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Westwood Park has a very vintage suburban feel. Most original homes throughout Westwood Park were built during the 1920’s. During 1924-1929, 283 homes were built along the slopes of Mount Davidson to create Westwood Highlands. Overall, Westwood is an affluent neighborhood full of beautiful homes and wide streets that all seem to end in the suffix “wood”. Developed for well-to-do families, Westwood Park has nearby schools, parks and plenty of shopping along Ocean Avenue and Monterrey Boulevard. The neighborhood is very safe and its residential streets feel far-removed from the hustle and bustle of city-life.

Westwood Park borders the City College of San Francisco, the largest community and junior college in the United States. City College has a reputation for being a progressive educational institute. The College established on of the first Women’s Studies programs in the United States and boasts a Queer Resource Center that serves San Francisco’s LGBT community.

Due to its location next to City College, Westwood Park enjoys great access to public transportation. BART and MUNI trains stop at nearby Balboa Station and the MUNI K Line and 43 Masonic Bus make stops throughout the neighborhood. Downtown is approximately only a 20-minute ride away on BART.

The Bayview-Hunter’s Point neighborhood was once a thriving industrial area and home to the Hunter’s Point Dry Dock and Naval Yard and a strong African American community. After the naval yard closed, the surrounding community greatly suffered. With no jobs, poverty and crime soared to epic proportions. During the dot-com boom, Hunter’s Point started to gentrify, attracting Korean and Chinese immigrants and a small enclave of young working professionals. Today, the neighborhood still suffers from some gang violence but things are changing. MUNI’s Third Street Light Rail project has helped make the neighborhood more accessible to Downtown. The area is near to current Mayor Gavin Newsome’s heart, and redevelopment projects are in the works. One of the Hunter’s Point area’s greatest challenges is that it contains tons of toxic waste sites left over from San Francisco’s industrial heydays. Cleaning up the mess makes redevelopment in this area a slow and grueling process.

Despite its toxic past, there are several active community groups working hard to improve the neighborhood. Community gardening is growing in popularity throughout San Francisco, and there are several open spaces in Hunter’s Point where community garden projects thrive. No worries, they test the soil regularly.

Parking is generally easy to find in this area, however, car break-ins and theft are more common in Hunter’s Point that other parts of the city. Due to possible violence, I would not recommend walking around in this neighborhood alone and after dark.

Visitation Valley is as close to “the hood” as San Francisco gets. The neighborhood is home to several public housing projects and is riddled with notorious gang violence. The area surrounding the Sunnydale Projects is one of the most violent in all of San Francisco. Outside of the Sunnydale Projects, the neighborhood becomes more tranquil and working class. In recent years Visitation Valley has seen a major influx of Chinese Americans. There is now a thriving Chinese community in the area. Real estate is less expensive in this area than other parts of the city and many first-time buyers are purchasing homes. Developers are also buying up property and building new homes.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has designated Visitation Valley as a major area for redevelopment. There are two major redevelopment projects underway at the old Schladge Lock Factory and Southern Pacific Railyard that will bring new condominiums, shops, a grocery store and parks to the neighborhood. MUNI is also extending its T Third Street Line making Visitation Valley much more convenient to Downtown. As the economy improves and if crime is kept at bay, Visitation Valley has a promising future as an up-and-coming San Francisco neighborhood.

For years I had no idea that the West Portal neighborhood even existed. One day, a friend helped to open my eyes when he suggested we hop off the MUNI for lunch. In West Portal the MUNI K, L, M and T lines all emerge from the subterranean Twin Peaks tunnel and branch out above street to their final destinations. Upon closer look, I realized this cute neighborhood was full of mom and pop stores, quiet tree-lined streets and well-kept single-family homes. After eating an incredible sandwich at Submarine Center, we wandered along West Portal Avenue, perused bookstores, antique shops, boutiques and the impressive independent Papenhausen Hardware store.

West Portal’s friendly village atmosphere reminds me a lot of Glen Park or Bernal Heights. The neighborhood has a retro feel that harkens back to a simpler time in San Francisco when strangers said hello and people shopped primarily at neighborhood markets. Parking is reasonable in the area, and public transportation is the best. It only takes about 20 minutes to reach Downtown San Francisco via MUNI. Like most westerly parts of the city, West Portal sees its fair share of foggy days, however the neighborhood is more sheltered than neighboring areas in the Sunset District.

One of San Francisco’s landmark geographical features is Twin Peaks, a set of voluptuous hills that rise 900 feet above the city. The view from Twin Peaks, especially on a clear morning or evening, is spectacular. Even on foggy days there is an interesting view, as Downtown skyscrapers appear to float in a cloud-like city. A drive straight up Market Street onto Twin Peaks Boulevard is a definite must for any visitor or resident of San Francisco. There is a one-way road that circles the twin Eureka Peak and Noe Peak. There is no direct public transportation to Twin Peaks, however the 37 Corbett MUNI bus stops near a footpath that can be accessed on Crestline Drive.

There are no restaurants atop Twin Peaks. The area is protected and managed by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Outside of the protected area, a residential area crowns the base of the peaks. Here along Market Street, homes with walls of huge panoramic windows and rooftop gardens enjoy glorious views of the entire city of San Francisco and Bay Area. The backside areas of the Twin Peaks neighborhood are pleasantly surrounded by leafy greenery. The only downfall of the neighborhood is the howling wind and fog that pours over Twin Peaks almost every afternoon.

Telegraph Hill is a major landmark along the San Francisco skyline. Perhaps most famous for its Coit Tower, Telegraph Hill rises steeply out of North Beach and descends dramatically down to the Embarcadero. Each day hundreds of tourists climb Coit Tower’s 200 steps to take in an awe-inspiring 360-degree view of San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. The Coit Tower rooftop can also be rented out for special events.

Telegraph Hill is famous for the Filbert Street Steps—a beautiful pedestrian walkway that extends from Coit Tower down to Kearney Street at the edge of The Embarcadero. The Filbert steps leads walkers along a secluded path alongside charming gardens that belong to Telegraph Hill residents. The steps provide a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of the famous Telegraph Hill parrots. These beautiful bright green tropical birds are members of a greater colony of feral parrots that live at various locations throughout San Francisco.

Telegraph Hill can be challenging to navigate by car. This area is home to some of the world’s steepest streets and parking is scarce. The best way to see Telegraph Hill is to hoof it on foot up from North Beach or The Embarcadero. There are several tour buses that haul people up to the top, but the view and the gardens are best enjoyed via walking.

San Francisco’s South Beach is a newly developed Downtown destination. South Beach is home to the San Francisco Giants and the team’s AT&T Park, a waterfront arena with awesome views of the East Bay. The ballpark, alongside the new UCSF medical campus and biotech firms in neighboring Mission Bay have catalyzed revitalization in South Beach. Many excellent restaurants now thrive along the waterfront south of the Bay Bridge. There are also new condominium developments and luxury towers springing up in South Beach. Most noticeable is the Millennium Tower, at $350 million 58-story residential high-rise that opened in 2009. The Tower houses Michael Mina’s latest restaurant, RN47, a wine bar and restaurant that serves exquisite food inspired by the Burgundy region of France.

Parking in South Beach is relatively good with one major exception—game days. When the Giants play, the streets become clogged with thousands of people eager to get to the ballpark. Public transportation is jammed and parking lots fill up fast. My friends that work in the area have told me that they prefer to stay late at the office on game days to avoid navigating the crowds. Other than Giants fever, South Beach is easily navigated by foot or public transportation. Although relatively safe, at night the area can feel deserted. Pedestrians should remain aware of their surroundings.

