MarisaC

Vistacion Valley is the Southeastern Part of San Francisco. It is located South of Portola and intersects John McLaren Park. Crocker Amazon Playground is also on the outskirts of the neighborhood. People who live in this area have significantly lower incomes than the rest of San Francisco. The average is approximately $38,000 per year, which is about half of the typical San Francisco resident. There has been a major influx of Chinese families of this area.

The good news is that you can find far cheaper places to rent in Vistacion Valley. Unfortunately, this isn’t a very safe neighborhood. This area includes Sunnydale Projects on Sunnydale Avenue, which can be a very dangerous area. There is redevelopment currently going on in this neighborhood, so maybe things will turn around. However, at the moment, when you hear of murders in San Francisco, they are often taking place in Vistacion Valley.

The renovation of various rundown buildings continues. So I would definitely say that there is hope!

One major plus for this part of town is John McLaren Park. This is a pretty popular park which is considered to be safe despite the fact that it is close to some crime-ridden areas. I wouldn't walk around alone at night in this park or anything, but it is a pretty park that is well-worth a visit. It has a duck pond and Jerry Garcia Amphitheater.

The Presidio is one awesome neighborhood on the northernmost point of San Francisco. This gigantic area includes the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Point National Historic Site, Mountain Lake and even Crissy Field, which is an environmental education center. Of course, this area is extremely scenic as you have views of the ocean and the Golden Gate bridge.

Recently, Geoge Lucas and David Letterman developed parts of The Presidio. Lucas moved his former headquarters in San Rafael to the Presidio. Also a few years ago the artist Andy Goldsworthy built a sculpture called Spire inside the Presidio. I haven’t seen this 100 foot tall sculpture yet in person, but it looks pretty awesome in photos. (I am a total Goldsworthy fan!)

There aren’t a lot of people who actually live in the Presidio. Though there are plenty of surrounding residential areas, shops and restaurants. For example, California Street a few blocks south of the Presidio has some nice restaurants. Lombard Street to the West has a lot of entertainment, shopping and dining options. Incidentally, I went to Kara’s Cupcakes, and I found it quite delicious. All the cupcakes are organic and sustainable. You won’t be disappointed.

Who wouldn’t like Sea Cliff? This is a gorgeous neighborhood. Sea Cliff is in an absolutely beautiful spot between Lincoln Park and The Presidio of San Francisco. In fact, it is even home to many celebrities and impressive mansions. You will find a lot of fog and mist in Sea Cliff, but it gives the area a romantic dreamy feel.

In this neighborhood, you are slightly north of Central Richmond. This means that there are plenty of dining and shopping options. Some of San Francisco’s best Asian food is in the Richmond area.

If you live in Sea Cliff, you really can’t beat the beauty of being right near the Presidio. This park has a famous golf course and ample hiking. The Lands End Trail is particularly popular. It is known for having some of the most spectacular views in all of San Francisco. If you want some pristine hiking, don't miss the Lands End Trail. Of course, there is additionally the great beach access that you get in Sea Cliff.

If you are in San Francisco, it only makes sense to take a look at Sea Cliff. Even if you can’t afford to live here, you can always dream!

Russian Hill is in North San Francisco, just Southeast of Fort Mason. This is a fantastic neighborhood in a great locale. First of all you are bordering San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, which is an interesting place with lots of well-crafted historic vessels and great views. The Russian Hill area also includes Russian Hill Park and George Sterling Memorial Park. If you happen to be an artist, the San Francisco Art Institute is also located in Russian Hill.

There are also some very good restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques in this part of town. Simply stated, Russian Hill is classy, relaxing and has a lot of flair. I seriously wish I could afford living in this neighborhood. Yes, you will indeed need some serious money to live in Russian Hill. This fact probably won’t surprise most people. After all, you are indeed neighboring pricey Nob Hill.

Incidentally, Russian Hill really has very little to do with actual Russians, so you won’t find an enclave of Russian restaurants and grocery stores. The name comes from the fact that a cemetery with Russian people that was found hundreds of years ago.

There are some really cool looking homes in this area. You will also find apartments to rent. It is worth visiting Russian Hill just to see Lombard Street, which is the “crookedest street in the world.”

Parkside Panhandle is located directly east of the San Francisco Zoo. That means that you are close to the water and to Lake Merced. You are also south of Sigmund Stern recreation area, which is 33 acres and very much stands on its own. During the summer, you can find free performances and concerts at Sigmund Stern. Needless to say, Parkside Panhandle is a prime location close to lots of fun things to do.

