafe in Europe when eating at Mocca surrounded by the hustle and bustle that Union Square brings.

Maiden Lane is a must see if you go to Union Square since it's connected to the square practically.

If you like to shop high-end retail stores, this is the place! Starting at Nike Town at Stockton and Post and heading East toward Grant you'll find Giorgio Armani, Prada, Burberry, Bulgari, Zara, Cartier, Thomas Pink, Boucheron, Coach and more. Further past Grant on the right is Gumps, a San Francisco landmark store that has everything from jewelry to furniture to niche items. West of Nike Town there is Tiffany, Sax Fifth Avenue and Williams-Sonoma.

Plus, because Post Street is one of the bordering streets to Union Square, and one block over from Maiden Lane, there are a ton more high-end shops to satiate your shopping spree.

You've heard about it and now you want to experience it. Union Square is all that you heard and more. You can easily get there by cable car, bus, walk, cab or car. There are plenty of parking garages should you choose to drive. If you are taking a cab you'll want to get dropped off right in front of Macy's or Tiffany and walk around from there.

The "square" itself lies on top of a garage encased between Geary & Post and Powell and Stockton Sts. On top of the square is a cafe, a place to buy discounted theater tickets and usually some sort of exhibit of either music, art, food/wine or when the Nike Marathon is in town.

High end stores such as Prada, Tiffany, Neiman Marcus, Sax Fifth Avenue, Pink, and more. Honestly, if you like to shop, you will be in heaven. And when you get hungry, try out the Rotunda restaurant at the top of Neiman Marcus for a great view of the square and the city.

Cyril Magnin is only 3 blocks and runs from O'Farrell to Market St. It turns into 5th as soon as you cross over Market St. It has a few good restaurants and is SUPER close to Westfield Centre (Mall) which is 5 or 6 levels, contains a movie theater, Bristol Farms grocery, an entire eatery in the basement, high end stores like Bloomingdales and Nordstrom and is easy to get to from BART.

Cyril Magnin is great for date night because you have have dinner at First Crush and then walk to see a movie at the Westfield Centre.

Worth a trip. Check out the guide.

Leavenworth does run from the Tenderloin through to Fisherman's Wharf, but so do a lot of streets. I wouldn't knock Leavenworth just because it stretches through an impoverished part of town. The part of Leavenworth that I find so charming is the area that stretches over Russian Hill/Nob Hill. It's leafy, hilly, and has a handful of places to grab a coffee or shop for groceries. And if you go a block over on Hyde Street there are a ton of restaurants.

Mostly residential it has your residential needs like laundromats and corner store grocery.

Whether you are going to Union Square or to the Westfield Center, the Ellis street garage has cheap parking. It's not really clean, but it's safe during the day. At night, another story with lots of homeless people, drug addicts and accidental tourists. Ellis Street runs smack dab between the two worst neighborhoods in all of San Francisco - the Tenderloin and the Western Addition. Thanks to the Glide Foundation there is no shortage of homeless people hanging around. Don't get me wrong, I think the Glide Foundation is amazing but they can't provide for everyone.

This place is the pits or the armpit of San Francisco. Full of crack addicts and whores it's not a place you want to walk through during the day, let alone at night. It's usually heavily policed but they are mostly busy writing up traffic violations than keeping the homeless, crack whores off the street.

I drive across Eddy every day and people could give a crap less about walking right out in front of my car even if I have the green light. It's like they are so strung out on drugs that they could care less. But if I hit one, it will change the rest of my life. Ugh.

A friend the other day asked if they could walk down Eddy after a show and go to Union Square - I was like, uh, no - safer to grab a cab if you can.

North Point runs east to west from the Embarcadero to Fillmore Street. There's not a lot to see on North Point except for hotels, but there is ONE major restaurant which was just recently voted #1 restaurant in San Francisco by Zagat again, which is Restaurant Gary Danko at North Point and Hyde. Kind of nondescript when you come upon it with black windows and all, but 4 stars and you need a reservation. There's also a Patagonia store across Hyde on North Point which I don't know why I am mentioning it but it's just such a fascinating location for a store and they've been there for years. If you are backpacking through San Francisco and need any outdoor clothing, this would be a great place to stop.

Also after Hyde you come upon Ghiradelli Square and there's lots to see in there from the famous chocolatier to Kara's Cupcakes (gourmet) and 365 wine bar. It's also a historic landmark and you can read the signs as you walk through it. For the shopper, there are some super cute boutique shops located within. Word on the street has it that by 2011, Restaurant Gary Danko will have an offshoot restaurant there in front of the Fairmont Hotel (which sits next to Ghiradelli).