Sea Cliff is a small and wealthy neighborhood in a park-like setting. Tucked in-between Lincoln Park and the Presidio, Sea Cliff has breathtaking views of the Marin Headlands, Golden Gate Bridge, and the Pacific Ocean. The parks protect Sea Cliff from strong ocean winds and provide a lot of greenery. Sea Cliff’s winding streets are lined with beautiful mansion-like homes, many owned by celebrities such as Robin Williams, Kirk Hammett and Sharon Stone.

Sea Cliff contains one of the prettiest beaches in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, China Beach. Although small, its view of the front side of the Golden Gate Bridge is outstanding. China Beach has picnic tables, clean restrooms and a sea wall to protect the surrounding cliffs from stormy seas. Sea Cliff is also close to Baker Beach, a half-mile swath of golden sand that stretches from the edge of the neighborhood to the Golden Gate Bridge. Baker Beach is part of the historic Presidio and is more scenic and clean than Ocean Beach. There are great picnic areas nestled into the beach’s forested cliffs.

Sea Cliff is primarily residential and there are no shops or restaurants. However, the neighborhood is located near a charming stretch of Clement Street and has quick access to the bustling Inner Richmond area. The Legion of Honor, a lovely fine art museum is located to the west of the neighborhood, as is the Lincoln Park Golf Course.

I am not a big fan of San Francisco State University. This 30,000+ student state public school is geographically so far removed from the City of San Francisco that it would be more appropriate to call it Daly City State. SF State’s campus is full of trees and flower gardens, but many of the buildings are run-down and in unfortunate states of disrepair. I have heard from several former students that the University’s administration is terribly disorganized and unhelpful. I know I’m generalizing, but SF State students tend to come off as lackadaisical and depressed—probably due to the cold, foggy and damp weather that forever enshrouds the campus. Another thing that irks me about SF State is that it is almost impossible to find any decent place to get food or coffee. The concessionaire hired by the University to provide food to students is a joke.

Perhaps poisoned by the icky atmosphere of the University, the neighborhood surrounding SF State is equally unappetizing. The homes are drab and all commerce is relegated to unsightly strip malls from the 1970’s and 80’s. There is a large and unattractive faculty housing project that dominates most of the northwest side of the neighborhood.

Russian Hill is a signature San Francisco neighborhood that embodies the charm and bohemian grace the city has become so well known for. Perched above the chaos of North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf, Russian Hill offers chic restaurants and tasteful bars along Hyde Street between Jackson and Union. Zarzuela is a festive and popular Spanish restaurant with an outstanding offering of traditional tapas. For more nightlife, Russian Hill’s section of Polk Street is lined with unique bars like the Bigfoot Tavern and live music venues like The Red Devil Lounge. The seafood restaurant, Pesce, is exhilarating and owned by the same group that runs Beretta in the Mission District.

Russian Hill’s streets are lined with beautiful historic apartment buildings. The views from many streets are as spectacular as those in nearby Nob Hill. The Hyde-Powell cable car runs directly through the center of Russian Hill and there are a few buses that provide service to downtown, the Financial District and the Waterfront. Parking is notoriously challenging in Russian Hill and its steep slopes and busy streets make parallel parking especially stressful.

At the edge of Russian Hill lies Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world. Other than the sightseers that wander up out of North Beach to Lombard Street, most tourists pass through Russian Hill on the cable car without ever jumping off.

The Outer Sunset is a laid-back beach community that spans 20 oceanfront blocks from the southwest corner of Golden Gate Park to the northern most boundary of the San Francisco Zoo. Sunset Boulevard divides the Outer Sunset from the rest of the Inner Sunset areas. The neighborhood is laid out on an easy-to-navigate grid, and parking is really great in the area. The MUNI N and L lines, as well as several bus routes service the Outer Sunset.

The main feature of the Outer Sunset is Ocean Beach, a favorite for surfers and hot-blooded San Franciscans who do not mind its chilly waters. There are many casual cafes, pizza joints, health food stores and coffee shops that line the major east-west streets of the neighborhood. The homes and apartment buildings of the Outer Sunset vary wildly from historic turn-of-century Victorians to sleek 1920’s hacienda-style dwellings, to funky 1970’s beach huts to sleek contemporary beach villas. For the most part, the majority of homes are funky, weathered and decorated with beach-combing paraphernalia.

Due to its oceanfront location, weather in the Outer Sunset is unpredictable and, at times, ferocious. A calm and sunny afternoon can quickly transform into a cold, windy and drizzly evening. Before, during and after storms, the sea churns wildly and the wind blows howls straight off the Pacific. But the Outer Sunset is very beautiful, especially if you have a fireplace to cozy up to.

The Outer Richmond is a rugged, yet peaceful neighborhood. Located on the most western tip of the United States, the neighborhood sees a lot of crazy weather as storms break off the Pacific Ocean. There is usually wind and a dense wet fog in the mornings and evenings. When the sun does come out, the area is gorgeous and very green especially around Lincoln Park.

There are many beautiful homes in this area and the streets are wide and well kept. Parking is pretty manageable, and there is decent public transportation especially along Geary Street. There are fewer restaurants and shops than the Inner Richmond, however Clement Street near the Legion of Honor has many wonderful and cozy places to dine. Along Geary is the Pacific Café, a neighborhood favorite serving fresh seafood and decadent deserts. At the western edge of the neighborhood where the Richmond meets the sea along the Great Highway, the Cliff House restaurant and bar overlooks the historic Sutro Baths, the Pacific coast and Ocean Beach. The Cliff House no longer offers bathing but you can wander around the remnants of the baths and enjoy a wonderful collection of old photographs that are on display in the Cliff House lobby and bar. The Cliff House is now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and its grounds are a wonderful place to hike. I have noticed that after the rains, expert foodies like to hunt for wild mushrooms amongst the redwood trees.

Nob Hill is one of San Francisco’s most historic, elegant and wealthy neighborhoods. Once a secluded hillside home to Gold Rush millionaires and railroad barons, many of Nob Hill’s mansions have been replaced by luxury hotels such as The Fairmont and The Ritz-Carlton. The beautiful Grace Cathedral sits atop Nob Hill surrounded by Huntington Park. Grace Cathedral hosts an incredible line-up of concerts throughout the year featuring Classical, Choral and Chamber music. Nob Hill is also home to the fascinating Cable Car Museum on Masonic where you can witness working cable lines in action.

As you descend down from the top of Nob Hill, the neighborhood quickly diversifies. On the northwest side, Nob Hill begins to blend into Chinatown. On the south side, it borders Union Square and to the southwest, Nob Hill melts into the Tenderloin and is generally referred to as the Tendernob. For this reason, Nob Hill offers a variety of homes and apartment buildings at many price points. Public transportation is very good in this area. Driving and parking are challenging due to the steep hills and limited parking spaces. Any walk around the Nob Hill area will be rigorous due to the neighborhood’s steep hills.

There are many incredible restaurants in Nob Hill. Among the best are Fleur de Lys, Grubsteak and Le Colonial. If you are a fan of oysters, Swan’s Oyster Depot is well worth the long wait to sit at the counter and savor shellfish, crab and lobster piled high.

Since 1998 the Mission Bay area has been a major focal point for San Francisco redevelopment. What was once a drab industrial wasteland is now a booming new center for commerce and leisure and cutting-edge biotech research. The beautiful new AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants in neighboring South Beach, has helped anchor revitalization in the area. So has UCSF’s multibillion-dollar Mission Bay Campus expansion. Several biotech firms call Mission Bay home, including the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the UCSF Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center, Bayer HealthCare, Pfizer and Necktar Therapeutics.

In addition to commercial redevelopment, an estimated 6,000 new condominiums are scheduled for construction over a 20-year period. Some of the initial projects are now finished including Avalon, The Beacon, Glassworks and Arterra, San Francisco’s first certified LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) market-rate condominium building.