Many families with kids live in this neighborhood, not just because of its proximity to the zoo, but also because of the convenience of this part of town. However, be forewarned that this neighborhood is pricey. There are a lot of big houses, and you have to "pay to play." However, with that said, I have seen apartments for rent in Parkside Panhandle at fairly decent prices, so all hope may not be lost!

There are a ton of restaurants in this part of town. If you head just a bit North to Taraval street, you have a wide variety of different types of stores too. There is also Parkside Farmer’s Market, which is a very nice addition to this neighborhood. It’s not an actual farmer’s market, but instead a produce/grocery store with a Middle Eastern flair.

Ocean Beach is a fun beach front location which is full of interesting shops and restaurants. It is right on the West coast of San Francisco, directly south of Golden Gate Park. In fact, Ocean Beach even borders Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This part of town is an ideal place to take a beautiful walk or run.

You see a lot of bonfires, and the beach has a relaxed vibe. Much of the year, however, the beach is full of fog so don't expect to experience too many sunny warm California days here. Apparently, September and October are the sunniest months so you may want to take that into account.

Although the water can be quite freezing, you see a great deal of surfers. Honestly, I don’t know how they handle the cold water, but they do. However, some surfers have died at Ocean Beach. When you see the strong currents in person, you will definitely understand how this happened.

One place that I would like to dine at is Sutro’s. It’s in the Cliff House, which sits on a cliff overlooking the pacific. It just looks so gorgeous and elegant. I know this isn't really my crowd, but this place looks like the kind of restaurant that you want to experience at least once if nothing more that for just the amazing views.

Mission Dolores is a very popular neighborhood. While you may be able to find relatively inexpensive places to rent here, it tends to be very pricey. The location is top notch. You are right next to the Castro and this means all kinds of options for eating and shopping.

Also this neighborhood has lively Mission Dolores Park. This is a very fun place where you see a lot of people playing sports and also doing all kinds of wacky things on a nice day. The park hosts various parades, dances and festivals. It also has a bunch of soccer fields and tennis courts.

There actually is a building called "Mission Dolores," which is apparently the oldest building in all of San Francisco. It is from 1776! The church really is beautiful inside. You get a very vivid sense of history.

Also you will find some great restaurants in Mission Dolores. A new vegan Mexican restaurant that is taking the world by storm is Gracias Madre. Organic vegan Mexican food is something that truly must be experienced. The tamales, for example, are full of butternut squash and green chiles.

Mission Bay is another industrial area in San Francisco that is currently being improved. Much of this area actually used to be a railroad.

You are also near AT&T Park. I suppose this could be a major plus or a major negative depending on your view of sports. For me, the proximity to AT&T park is a major inconvenience and drawback. I mean on certain nights the parking is just going to be a nightmare!

As I mentioned, a great deal of construction is planned for Mission Bay. Much of this has already been completed. For example, the Beacon is a large condo complex in this district. There is also Arterra, which are LEED certified condos. There was also, of course, the addition of the Mission Bay Branch library in 2006. This is a big library that also has a multiuse center attached to it.

This area may currently be a good property investment. I mean it seems like things just keep getting added and added everyday. Also there is no denying this is a convenient location and you are right on the water. However, in my opinion, there is just a depressing and unnatural vibe in Mission Bay.

Miraloma Park is another nice San Francisco neighborhood that I recommend for various reasons. First of all, this is a pretty location right in the center of San Francisco. This means that you can get to different areas of town fairly easily. I love Twin Peaks and you are only a short ride away.
A writer for the San Francisco Chronicle was quoted in 2001 as saying, “Hard to believe, but true, that the best view in San Francisco is from the top of the kiddie slide at Miraloma Park.

Also this neighborhood makes it pretty easy to get to The Castro. Overall, it seems like you can get a home for a decent price in Miraloma Park.

You also feel a bit as though you are in the suburbs in Miraloma Park. Even though you are close to Twin Peaks, you won’t see too many tourists. Plus, the crime rate is pretty low.

Miraloma Park boasts some parks of its own including Mt Davidson Park. This is one of those parks where you can hike and escape from city life.

Miraloma Park also has a popular store called Tower Market, which is now named Mollie Stone’s. This grocery store is a bit overpriced, but everything is delicious and gorgeous.