North Point takes a break when you come upon Fort Mason, but then picks up again in the Marina. Nothing but residential there until you hit upon Fillmore Street where there is plenty of action if you go South 2 blocks to Chestnut.(left).

Beach Street runs through the Marina, Russian Hill and Fisherman's Wharf. Down by the Wharf there's not much to see, except hotels and some tourist shops with souvenirs. But as you going West toward Hyde, you'll come upon the Buena Vista bar - known for their Irish coffees and if you look right you'll see people lined up to ride the cable car. A little further West and you enter Russian Hill and you'll hit the San Francisco Maritime Museum. Go even further West into the Marina and it turns residential.

Beach Street is close to the wide open green space known as the Marina Green and close to Fort Mason. Both great park/outdoor areas to walk through or around. As you pass through Fisherman's Wharf and hit Russian Hill, Beach Street is only a block away from Ghiradelli Square. A fun spot if you like icecream, cupcakes, chocolate, or wine. Some shops there too.

San Francisco is the best city in California because not only is it culturally diverse in people but also in food. It's not overly polluted on congested like Los Angeles. It does have its fair share of traffic, but still not as bad as Los Angeles. Plus the proximity of San Francisco to Napa Valley - another culinary gem, leaves your mouth watering. With top chefs (literally Top Chef contestants) located in every neighborhood, you are always sure to find good varietal cuisine.

San Francisco embraces not only the tourists but provides for the locals with festivals, street fairs and movies in the parks.

The city is only 7x7 miles yet it seems a whole lot bigger. It's a walkable city, by that I mean that it is easy to get around if you don't have a car. There are trolleys, streetcars, taxis, buses, rickshaws and trains. Sure there are hills, but that's what keeps the people of San Francisco healthy by getting their exercise walking up those hills. Some are steeper than others, but for the most part, every hill is worth the climb for what you find on the other side of it.

The weather is fantastic is September and October - almost paradise. June, July and August can be pretty cold. November and December are more "Fall" like and January through March are mostly rainy. April and May can be mildly warm, but resemble a typical Spring anywhere. The weather in San Francisco is made for layering. Not all parts of the city get as much sun as the others so it's best to always pack a jacket or sweater.

The best neighborhoods to visit are: North Beach, Marina, Cow Hollow, Embarcadero, Mission, Hayes Valley, Chinatown. (all tourists, especially if you have kids, must go to Fisherman's Wharf because it's sacrilegious if you don't). If you're gay, you need to go to the Castro. If you like to shop, Union Square (similar to Times Square) is a must. If you are a product of the 60's then you'll probably want to go visit the Haight. If you are here on business, then go to the Ferry Building.

The point is that there is something for everyone to do and see in the city. Whether you have kids, exploring via backpack or here for business. It's FANTASTIC!

Cervantes Blvd stretches from Marina Blvd to Fillmore & Bay Sts. It's a quiet residential stretch in the heart of the Marina. It's also a great cut through from Marina Blvd when trying to get to the Marina or to Bay Street.

There's a Safeway a block away on Marina Blvd and also a 24Hr Fitness and pole dancing studio (if that interests you). There's also a local Starbucks just a block or two over. It's extremely leafy. Lots of single dwellings, condos and apartment buildings. If you like the Marina and want to be close to it but far enough from the noise, this is a great option.

Also, the open green space on the Marina Blvd is equivalent to a large open space park. Great for walks, runs, cycling, rollerblading and there are even monkey bars for kids.

Jones is awesome as a path to avoid all of the congested traffic of Van Ness, Montgomery or Embarcadero to get out of the city from North Beach, Russian Hill, Cow Hollow, Pac Heights or the Marina. Jones turns into 6th street and all you need to do is take a quick left on Golden Gate and go straight across Market and that puts you on 6th street which takes you to 280 freeway. Super easy, but you need to watch out for: the drug addicts and the cop traps.

Once I got a ticket for passing a yellow bus that was set up as a trap on the corner of Jones and Eddy. It was bologna b/c there were no kids even on the bus, and technically I didn't pass it. But that's another story. The ticket is $626, I fought it and won, but most people don't win. The other thing is that it merges into one lane the block before you need to make the left onto Golden Gate to get onto 6th and if you try to make the left from the middle lane, there's usually a cop there to pull you over as well. (this I've witnessed, although has not personally happened to me).

I agree with @StephSF 6th street is a dump. They are trying to rebuild 6th street all the time but it is infested with drugs and cops galore. The traffic is always congested, it's dirty. I certainly don't feel safe there no matter what time of day. And the best is that the drug addicts could give a crap less about walking right out in front of your car even if they don't have the right of way. They have no regard for their life.