Mission Bay seems some of San Francisco’s best weather. Due to its southeast location along the Bay, it is sheltered from chilly ocean breezes and the infamous fog that enshrouds most other SF neighborhoods. Parking in the neighborhood is generally good, except on baseball game days. Same goes for public transportation. The area is served by the new MUNI Third Street Line, the N Judah Line and several bus lines. Due to its close proximity to the Financial District, it is very easy to reach the East Bay via the Bay Bridge or BART.

Laurel Heights is a great neighborhood with lots of charm. Its main centers of commerce can be found along Geary, California and Euclid streets. Here there are grocery stores, restaurants, cafes and clothing boutiques. There are also many small businesses with offices along the commercial zones. On California is the popular Laurel Village shopping center with a CalMart grocery and Walgreen’s drug store as well as restaurants and cafes including Peet’s Coffee & Tea. Parking is free at Laurel Village, but can be very busy on weeknights. In general, parking is challenging along Laurel Height’s main commercial streets, however there are some parking lots with reasonable rates.

The quiet and calm residential streets of Laurel Heights are lined with beautiful single-family homes and condominiums—many with ample yards. Parking is only moderately challenging here and the Muni runs express busses to Downtown along California and Geary Streets.

The Jewish Community Center (JCC) on California Street is a beautiful facility with a full-service gym, pool, restaurant and theater that is open to the public. The University of California San Francisco Medical Center (UCSF) is nearby, as is the USF Lone Mountain Campus. The Laurel Hill playground is situated in the center of the neighborhood, making this an ideal location for families with kids.

The Inner Sunset has it all, a great neighborhood vibe, plentiful restaurants and bars, cool shops and direct access to the most popular areas of Golden Gate Park. Thanks to the MUNI N Judah Line, The Inner Sunset is in close proximity to both Downtown and the Beach.

The most popular section of the neighborhood is along 9th Avenue and Irving Street. Here you can sample pastries and gourmet pizza at the wonderful Arizmendi Baking Cooperative, wait in line for amazing food at Art’s Café, or energize with some coffee from The Beanery. My favorite place to go after a fun day in Golden Gate Park is Park Chow, a delicious local restaurant chain that focuses on fresh and local in-season ingredients. The food, service and drinks are always great.

One thing to note about the Sunset District is that the weather is lame. The area is almost always foggy and damp, especially during the summer months. I think most San Franciscans love the Inner Sunset because it feels like a well-kept local secret. Very few tourists seem to know about the area and the neighborhood has been resistant to the gentrifying forces that other San Francisco neighborhoods face.

The Inner Richmond is a fabulous San Francisco neighborhood. The residential stretches of the area are clean and quiet with a nice mix of small grocers, cafes, boutiques and restaurants. There is great access to Downtown via Geary Street, Balboa/Turk Street or Fulton Street.

The Southern edge of the Inner Richmond borders beautiful Golden Gate Park. From here the park can easily be explored on foot or bicycle. The DeYoung Museum is only a few hundred yards away from Fulton Street and 10th Avenue. The beautiful Rose Garden is also right here. The northern edge of the neighborhood is one block away from the Presidio—another wonderful recreational area full of hiking trails and bike paths. In the neighborhood’s southeastern corner, along Anza, is the delightful Rossi Playground with plenty of space for kids to safely play.

The Inner Richmond is nestled into a nice hilly section of the city, and several streets have nice views towards downtown and out to the ocean. This neighborhood is near to The University of San Francisco, as well as a vibrant stretch of Geary Street full of great bars and restaurants.

My favorite section of this neighborhood is along Clement Street. Here you can find some of the best authentic Asian restaurants in the city such as China First, Spices and Burma Superstar. There are also many fine Chinese-owned produce and fish markets along Clement.

Inner Parkside is a nice and quiet neighborhood especially well suited for families. 19th Avenue is a major north-south traffic artery with convenient access to the North Bay and Interstate 280 South. Taraval is another major route with good public transportation via the MUNI Route L line that spans from the Oceanside San Francisco Zoo all the way to Downtown.

Not much has changed in Inner Parkside since the early 1970’s. There are many well-established family-run businesses and restaurants. There are several independent grocers in the area. There is even a suburban-style shopping mall nearby called the Stonestown Galleria. Parking is pretty good along the neighborhood’s residential streets. Most of the dwellings in this area are charming single- and multi-family homes built during the post-WWII 1950’s.

The Inner Parkside has a pretty sleepy nightlife. However, the bustling bars and restaurants of Irving and 9th Street area are just a short bus ride away north along 19th Avenue.

One thing to note about the greater Sunset District is that the weather in the summer can be downright gloomy. Oftentimes the sun does not break through its foggy barrier for days at a time. However, in late spring or early fall the Sunset is one of the most pleasant areas in San Francisco with fresh ocean breezes and spectacular, you guessed it, sunsets.

Golden Gate Park is one of San Francisco’s greatest treasures. This 1,000+-acre park is home to an impressive array of cultural institutions, gardens, festivals and entertainment options. The best way to visit Golden Gate Park is to take public transportation, bike, or walk from a nearby neighborhood. You can drive but parking may be challenging, especially on the weekends. Typically the morning and early afternoons see the best weather in the Park. Always be prepared and bring extra layers because the fog can quickly blow in and chill things off, sometimes by 20 degrees.

There are so many things to explore in Golden Gate Park. Most popular is the centrally located DeYoung Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers. All four of these cultural institutions are exquisite and offer something for everyone. Stow Lake is a fun place to spend the day enjoying a rented rowboat and picnic lunch. The Stow Lake vendor also rents bicycles and surreys that can be taken out on JFK Drive on car-free Sundays.

If you enjoy walking or biking, the park has hundreds of trails and paths to explore. Very few people take these unbeaten paths and oftentimes you will have long stretches of trail to yourself. When I need some peace and quite I often begin a walk at the Aids Memorial Garden, a serene and solemn asylum. From the Memorial, several nice paths branch out in the area southwest of MLK Drive.

Centrally located along San Francisco’s waterfront, the Financial District is a hub of global commerce and banking. Several gorgeous historic buildings of stone are intermingled with iconic skyscrapers like the Transamerica Pyramid and the Bank of America. The Financial District is elegantly urban, and breathtakingly beautiful.

Monday through Friday the Financial District is abuzz with activity. Each morning thousands of people pour in from all over the Bay Area and beyond to conduct the workday. The Financial District is the nexus of all public transportation with BART, MUNI, buses and bicycles coming and going in every direction. During the workweek, thousands of businesses open to serve the businessmen and women of San Francisco. However, come 9PM on a Friday night the majority of businesses in the area shut down for the weekend and the Financial District becomes a bit of a ghost town.

The Financial District is primarily a commercial zone, however there are some luxury high-rise condominiums along the waterfront. Also, on southern edges of the District there are several warehouses that have been converted into residential lofts.

As you can imagine, traffic and parking are crazy anytime between 7AM-7PM. Parking is also very expensive in this area—usually a $25 flat day rate. During rush hours, the Bay Bridge on and off-ramps become clogged and traffic heading in and out of the City often slows to a snail’s pace.

Central Richmond is a great neighborhood. The area has a huge concentration of restaurants along Geary Avenue that serve up delicious cuisines from all over the world. Parking is decent in Central Richmond (by San Francisco standards) and public transportation is excellent. With few hills, this area is also great for biking and walking. The neighborhood is laid out in a standard grid pattern that is easy to navigate. Also, there is quick access to the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin/Napa counties.

Central Richmond is very close to the best areas of Golden Gate Park including JFK Drive, the Rose Garden, Stow Lake, Golden Gate Fields, The DeYoung Museum and the California Academy of Sciences. When the summertime Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival takes place, the Central Richmond is the perfect location for a pre-or post-party.