I love this neighborhood! You are right on the water, directly east of the Presidio. This part of town is really lovely and you get the true San Francisco experience. The Marina district is home to a lot of yuppies; you will see lots of sun worshipers and joggers along the bay. There is a very popular pedestrian path in this neighborhood that you can use for walking or running. Plus, you will get fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge from The Marina, which is always a plus.

I went to the Exploratorium even though it’s a kiddie museum. Seriously, this is one of the best children’s museums in the world. There are more than 700 exhibits. I recommend a trip to the Exploratorium to children and adults alike.

Also this neighborhood is home to the Palace of Fine Arts. This cool historic building is truly picturesque due to the Greek and Roman architecture. You see a lot of couples get married at this spot. In fact, when you see The Palace of Fine Arts in person, you will think it looks oddly familiar. That is because you see this backdrop used in many films. Also Chestnut Street is in The Marina and offers a lot of great little stores.

Lone Mountain is in a great hilly location. It is located between Golden Gate Park and the Presidio of San Francisco. This means you have great access to parks. You are also right on top of the Lone Mountain Campus of the University of San Francisco. If you are a student or faculty, you would find this part of town perfectly convenient. This part of town used to be home to a few cemeteries including the Masonic Cemetery, and the Greek Orthodox Cemetery, so leave your fear of ghosts at the door!

Another great feature of this neighborhood is the Lone Mountain Children’s Center. This is a school that has a unique, focus for kids and seeks to integrate some nontraditional learning approaches. For example, kids are taught a special form of sign language. This district also includes Rossi Playground. Rossi really is a great playground that is in excellent shape. The park has a pool, tennis as well as pretty nice playground equipment.

According to City Data, the average income for Lone Mountain is about average for San Francisco residents.

Lincoln Park is definitely one of the nicest neighborhoods in all of San Francisco. It is located North of Golden Gate Park on the water on the San Francisco Peninsula. This part of town includes the Palace of the Legion of Honor, which is a beautiful fine arts museum that sits on top of the hill. Even if you don’t have a chance to check out the art inside the museum, it is worth seeing the impressive exterior.

There is also a big golf course fittingly enough called the Lincoln Park Golf Course. All the way back in 1917 this became an 18-hole golf course. It’s nice that this course isn’t completely exclusive. It is open to the public, but you just need to pay $170 a year as membership dues. However, they say that they don’t exclude anyone as long as they can pay the fee. Golfers can see amazing views all around San Francisco, including the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown, and Twin Peaks. Even coyotes have been seen on this golf course!

As far as entertainment, there isn’t too much in this area aside from the major attractions. You will need to travel to one of the surrounding areas for food and shopping.

The Laurel Village Shopping Center is at the center of Laurel Heights. This ritzy shopping area also is for residents of nearby Presidio Heights. This neighborhood is North of Anza Vista and South of the Presidio of San Francisco. Since you are nearby both the Presidio as well as Golden Gate Park, this is a great location for exposure to outdoor recreational possibilities.

In this modest neighborhood also lurks one of San Francisco’s best restaurants called Spruce, which is located on Sacramento Street right near Presidio Heights. You may find this place snooty, but critics and residents alike love this place. It has been written up in Food and Wine Magazine as well as Travel and Leisure Magazine.

Laurel Heights is home to various nice expensive homes. It also has a large percentage of Jewish residents. This part of town hosts the Jewish Community Center. Even if you aren’t Jewish, you can use the JCC’s amazing gym facilities. You also have the benefit of University of San Francisco’s medical offices, which are located right in Laurel Heights too.

The Lakeside neighborhood is located directly east of San Francisco State University. If you happen to be going to this school, the location can’t be beat. I imagine a lot of faculty members and their children live in Lakeside.

This part of town is bordered on the East by Junipero Serra Blvd and stretches north all the way to Sloat Blvd. Incidentally, Lakeside is also home to Lakeside Presbyterian Center for Children, which has been called the city’s best preschool. However, don’t move to Lakeside just to get your kids into this school. As with most “fancy” preschools these days, there is a significant waiting list. Personally, I am not into the snobby preschool scene, but to each his or her own.

Another advantage to Lakeside is that you will find a ton of shopping at Stonestown Galleria, which is essentially a large mall next to San Francisco State University. The mall has all the traditional offerings including a Nordstroms, Borders Bookstore, and movie theatre. If you are more into traditional mall stores like Gap, Banana Republic and Macy’s, you will appreciate the location of Lakeside being so close by to all this retail.