Honestly, other than it being a straight shoot to the freeway, I really can't think of one redeeming quality of 6th street.

Folsom goes from the Embarcadero to Cesar Chavez in the Mission District and depending on where you are will probably determine whether or not you enjoy it or not. I personally prefer it closer to the Embarcadero. There's a gym right there, GAP headquarters, Gordon Biersch and if I walk across to the Embarcadero I can eat some great food at Epic or Waterbar.

However, I was at 10th and Folsom a few years back and got my car broken into and my purse stolen. So, that part is a bit sketchy. Haven't hung out much on Folsom in the Mission, but I think the Mission is kind of sketchy anyway in a lot of areas.

Webster Street can be busy and runs through Lower Pac Heights. It's super close the California Pacific Medical Center. Also, CPMC is one of the best places to have a baby in the city (according to my friends who've had babies there). Seems to be a lot of senior citizens and families with kids. Good schools nearby. Lots of shops nearby too. Parking can be tough during the day. Not much of a nightlife for single people. If you are single and live here, you may as well live on the Peninsula.

I really like the Fillmore and I LOVED the Fillmore when I was single. There are so many great places to hang out, grab a drink with friends, go dancing, or just chill. Seems like no matter what you are in the mood for there is something for whatever you mood. It's most known to local singles for the Triangle which are 3 bars that are on adjacent corners: Balboa Cafe, City Tavern, and East Side West. When the weather is hot (which is about 2-3 weeks the entire year in SF) this intersection is packed with people wanting to grab a drink and sit outside with their cocktail. East Side West has some good eats too. Something a little more funky? The Comet Club or The MatrixFillmore. Two really fun places to get your groove on after 10pm.

It also has some great restaurants near Lombard, like PlumpJack Cafe. (white table cloth - fine dining). For low key - there's Pizza Orgasmica.

Steiner runs through a ton of neighborhoods from Cow Hollow to Pacific Heights through Western Addition and ends in Hayes Valley. Depending where you are, it can be beautiful or a little sketchy.
Steiner is super cute in Cow Hollow and Pacific Heights. Lots of parks along the way. Western Addition is a bit sketchy. But then it gets beautiful again in Alamo Square just before it gets sketchy again as it enters into Hayes Valley.

It's most famous for the Painted Ladies - the Victorian Houses painted different colors that sit across from Alamo Square Park (between Grove and Hayes Sts).

It does have some great parks and it's very leafy and beautiful homes. But unless you live in Cow Hollow, you need to get in your car to get around. You can walk, but it can get hilly in some areas, especially near Alamo Square. Alamo Square is great if you have a dog.

For families with children, some great schools nearby.

This is a great little 3 block strip in the Marina District in San Francisco that runs from Steiner to Buchanan Streets. Mostly residential but great location to live because of the proximity to Steiner, Fillmore and Union Streets. Union Street has great shopping. Fillmore has great restaurants and bars and Steiner has cute shops too. Very leafy and pretty quiet. Cars are usually parked along one side. It doesn't get a ton of traffic.

Filbert Street runs east-west from Lyon (near the Presidio) to Kearny (North Beach) which then turns into a walkway or what's better known as the the famous Filbert Street steps that lead down to the Embarcadero. They are hard to climb up (better to go down) and they have a beautiful garden along the way that is maintained by the residents that live there. The gradient they say is 17 degrees. But they are also a GREAT workout for the glutes! Highly recommend them for a workout.

Toward the other end of Filbert, across Van Ness and toward the Presidio is residential with your occasional corner store or laundromat.

Jansen Street starts at Greenwich and ends where Lombard and Columbus connect (it touches both corners). From Greenwich St in slopes downward toward Lombard. Not a huge decline where it needs steps in the sidewalk like Kearny or parts of Vallejo, but it's probably at least a 10 degree grade.
It's made up of apartments with the exception of a garage that fixes Alfa Romeo's and Mercedes Benz cars. (their spaces goes between Columbus and Jansen). There are nearby schools and one of my favorite cafes, 901 Columbus Cafe rests at the bottom of Jansen right at Lombard & Jansen.

Because Jansen is one block off of Columbus and close to Fisherman's Wharf there are many nearby things such as dry cleaning, corner store, cafes, restaurants, and a library (within 500 feet). So there's lots to do around the area if you want to walk about 5-10 blocks. But the street itself is relatively quiet and not much to see.