There are only two downfalls to the Central Richmond. Firstly, although public transportation is good, the area feels very distant from Downtown. My brother lived there and his morning and afternoon commute to Downtown usually took an hour each way. Secondly, the fog can be very thick in the Central Richmond, especially in the summertime.

The legendary Castro is one of San Francisco’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Castro Street is the nexus of Gay culture in the city and arguably, the world. In late June the Castro’s streets swell with thousands of people who come to participate in the annual Pride Celebration and Parade.

Castro Street and the six-to-eight block stretch of Market Street that intersects the neighborhood are brimming with fabulous restaurants and boutiques. Even on foggy nights, the nightlife in the Castro runs hot and famous gay bars such as Moby Dick, Twin Peaks and Harvey’s overflow with men. The Castro Theatre is a gorgeous movie house that specializes in independent film, festivals and classics like The Wizard of Oz. Before each show, someone comes out and plays the old organ that was once used to accompany silent films.

Toward the lower section of the Castro, along 16th Street, the café and restaurant scene continues all the way to Dolores Park. The side streets along this area such as Hartford, Noe and Sanchez are particularly peaceful and pretty.

Unless you are one of the lucky ones with a private driveway or garage, bringing a car to the Castro is almost unthinkable. Parking is horrible and public transportation is plentiful and convenient throughout the area. There are many taxis that pass through the area, but competition can be steep to hail one at night.

I love the winding and narrow streets of Buena Vista. There are many unique homes situated in this beautiful area. If you do not mind trucking up and down a few steep hills the neighborhood is within walking distance of the Castro, Duboce Triangle, Cole Valley and Golden Gate Park. Buena Vista Park is a charming green space with a grassy lawn and a few nice trails. If you climb up a short but steep hill that overlooks Market Street, you will experience one of the best views of Downtown San Francisco and the Bay.

Parking is very challenging in the Buena Vista area. Most homes have private driveways, but the street parking is steep and difficult to maneuver. There is very little public transportation inside of the actual neighborhood, but with a quick downhill walk to Castro and Market you can catch MUNI and busses that connect to all parts of the city. In terms of weather, Buena Vista can be quite chilly when the fog pours over Twin Peaks and the wind howls down Market Street toward Downtown.

Buena Vista is primarily a residential neighborhood, but there are plenty of wonderful restaurants, shops and bars nearby in surrounding areas, especially in the Castro.

Bayview Heights is a drab neighborhood that lingers above a massive stretch of the 101 Freeway. During the morning and afternoon rush hours, or when there are 49er football games at nearby Monster Park, the area becomes gridlocked with traffic. The San Francisco International Airport is located nearby so the roaring of large planes is a constant presence. Bayview Heights is located on the backside of hills surrounding San Francisco. There is no view of Downtown from here, but there are views of the South Bay. Parking is not bad in this area, except during events at Monster Park. Public transportation is adequate, but is designed to serve Monster Park patrons rather than residents.

To make up for the clamor of freeway and airport, Bayview Heights has a lot of greenery. The area is dotted with old-growth eucalyptus trees and contains Bayview Park and Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. Although it borders two rough neighborhoods, Bayview and Hunter’s Point, it is close to the rapidly developing Third Street/China Basin area that lies south of Downtown San Francisco. As the area continues to develop, Bayview Heights may increase in appeal because it may be closer to more shops and restaurants. Also, the new Third Street MUNI line provides quick access to Downtown.

Anza Vista is rather plain compared to its lively neighbors Lower Pacific Heights and The Fillmore. Anza Vista’s buildings are boxy, excepting the occasional Victorian home or apartment building. Zoning feels haphazard in the area with tall commercial buildings intermingled with smaller homes and apartment buildings. Major transportation arteries surround the area including Geary Street, Divisidero Street, Turk Street and Masonic Street. No matter what time of day, these streets tend to be filled with an endless stream of traffic. Geary, Divisidero and Masonic are four-lane streets with timed streetlights. Although the timing is nice when drivers hit it properly, I have seen cars speed up to 50 miles an hour and zoom recklessly through intersections in an attempt to sync with the lights. This creates a dangerous situation for pedestrians and bicyclists. Also, I imagine it creates a lot of noise for anyone living above the busy streets.

Despite its bustling boundaries, from Anza Vista you can quickly make your way via bus or walking to several exceptional areas such as Golden Gate Park, NoPa (North of Panhandle), Japantown, The Fillmore and The University of San Francisco. There are also several major grocery stores nearby such as Trader Joe’s on Masonic and the Fillmore Safeway complex.

Western Addition tends to get a bad rap for being a terrible neighborhood. Although there are some rough streets lined with housing projects, the rest of the area is pretty subdued. Due to its bad reputation, the Western Addition is a heavily policed area and the streets are, for the most part, peaceful and well lit. Compared to other San Francisco neighborhoods, parking is a dream here although I’ve heard reports of occasional break-ins.

The Western Addition is mostly residential and has very few restaurants. However, the neighborhood is situated in a great location with easy access to Downtown, Civic Center, Hayes Valley, NoPa, LoHa, The Fillmore and Lower Pacific Heights. Western Addition apartments are pretty affordable, but many are old and run down Victorians in sore need of paint jobs. Public transportation is very good but the outbound routes become very overcrowded during the evening rush hour. Many of the streets in the area have built-in bike lanes that make cycling a safe and easy alternative.

There are a few bustling community centers in Western Addition, and several non-profits are working to improve the neighborhood. Many Western Addition residents are deeply invested in the community and fighting hard to make it a better place.

San Francisco’s waterfront district, The Embarcadero, is a picturesque cornerstone of the city. The neighborhood is mostly commercial, however there are several luxury apartments towers and condominium developments that boast epic views of downtown and the San Francisco Bay. The Embarcadero, a boulevard that runs right along the Bay is popular with joggers and sightseers. Starting under the Bay Bridge, The Embarcadero stretches alongside San Francisco’s piers—all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. South of Market are several excellent high-end restaurants such as Boulevard, Ozuma, Chaya and Café Americano at the Hotel Vitale—a boutique hotel where you can treat yourself to fabulous spa treatments and a private rooftop mud bath.

One of the Embarcadero’s most popular destinations is The Ferry Building—a newly renovated terminal that houses a huge farmer’s market, gourmet shops, a wine bar and restaurants including the wildly popular Slanted Door. As its name suggests, The Ferry Building is also the point of departure for several ferries that provide service to cities across the Bay.

Further along the Embarcadero are the Golden Gate Tennis Club, Teatro Zinzanni and the Fog City Diner—all worth a visit. The interior area of the Embarcadero is also chocked full of great things to do and see. The Embarcadero Mall is a four-building stretch of shops, restaurants, a large independent movie house (The Embarcadero Cinemas) and The Punch Line Comedy Club.

The Embarcadero is also where San Francisco’s legendary Barbary Coast roared during California’s Gold Rush. There are several fascinating walking tours of the area that are worth checking out. Also, if you are up for a hike, try climbing the hundreds of stairs up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower. The steps begin near Levi Plaza where Filbert Street ends. Look for Napier Lane, a car-free sidewalk path that passes many adorable hillside dwellings and offers fantastic views of the Bay. You may also see the famous Telegraph Hill parrots—a wild colony of tropical birds that call San Francisco home.

The Tenderloin is considered by many to be the underbelly of San Francisco. I will not deny that the Tenderloin is a rough neighborhood. When walking through the area, its good to know where you are going or at least never appear lost. Homelessness, drug abuse and prostitution are rampant, and many economically disadvantaged people call the Tenderloin home. Despite its grittiness, I quite like the Tenderloin. There are many unique dive bars such as the Ha-Ra, The Lush Lounge, The Gangway, Edinburgh Castle and Whiskey Thieves. There are also many excellent high-end watering holes such as Bourbon and Branch, Rye, The Ambassador and Ruby Skye. The Tenderloin is also home to Little Saigon where one can savor wonderful Vietnamese sandwiches, pho and other authentic delights.