Inner Sunset offers one of the best San Francisco locations. You are bordering Golden Gate Park. In fact, this neighborhood is directly south of the Botanical Gardens. For access to a world-class park, you can’t do too much to beat this part of San Francisco.

Apparently, many locals call Inner Sunset their favorite neighborhood in the whole city! As a result, living costs are very high. If you are looking for a home to buy, you may not even be able to find one in Inner Sunset. This part of town has great restaurants, and a diverse population. You see all types of people living in Inner Sunset, so you won’t just feel as though you are surrounded by yuppies. All different types of people bought houses in this neighborhood when it was less expensive. It’s so cool that you see small businesses and mom and pop stores, and you aren’t completely surrounded by large corporate chains.

One of the most popular restaurants in Inner Sunset is San Tung Chinese Restaurant. My friends have told me that I have to eat there, though I haven’t tried it yet. For some reasons, people rave and rave about their chicken wings. I don’t eat meat, but there seem to be good offerings for vegetarians as well.

Inner Parkside is not very leafy in and of itself, so you definitely don’t feel as though you are in a park. However, it is very close to Pine Lake Park and also directly south of Golden Gate Park. The location is also close to some libraries including West Portal Branch and McCoppin Square.

According to City Data, the average income of residents in Inner Parkside is $100,000. This is higher than the average income in San Francisco, which is $73,000. All in all, this is a fine neighborhood. The streets are very well maintained, and the houses are cute. You also get the feeling this neighborhood is very safe.

Another major advantage to Inner Parkside is the Grove Free concert series in Stern Grove Park. If you live in Inner Parkside, you can just walk over to enjoy this amazing free concert series that features the symphony, ballet as well as popular pop artists. If you go slightly west on Taraval Street, there are a good amount of restaurants offering Chinese, Thai and Koren food.

While houses and rentals in Inner Parkside may be fairly pricey, I would say that you will get a very good bang for your investment dollar. After all, you are so close to Golden Gate Park- one of the best parks in the world. How can you lose?

Hunter’s Point is one of the least safe neighborhoods in San Francisco. This part of town is located right on the waterfront. But you really feel as though you are on the outskirts of town here. As Hunter’s Point is a shipyard, you will see lots of ships and warehouses.

You will often hear people call this neighborhood “The Port.” Unfortunately, this part of town is known for having toxic waste in its landfill. Depressing as it is, this factor has made this a bit of a “down and out” spot that is also known for crime and gang related activities. Plus, there is very little in the way of entertainment or dining.

You are geographically close to the City of San Francisco’s Evans Campus. You also aren’t too far from San Francisco General Hospital, so I can definitely give this neighborhood decent scores for hospitals and education rankings.

However, all hope is not lost. Many residents are focusing on making this neighborhood a better and safer place to live. As a result, there are development projects going on. The Southern part of Hunter’s Point consists of Candlestick Point Recreational Area and Candlestick Park Stadium. It looks like some new redevelopment on Candlestick Park is taking place right now.

Duboce Triangle is another San Francisco neighborhood with great Victorian homes. The actual neighborhood itself is shaped like a triangle if you see it on a map, hence, the name. You are directly south of Alamo Square and North of the Castro. Duboce Triangle is bordered by Castro Street to the West, and Duboce Ave to the North. Market Street forms the diagonal line on the triangle.

The neighborhood has a lot of great entertainment options, yet it also remains pretty quiet. Duboce Triangle is a great neighborhood for dog lovers and dog owners. The Victorian homes are really pretty, and there seems to be a good amount of park space. In fact, you will see plenty of happy dogs running around these parks.

If you live in this part of town, you will find yourself going to the Castro a great deal for your entertainment and dining. You are also a pretty close walk to Buena Vista Park. For some reason, this neck of the woods is considered to be one of the sunniest areas of San Francisco. So in Duboce Triangle, you will be certain to get all your Vitamin D!

Cow Hollow is near Pacific Heights and the Marina. The area is home to many yuppies. If you feel you are “young,” “urban and “professional,” you will feel at home. In other words, this is a pricey neighborhood, and it is going to cost money to buy or rent. However, if you have the dough, Cow Hollow has a lot to offer.

Of course, Cow Hollow includes Union Street, which has a wide variety of great stores and spots for libations. There are also some amazing restaurants slightly North near Lombard Street. For example, I went to the Plant Café Organic, which is right between Marina and Cow Hollow. There are some great creative vegan dishes. The veggie burger, in particular, is highly recommended. The Plant Café has some great vegan dessert offerings too.