Stretching from Green St to Market St, Davis is nice little side street to get downtown without battling the Embarcadero traffic. However, during rush hour there's still a little traffic, but not nearly as much as on the Embarcadero.

Davis takes you in between Embarcadero Centers 2 & 3 and there's a great parking garage on the left.
A great place to go shopping or to see a movie at the Embaradero Theater in Center 2.

Tons of coffee shops, hotels, & fast food options to grab a quick bite while on the go. There's also a beautiful little park near Davis and Clay Sts.

I don't know what it is about Spear but it smells every time I walk down it at night. Especially the closer I get to Market Street. It's not that far off from the Ferry Building and the lovely Embarcadero so if you can escape over one block and still get to where you are going, go for it.

During the day there is enough going and enough places cooking that those smells compensate and take over, like Specialty's Bakery. Yum!

All in all, Spear is just a means to an end. You can't get a cab there to save your life (or your feet).

Russian Hill is a great neighborhood because it has tons of restaurants from $ to $$$$ plus local and boutique shops. It's also a great place to live. Quiet, unless you live on the cable car lines and super friendly. Lots of people raising families, walking their dogs or singles hanging out at local coffee shops. It just "feels" like San Francisco.

If you are single, the nightlife is good too. Plenty of wine bars or dive bars. Russian Hill has its fair share of both. And if you are a health nut, plenty of organic groceries, yoga, and gyms within walking distance. Or you can just opt for a walk as it is extremely hilly, hence the name.

It's one of those neighborhoods that has something for everyone and it's not overly trendy, nor is it overly stuffy.

Super touristy and if you are visiting, a must see. There are art galleries and souvenir shops galore. But there are also the Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, plenty of street performers, and plenty of places to eat like Joe's Crab Shack or the Rain Forest Cafe. You can walk through the Cannery and get to Beach Street and from there head up a block to Ghiradelli Square.

If you like parks, there is Aquatic Park and on a nice day, it's nice to just sit, but you can also walk through Aquatic Park and read about some historic stuff too.

Gough is another one of those super busy streets that acts more like a freeway than a street. It stretches from Bay St at Fort Mason to the 101 Freeway. It's used as an alternative to folks who drive and want to get out of the city with less bumper to bumper traffic than Van Ness Avenue. It's extremely hilly (up and down) so if you have a manual (stick shift) car I'd avoid it if I were you unless you exude confidence on the hills.

Although it's an alternative to going South, it is two way up until Sacramento and then it turns into one way all the way to the 101 freeway.

It does run along a nice park (Lafayette Park) which is quite large and beautiful. Good for walks (again hilly) and good for dogs.

Franklin is a super busy street, and not only during rush hour - all the time. It runs parallel to Gough and Van Ness (the old 101). It runs South to North, unlike Gough which runs North to South and it's an alternative to the already over-crowded Van Ness.When you get to the top of the hill at California (there's a Whole Foods) and start to go down hill, it reminds me of one of those carnival rides where you got in a burlap sack and slid down the slide. Did I just give away my age? Ah well.

I wouldn't want to live on Franklin because it's so busy. But there are a ton of condos, houses and apartments along it. However, if I had to commute out of the city every day for work, I might consider it due to the fact that it is parallel to Gough and Van Ness.

Larkin is very cute, but kind of off the beaten path. You only go down it when you are coming from a nearby neighborhood and are looking for parking or if you live there. It's parallel with Polk Street so it sees a lot of cars looking for parking in that regard. But it's all residential in Russian Hill/Cow Hollow area. There isn't any retail therapy on Larkin, but there is on nearby Polk Street. Larkin is very quiet and a good place to raise a family. There are a lot of T.I.C.'s there (Tennants In Common) and condos.

A playground on the corner of Broadway and Larkin that is fenced in to make it safe for kids.

I love North Beach! It has everything you could possibly want and it's so easy to get around via the MUNI (bus) or cable car or cab. Columbus Avenue is the main drag and it's a bit heavy with traffic, especially on the weekends, which is why parking the car and walking is key. There are 9 parking lots in North Beach.

It's relatively flat, with a few slight inclines here and there. North Beach has great restaurants and it borders Chinatown, Financial District and Fisherman's Wharf. You'll never go hungry with all of the restaurant choices from Italian (of course) to French, sushi, Thai, steak, and Chinese. Plus there's a cafe on every corner. You'll definitely satiate your shopping fix in cute boutique shops on Grant Ave.

It doesn't have a movie theater but they do show movies sometimes in Washington Square Park.

It's a great place to visit and hang out because it has a mix of locals and tourists, and any place tourists want to visit, has got to be a cool place to live.