The Tenderloin is one of the most affordable neighborhoods in San Francisco. If you can find an apartment that is high enough off of the street and you can block out the occasional crack-head freaking out in the alley, your money will go far. The best area to look is the upper part of the neighborhood that boarders Nob Hill, often referred to as the Tendernob. Due to cheap rents artists of all disciplines live in the Tenderloin and many theaters and galleries are scattered throughout the area. Café Royal on Post Street always offers an eclectic variety of live music along with a dark poetic atmosphere. The Café’s upstairs balcony is a great place to enjoy a fine glass of wine and watch the world go by.

South of Market is an interesting neighborhood with a very urban feeling. Once an area primarily zoned for commercial use, SoMa is now mixed-use and several old warehouses and office spaces have been converted into lofts and apartments with all of the modern conveniences. On SoMa’s smaller side streets, such as Minna, there are a number of Victorian flats and modern condos. Both rents and home prices tend to be more affordable than in other neighborhoods, however the views can be industrial or drab. Also, many places surrounded by larger commercial buildings do not get very good light. However, for those willing to hunt for treasure, some very unusual gems can be found in SoMa.

SoMa is right next door to Downtown and several major public transit routes pass directly through the neighborhood. Parking can be decent during evenings and weekends, but most street parking is metered during weekday hours. There are several parking lots in the area that offer early bird and monthly discount fares.

For the most part, SoMa is a relatively safe neighborhood. Its streets are not always pleasant or charming, but they are well lit and busy. There are some rough spots around its boarder with the Tenderloin and in sections that coincide with the freeway underpasses.

SoMa’s stretch of Folsom Street is well known for its leather shops, S&M clubs and gay bars. As SoMa nears the center of Downtown, there is a wonderful area called Yerba Buena Gardens that is home to the San Francisco Modern Museum of Art, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The Sony Metreon and Moscone Convention Center are also located in this area.

Potrero Hill always reminds me of a tiny fishing village. Despite its close proximity to the Mission and Downtown, freeways and swatches of industrial zone isolate Potrero Hill. Portero Hill’s main drag is 18th Street. I’ve had fantastic meals at the restaurants Aperto and Baraka, and enjoyed live jazz and cocktails at the Lingba Lounge. Another intriguing area of Potrero Hill is Dogpatch. This used to be primarily an industrial zone but several artists have moved in and are setting up studios. A few bars and cafes have sprouted up, and I’m curious where this development will go.

Another great thing about Portero Hill is the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. They provide services to the public including a free ear acupuncture clinic Monday-Thursday on De Haro Street. There is a great music club in Potrero called Bottom of the Hill that features tons of local bands. The club is nearby a unique sports bar called Connecticut Yankee, and this is a great place to grab a bite to eat. Another very fun place to visit is Three Parkside—a tiki bar meets BBQ joint with live music. And, if you and hankering for an unusual brunch spot on the weekend, check out The Ramp in China Basin. You can drink bloody Mary’s and savor classic brunch fare right on the waterfront with epic views of the Bay!

Pacific Heights is a posh and affluent neighborhood with soul. Although this is primarily a high-rent district, there are occasionally some affordable options for studios and one-bedroom apartments. Pacific Heights is one of the city’s older neighborhoods with Victorian homes dating back to the 1870’s. Several foreign embassies are located in this neighborhood as well as elite private schools. There is a particularly majestic stretch of Broadway between Divisidero and Lyon called “The Gold Coast” filled with gorgeous mansions and chateaus. The east-west flow of streets up the hillside creates wonderful southern exposure and the afternoons have a very warm glow in this area. Pacific Heights’ two parks, Lafayette and Alta Plaza are laid out in a similar fashion to Alamo Square Park. They are lovely places to go for a stroll, take in the spectacular view of the Bay or read a book on one of the many lovely wrought-iron park benches. Fillmore Street is brimming with fabulous restaurants, such as the Elite Café and Vivande Porta Via. There are also many high-end boutiques located on Fillmore like Marc by Marc Jacobs, Shu Uemura and Ralph Loren. There is a wonderful old movie theatre called The Clay that shows primarily independent and foreign films.

Although its name lacks originality, Ocean Beach is a very special place. It may not be as quaint as Baker Beach or as secluded as Tennessee Valley, but Ocean Beach is the people’s beach. It’s easy to get to by public transportation, biking or driving. It’s huge, so there is plenty of room for everyone. And it’s flanked by a few really fabulous beach neighborhoods that offer friendly cafes, pizza joints and bars. There is a certain stretch of Ocean Beach near Judah where bonfires are permitted. A couple of years ago the City of San Francisco installed a dozen or so official fire pits in an attempt to control the fires, but the activity is so popular that the bonfires quickly sprout up outside the designated boundary. On that rare warm late spring or early fall night, Ocean Beach can almost feel like a warm tropical paradise—that is, until you venture into the water. The water is cold, cold, cold and the undertow can be very dangerous. It’s best to stick your feet in as long as you can or suit up in full wetsuit regalia. Even when the rest of San Francisco seems warm and sunny, Ocean Beach can be a frigid, damp and windy place. Always go prepared with warm layers because the fog can start blowing in on a dime turning your picnic into a panic.

It’s fun to wind one’s way through North Beach, chasing down the ghosts of the Barbary Coast and Beat poet legends. North Beach can be romantic, rowdy, skeezy and inspirational all at once. The North Beach poetry scene is still alive and kicking—the poets often gather at Spec’s in an alley off of Columbus Street or Café Trieste on Vallejo Street. Washington Square Park is pleasant by day and deeply romantic by night. It’s nice to enjoy a glass of wine at Vesuvios then peruse the shelves of City Lights Bookstore. Tosca is a lovely bar for a nightcap and the old fashioned girl in me is quite smitten with Cap’s Corner bar and restaurant. There’s just something about those red and white-checkered tablecloths, huge plates of pasta and bulking wooden bar that makes me feel happy.

Living in North Beach is a two-sided coin. You have all of little Italy’s charm and excitement at your doorstep, but you also have weekend drunks, a sore lack of any decent grocery store and terrible parking. For the right home or apartment, the trade-off might be worth your while, because North Beach can pull magic out of an otherwise seemingly ordinary night.

Noe Valley is a sweet neighborhood with lots of charm, and the streets seem to be bursting at the seams with babies and puppies. There is a lovely farmer’s market every Saturday between Sanchez and Vicksburg Streets, across from Martha and Bros. Coffee Company. The bars and restaurants of Noe Valley are well established and welcoming—however, they lack the charm of similar places I have visited in Cole Valley or Bernal Heights. I cannot quite put my finger on it—but there is dullness that can permeate Noe Valley. Perhaps in comparison to the eclecticism of San Francisco’s many other neighborhoods Noe Valley just seems, so average. Too normal!

Now, to own a home there is probably a different story as Noe Valley’s residential streets are enchanting. The area’s many hills make bike riding a bit of a challenge—but thanks the J MUNI line, public transportation options are relatively good. Parking is so-so. I like to visit Noe Valley for three reasons: one, Rabat’s shoe store—it’s the best in all of San Francisco with great selection and thoughtful service; two, Eric’s Chinese Restaurant—it is delicious! and three, Lovejoy’s Tearoom, where you can enjoy the luxury of high tea in a saccharine sweet setting.

Mission Dolores is one of the most-coveted neighborhoods to live in. Rents can vary wildly depending on rent control but for the most part it is the most expensive area in the Mission. The area is popular for good reason: Dolores Park and 18th Street. Dolores Park is like San Francisco’s public backyard. That may sound strange, but it’s not, it’s absolutely fantastic. Once the weather hits 65 degrees or higher, the park fills up every afternoon into evening with people bearing picnic blankets, games, art projects, musical instruments, sun tan oil, and soccer balls—you name it. I’ve often heard people refer to Dolores Park as Mission Beach. I’ve been to British-style high teas, vegan potlucks, a performance of the San Francisco Opera, the Mime Troupe’s annual 4th of July shows, an olive oil wrestling tournament, and a zombie parade. Almost anything goes in Dolores Park as long as it’s purpose is entertainment and fun for all. And when you need a change of scene, 18th Street sings its siren song—from the exquisite independent grocer Bi-Rite, to the chocolate croissants of Tartine bakery, to the mile long reservation list at Delfina to organic ice cream from the Bi-Rite Creamery….it’s all ridiculously stylish and delicious. The best streets to live on in Mission Dolores are the small quiet ones like Albion, Cumberland and Linda—away from the traffic and the hordes of fun-seekers marching up and down 18th Street to the Park. Parking in the entire Mission is a royal pain in the neck. Biking, walking, taxi or public transportation is a must.

Traditionally a working-class Latino neighborhood, over the last few decades the Mission has been rocked by the forces of gentrification. There is a palpable tension that exists between the neighborhood’s old and new residents, however it is giving rise to many extraordinary things. The Mission is an artist’s mecca. Even if some artists cannot afford to live there, the Mission is home to many performance venues, galleries and artist hangouts in the city. The best way to get around the Mission is to walk or bike. The streets are flat enough to get around with ease and parking is horrendous.

The Mission has multiple personalities. If you stick to Mission Street 17th to Cesar Chavez, you won’t see many hipster hangouts, rather family-owned restaurants, small businesses, and 99 cents stores. Around the 16th Street BART station there is a wild mix of hipsters, artists drug addicts, tourists and families. Although this is one of the skuzziest corners of San Francisco, there are several fantastic places to visit including Weird Fish—a tiny wonder of a restaurant on 17th and Mission; The Dark Room—a performance venue featuring experimental theater shows; Taqueria Can Cun—a miraculous traditional Mission tacqueria, an outstanding yoga studio right across the BART station on 16th called Yoga Kula and the uber-hip albeit somewhat out of place Bar Bambino.

The Lower Mission, between 20th-24th Streets and Shotwell and Bryant Streets is a great area to live in the Mission. Although there are occasionally some gang problems at night, for the most part the area is more quiet and safe than other parts of the Mission. There is a wonderful café at 20th and Alabama called Atlas Café—featuring delicious organic food, local art on the walls and live local music in the backyard. The Homestead, formerly Dylan’s (19th and Harrison) is a great neighborhood bar. The Lower Mission is also known as The Golden Triangle because it sees more sunshine than most parts of the city.

Valencia Street from 14th to Cesar Chavez is the main hipster drag. There are tons of performance venues, shops, bars and restaurants to visit here—some of the most intriguing are Amnesia (especially Sunday nights), Intersection for the Arts (theater and gallery), WeBe Sushi, Bar Tartine, 826 Valencia, Lost Weekend Video and The Painted Bird. The 22nd Street corridor from Guerrero to Mission is also full of wonderful places to see and been seen including the Lone Palm, Bugaloos, Radio Havana, Picaro, Lucca, The Revolution Café, and The Makeout Room. The 24th Street corridor from Bryant up to Guerrero is a transporting place to spend time, especially during Carnival in May or the Dia de Los Muertos celebration at the end of October.

Everyone I know who lives in the Marina really has a lot of love for it. Sure, people occasionally complain about the frat brodeo vibe, but most people say that scene is limited to certain stretches of Fillmore and Chestnut streets. Like many San Franciscans who do not live there, I have made a point of avoiding the area—until recently. While house-sitting for a friend, I was pleasantly surprised by what I experienced. First off, the view along the Bay is spectacular—especially on the weekends when the sailboats are out in full force. One can see Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island and Alcatraz. There are many wonderful restaurants and bars in a variety of prices ranges. Parking is relatively easy. I would not say getting their by public transportation is convenient or fast from other parts of the city. This part of the city also seems to get a lot of sunshine and the air, blowing directly off of the ocean, is sweet and crisp.

This is a great place to live for those who appreciate exercising out-of-doors. There is a wonderful bike/walking trail along the bay and quick access to many epic bike rides and hiking trails across just across the Golden Gate Bridge near Sausalito and the Marin Headlands. You don’t see as many babies and puppies in the Marina like you do in other parallel-rent districts such as Noe Valley or Ashbury Heights. The neighborhood seems to be populated mostly by single and upwardly mobile working professionals. On the weekends the area sees a large influx of bridge-and tunnel suburban partygoers out for a big night in the city.

Lower Pacific Heights is a great neighborhood to both visit and live. Public transportation will take you there quickly from downtown via Geary Street, or from the Mission via the 22 Fillmore bus. Rents in the lower part of the neighborhood are good value, but gradually increase as you move up the hill towards Pacific Heights.

There is a lot going on in Lower Pac. The historic Fillmore Theater brings crowds of people to the neighborhood for great concerts. Over the last five years Robert Redford’s new Sundance Kabuki Cinema has helped revitalize Japantown and the surrounding area. This theater is revolutionizing the way San Franciscans experience the movies. The facility boasts a restaurant and a bar and patrons are allowed to imbibe cocktails during movies when they reserve seats in a lounge-like balcony, complete with end tables and cushy seats. It’s great to visit Japantown—especially it’s wonderful stationary stores and unique karaoke bars. Also the Kabuki spa is a blissful escape from the rigors of urban living. I highly recommend spending a few hours enjoying massage and sauna treatments whenever the need to recharge strikes. The Boom Boom Room is like walking on set of a David Lynch movie, and the club features live music almost every night. One of my favorite things about this neighborhood is the annual Fillmore Jazz Festival that takes place each July. This huge street festival erupts down Fillmore Street from Eddy to Jackson streets, spanning three neighborhoods (The Fillmore, Lower Pac Heights and Pacific Heights Proper). The music is world-class and the atmosphere is upbeat, diverse and smoking-hot.

Hayes Valley is a small but thriving neighborhood. This area has undergone a lot of change over the last two decades. Before the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Hayes Valley cowered in the shadow of a massive freeway overpass. The place was riddled with derelict houses, drugs and shady characters. However, it was one of the more affordable neighborhoods for artists. So, after the quake the freeway collapsed and was dismantled and the neighborhood was well positioned for an economic revival. Artsy cafés, galleries and boutiques opened up and most properties underwent significant renovation.

The dot-com boom in the late 1990’s brought skyrocketing rents to Hayes Valley that pushed almost all of the artists out of the area. Over the next few years the neighborhood became a nexus for posh fashion boutiques, antique furniture stores and five-star restaurants. I’m not sure if it’s the recession, but I have noticed over the last year Hayes Valley shifting once again. The city has re-vamped the Octavia off-ramp corridor and through public art grants created a very sweet art park with sculptures, art installations and a nice playground. Several of the posh boutiques have closed their doors and are being replaced by more moderately priced restaurants and shops. I’ve noticed a lot of homes for sale (and selling) in this neighborhood over the last year. I’m curious to see who is moving in and how the new residents may affect the neighborhood.

Keep in mind that Hayes Valley is the perfect place to grab cocktails/dinner before or after the opera and symphony a few blocks over in Civic Center. You may want to park in the underground Civic Center garage by City Hall and walk over as parking in Hayes Valley is very challenging. Also note that the 21 Hayes and 5 Fulton MUNI buses are terribly overcrowded in this area during the morning and evening rush hour.

Haight-Ashbury can be a lot of fun to visit for a dose of hippie nostalgia. One could spend an entire day wandering in and out of the numerous stores ogling lava lamps and inhaling mouthfuls of incense (among other kinds of smoke wafting in regular intervals along Haight Street.) Haight Street proper is vibrant, crowded (especially on weekends) and pulsating with the sounds of street musicians and the occasional screaming rant of someone who’s gotten a little too high. But, if you look closely there is an alternative scene thriving alongside the faded summer-of-love in the Haight-Ashbury. Take Rose’s vintage boutique—one of the best vintage stores in the Bay Area, or Magnolia’s gastro-pub—offering a fresh local and seasonal menu, or the Citrus Club—a delicious and bustling joint that slings delicious plates of Asian noodles. The Gold Cane is an unassuming but fantastic neighborhood bar and Club Deluxe has several fun-themed nights from burlesque shows to jazz and poetry to indie-rock.

It’s fun to wander the less-traveled side streets of the Haight Ashbury and imagine the weathered Victorians full of hippie communes. With steep rent hikes, very few actually hippies or communes still exist in the Haight, but the residents embrace a relaxed way of life and funky 1960’s aesthetic. The atmosphere greatly varies from street to street and block to block in the Haight-Ashbury. For example, Page Street is very mellow and safe but Waller (just two blocks over) is loud, noisy and way sketchier. My friends in this neighborhood have often complained that the Haight-Ashbury area is very noisy at night—especially when the bars let out at 2AM and people wander the streets in search of white rabbits.

Ashbury Heights is the sophisticated cousin of Noe Valley. Rising up steeply from Haight-Ashbury and Cole Valley, the neighborhood is home to many beautiful and well-maintained Victorian homes. There are also numerous elegant flats and apartment buildings from the 1920’s-40’s. The local public elementary school, Grattan Elementary, is one of the cutest I’ve seen with a large and active garden and cheerful murals everywhere.

This is one of the few places in San Francisco where you can look outside your window and see mostly trees. It has a secluded feeling despite its very close proximity to the bustling Haight-Ashbury and Golden Gate Park. Ashbury Heights is mostly a residential area, however, there are a handful of cozy cafes, restaurants and bars in nearby Cole Valley. Zazie, a local favorite has a neighborhood night where people can meet and mingle and enjoy dinner on the beautiful candle-lit patio out back.

Ashbury Heights is very family friendly. For example, each Halloween a few blocks in the area go all out with spooky decorations and the entire neighborhood dons awesome costumes and trick-or-treats followed by a block party.

Atop the steep slopes of Ashbury Heights is Tank Hill, and a few hikes up the path will really get your assets in great shape. Once you conquer the crest, the view of Downtown San Francisco, Oakland and Mount Diablo is breathtaking.

A couple things to note about this neighborhood are that it can be quite windy in the afternoon and late evening when the fog blows in. Also, street parking is treacherous—there are very few spaces and many of them will only fit tiny compact cars. Great public transportation is plentiful and only 5-10 minutes walk down the hill to Parnassus and Frederick streets.

Although officially a part of San Francisco, Glen Park is more like a hamlet, sequestered away in its own little valley. Glen Park is a wonderful area, like living in a small town with all the conveniences of the big city next door. Although is feels removed from Downtown, Glen Park has its very own BART station that takes you to the heart of the city within minutes. Other than BART, public transportation can feel somewhat limited compared to other areas of the city because it takes a while to travel along Glen Park’s small streets. Parking is not too bad in Glen Park and almost everything in the neighborhood is walkable or bikeable. However, a vehicle is probably the best way to venture into the city at night, especially if you plan to stay out later than midnight when the BART system shuts down.

Glen Park neighborhood is chocked full of tiny winding streets lined with well-kept homes. There are several community gardens tended with much love. Along the main commercial streets, Diamond and Chenery, there are several inviting cafes and delicious restaurants. The Bird and Beckett Bookstore is exceptional, and it often hosts poetry readings featuring San Francisco legends and emerging talents. Glen Canyon Park lies to the northeast of the neighborhood and is a beautiful place to take a leisurely walk, and is dog friendly. In the spring the hillsides burst with wildflowers.

Fisherman’s Wharf is a part of San Francisco that visitors flock to and most local residents avoid. More of a manufactured version of San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf is full of overpriced low-quality restaurants and touristy shops hocking t-shirts and knick-knacks. Almost all tour buses and boats embark from Fisherman’s Wharf and visiting cruise ships off-load visitors by the hundreds. Not that Fisherman’s Wharf does not have its charms. The view of the Bay is lovely, the sunbathing sea lions in the marina are entertaining, and the Musee Mechanique awesomely creepy and definitely worth visiting. Also, be on the lookout for The Bushman, a man who has made a career out of dressing up as a shrub and jumping out of bushes and scaring unsuspecting tourists. It can be quite hilarious to watch.

There is one Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant worth finding, Scoma’s, a seafood restaurant set off of the main strip and located right on the docks. Scoma’s is a classic San Francisco institution and its white tablecloths and tuxedoed waiters harkens back to an earlier era. The seafood is loaded fresh off of boats every morning, and they stir up a mean Manhattan.

Another glorious thing to do—especially on a foggy summer day or chilly winter night is to bundle up and catch the cable car at the Powell Street station, near Union Square. Ride the cable car over Nob Hill, through Chinatown, Russian Hill all the way to the end of the line in Fisherman’s Wharf to the Buena Vista, an establishment that claims to have invented the Irish coffee. Order a round, or two and find yourself a seat near the panoramic window and warm yourself as you gaze dreamily out at the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Excelsior is a rather sleepy and drab neighborhood on the very outskirts of Downtown. In recent years, I’ve heard more and more people referring to Excelsior as the Outer Mission as prices are driving Missionites further and further out of the Central Mission District and into this area. Some things the neighborhood has going for it are more affordable rent prices (by San Francisco standards), cultural diversity, yummy inexpensive ethnic restaurants, McLaren Park and more sunshine than most other areas of the city. Some of the Excelsior’s negative aspects are it’s distance from the action of downtown, the bland 1950’s architecture, and the traffic along Mission Street that makes it especially hard to make left turns. On the flipside, it’s very fast and convenient to get on the 280 freeway and commute to the South Bay. In terms of public transportation, I find the busses to be very crowded and slow through this area.

Something important to consider is the Excelsior’s potential for growth. I believe that over the next decade, the Excelsior will probably experience a new wave of revitalization as more and more artists and working young people are priced out of the more fashionable and hip areas. It may be the next great neighborhood, if you can summon the patience.

Duboce is a quirky neighborhood with many convenient features. In the tip of the triangle are tucked away heavenly tree-lined streets like Henry, Belcher and 15th with well-kept Victorian flats and single-family homes. Noe Street begins in the Duboce Triangle. This lesser-known stretch of Noe is beloved by its residents and many have created little street gardens with public benches along the street’s ample sidewalks. There is also a lovely coffee house, a sushi restaurant and a very romantic and tiny French restaurant named L’ardoise.

Near Market Street the Duboce neighborhood becomes more funky and run-down but you can’t beat the location! It’s close to the Market Street transportation hub and MUNI K, L , M and J lines run directly through the neighborhood. The “wiggle” a well-known and well-used bike route runs directly through Duboce, right alongside charming Duboce Park or “Dog Park”. Over the last few years there has been a tug-of-war going on between the two camps of those who want parks for humans and those who want parks for dogs. The neighborhood seems to have struck a great compromise, and a well-designed low-hanging chain fence now delineates a dog section where dogs of all sizes and breeds frolic in the green grass and drink water out of their very own doggie drinking fountain. The upper section of the park is reserved for humans only, complete with a playground and the newly renovated Harvey Milk Community Center. Duboce Triangle is also home to Golden Produce—the BEST independent grocer in San Francisco.

Cow Hollow is a clean, quiet, well-manicured neighborhood. If you can afford the rent, Cow Hollow is an ideal place to live. Parking is plentiful, especially near the Presidio on Lyon. Public transportation is very good in this area and hardly anybody uses it so the busses are clean, quiet and run on time. Union Street is posh and elegant, yet lacks some of the pretension found in Pacific Heights or Russian Hill. The neighborhood is full of wonderful restaurants like the Rose Café and Liverpool Lil’s. There are several cozy neighborhood bars like Moana Loa, and I’ve never seen such a concentration of so many high-quality dry cleaners/laundry businesses! In Cow Hollow fresh breezes blow directly off the ocean through eucalyptus groves so the air is very refreshing. And at night, most of Cow Hollow is as peaceful as a small rural town—with the exception of stretches on Union Street when the bars let out.

From Cow Hollow you can embark on several wonderful walks or bike rides with ease. For a rigorous workout, many people march or run up and down the daunting Lyon Street steps, taking in a splendid view of the North side of the Bay. You are also a hop away from the Presidio, a National Monument and Historic Landmark that is brimming with foot trails and bike paths. On the edge of the Presidio filmmaker George Lucas has built the Lucasfilm Letterman Digital Arts Center that contains a beautiful native plants garden for the public to enjoy. This is the perfect place to lie in the grass and read a book. There is also a great walk though the Palace of Fine Arts and over to Crissy Field, a bayside bike path/footpath that can be followed all the way to Fort Point and the Golden Gate Bridge.

As its name suggests, Civic Center is more civically oriented than residential. The area is anchored by San Francisco’s beautiful City Hall and adorned with Davies Symphony Hall, The War Memorial Opera House, The Herbst Theatre, the Asian Art Museum and several monolithic city, state and federal buildings. Civic Center is a public transportation hub, with bus, streetcar, MUNI and BART lines extending out to the greater city and Bay Area. Civic Center is home to a great and affordable farmer’s market and every Wednesday and Sunday the United Nations Plaza is filled with produce vendors of all types. There is even a fish market and live chickens are often for sale.

One thing to watch out for in Civic Center is the wind that whips up in the late afternoon until after sunset—I think it has to do with the way Market Street creates a wind tunnel from Twin Peaks to the Bay. It can be very unpleasant to wander around in that gusty wind. Also, finding a taxi at night can be a real pain—especially when the opera or symphony pours crowds of people into the street. There are also very few decent restaurants or bars in the immediate area—excepting the delicious and healthy Ananda Fuara vegetarian restaurant. Your best bet is to wander a few streets over to Little Saigon on Larkin Street for delicious Vietnamese food—or over to posh Hayes Valley for a quality martini.

Wandering the small, colorful and crowded streets of Chinatown can make you feel like you’ve escaped far away to an exotic locale. Cantonese and Mandarin are overheard more often than English. Delicious smells waft out of tiny dim sum restaurants, stacks of beautiful produce bulge from street side stands, and an enormous array of shops sell everything from marble statues, to Chinese herbs, paper fans, woks, and furniture.

Chinatown enjoys a superb location—sandwiched between Nob Hill, Union Square, North Beach and the Financial District. During the day, Chinatown is an exciting place to shop, grab a bite to eat at one of the hundreds of restaurants, and browse curious and dusty shops. At night, Chinatown mostly shuts down by 9PM—except for a few restaurants and bars and the shops near Union Square. For the adventurous, it’s relatively safe to wander the dimly lit streets and admire the way giant red lanterns sway in the breeze under streetlights. On chilly nights, one can warm up at a few interesting dive bars—including Li Po and the Buddha Bar. For a more classy experience, take the elevator up to the Empress of China Restaurant’s bar with an exquisite view of the Bay Bridge and North Beach.

I have never lived in Chinatown, but over the last decade I’ve spent a lot of time exploring the neighborhood. A friend of mine who lived there complained that the neighborhood businesses start very early (like 4AM) and the street noise is very loud—with trucks unloading and people yelling out orders. Also, parking is really rough. I highly recommend taking public transportation or walking for any visit to Chinatown.

Bernal Heights is a wonderful village within the greater city. Protected from Bay breezes this area has tons of southwestern exposure and fewer foggy days. The streets are uber-quaint and everyone seems to have a garden, flowerbeds, and thoughtful paint jobs.

Bernal Heights’ main street, Courtland, is full of shops and frequented by hip and earnest San Francisco parents pushing baby strollers with dogs in tow. Parking is less of a challenge here than in other parts of the city. The area has many strong local businesses and an involved community. Along Courtland there is a great bookstore called Red Hill Books as well as a magical bar called Wild Side West with a sprawling backyard. A fabulous new wine bar, VinoRosso, has opened up. On Wednesdays they have a special “whine and wine” night—a baby friendly evening from 4-7PM where parents descend with kids to enjoy a rare night out at a wine bar free of reproach.

There is some public transportation in Bernal, especially along areas that border the Mission District, but it’s slightly less convenient to get around than other neighborhoods. The nearby Alemany Farmer’s Market is a gem and living in this neighborhood means you probably don’t have to brave the overstuffed and parking area for the market.

Sometimes Bernal Heights feels like it’s a world away from the rest of San Francisco—which can be both good and bad. In my experience friends from other parts of the city are less inclined to make the trek over to Bernal for a night out. But when they do spend time here, they depart with a twinge of envy for the neighborhood’s many charms.

Location, beauty and community make Alamo Square my favorite San Francisco neighborhood. Perched on the slopes above downtown, Alamo Square Park has a delightful view. On a clear day you can see all the way across the Bay to Mount Diablo. Alamo Square is a small yet dynamic park, and its steep paths offer a great workout. There is a tennis court, a playground and even a secret shoe garden tended by an elusive gardener. The east side of the park is visited daily by busloads of tourists who come to snap photos of the view and gaze at the “Painted Ladies”, a row of pretty Victorian era homes. The east side also boasts a sprawling lawn and flowerbeds. Many locals gather in the early evening hours or on weekend afternoons to picnic and sip wine. The west side of the park is less manicured than the tourist side, but it’s beautiful. There is a makeshift dog section where enthusiastic dog owners gather to hang out and watch their animals play. The west side also has a great view of Cole Valley, Sutro Tower and Saint Ignatius Church. On sunny afternoons, the west lawn is the perfect place to sunbathe and catch the sunset.

Alamo Square neighborhood is great for walking, busing, biking and driving—except that parking can be challenging, especially during rush hours and at night. “The Wiggle”, a popular bike route, runs along Scott Street before it turns left towards Golden Gate Park. From Alamo Square one can quickly walk to the up-and-coming “NoPa” neighborhood (North of Panhandle) along Divisidero Street—a hip mecca of cool artsy bars and restaurants, galleries and boutiques. The Lower Haight (LoHa) also borders the Alamo Square area to the south and is filled with fun restaurants and bars.

Weather in the Alamo Square area is pleasant with fresh ocean breezes blowing down the hill from Golden Gate Park. The neighborhood is located near the Mission fog break so sunshine tends to break through the fog sooner than in eastern parts of the city.

The Alamo Square community is strong, friendly and active. There is a neighborhood association that throws an enormous yard sale fundraising event each year. Also, the group has rallied to win grants in support of a neighborhood farmer’s market and improvements to the park. I lived on Scott Street for a very happy three years. I commuted to my job in the East Bay by bus to BART, or sometimes would walk down the hill (20 minutes) to catch BART at Civic Center.