So what puts the “cow’ in Cow Hollow? In the 1800’s, this part of town was full of cows for dairy. There were over 30 cow farms! Also the vegetable gardens in Cow Hollow used to provide a lot of the fresh produce for the city. Seeing Cow Hollow now, it is hard to imagine those days of the past. As a vegan, I have to admit I feel a little guilty wandering around this part of town!

As some of the other reviewers here have mentioned, The Civic Center doesn’t really have a lot of residential options. It is mainly a center for arts and culture. This part of town is west and slightly south of downtown. That means you are close to Alamo Square as well as Nob Hill.

Not surprisingly, Civic Center Plaza is located in The Civic Center. If you have never seen San Francisco’s City Hall, it is worth a look, as it this is a very impressive building with classic style architecture. Many a protest and rally has been held in this location over the years. Also you have United Nations Plaza, which is a prominent feature of the city. Interestingly, this neighborhood had a former City Hall, which was destroyed in the big fire/earthquake of 1906.

I would say that there has to be a significant amount of crime in The Civic Center, strictly because it is so closely located to the Tenderloin. You will definitely see a lot of homeless people and folks asking for money.

As a resident of San Francisco, you will probably not even visit this area unless you happen to be going to a protest or a parade. For example, the Gay Pride Parade, St Patrick’s Day Parade and Love Parade take place in The Civic Center.

You are right next to the waterfront in Central Waterfront, but at the same time, it’s not exactly a great neighborhood. This is still an industrial neighborhood, but on the plus side Central Waterfront is where Burning Man is located. It may be an interesting spot to consider if you are an artist looking for a loft space. Right now it seems as though this neighborhood is having somewhat of a revival.

Central Waterfront hosts the part of the city called Dogpatch. This is about 9 square blocks with architecturally interesting buildings that were initially built by and for workers in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Because the fire didn’t impact the neighborhood in 1906, you will find architecture older that that which you will find in most of San Francisco. In fact, the workers who lived in these little houses built many of them by hand. You will also find other old buildings in Central Waterfront like the oldest public school building Irving M. Scott school and old firehouses.

I can’t promise anything, but buying in this district could be a great investment. After all, you are on the water, and you really are conveniently located to downtown San Francisco and the financial district. However, if you do move to this neighborhood, just prepare to drive out of Central Waterfront to get to entertainment and recreational activities.

The Central Sunset District is in an interesting location. It is directly south of Golden Gate Park, North of Lake Merced and directly east of the ocean. Central Sunset is to the east of Outer Sunset, which is located closer to Ocean Beach. All this means that you are a short walk to Golden Gate Park, which is a definite plus. Also you are close to golf courses and the Zoo. So for access to recreation, Central Sunset gets two thumbs up.

This neighborhood was developed along with Golden Gate Park in the late 1800’s. It was built in a grid pattern, which gives it a different look and feel from much of San Francisco. Since you are by the ocean, it can get pretty foggy in Central Sunset. Also this neighborhood seems very safe, and that is a major plus in my book. You definitely feel a bit more like you are in the suburbs rather than a city.

A good part of Central Sunset’s population is Asian. In fact, most of these residents are Chinese. You will find lots of Asian stores and places to eat. In fact, some people call this area a mini-Chinatown. Other than the neighboring recreational activities, there isn’t too much to do in Central Sunset. You are a bit removed from some of the fun and entertainment that the city offers.

Buena Vista is quite the conveniently located neighborhood. You are really close to Golden Gate Park, and you could also walk to the Castro or Twin Peaks. Of course, your leg muscles will benefit too from this kind of walking. Buena Vista is one of those neighborhoods that definitely gives San Francisco its reputation for winding streets and steep hills. You will also get some of the wind and fog from Twin Peaks, which gives this neighborhood a pleasant, dreamy feeling.

Buena Vista, of course, also offers Buena Vista Park. This park also borders Haight-Asbury. One interesting historic fact is that this is the oldest park in San Francisco and it dates back to 1867! There are amazing old trees in this park and you really get the feeling that you have left the city. This park is a great place to take a slow relaxing walk or have a picnic.

The homes in Buena Vista are really nice and big. I haven’t checked prices, but I would imagine this neighborhood is very expensive. However, this neighborhood seems as though it could really only go up in value. There are gorgeous streets, and it really does seem to be a safe location.

Balboa Terrace is a very nice neighborhood, but it also looks to be very expensive. There are a lot of very cool homes with a very romantic feeling. These homes were built in the 20’s with lots of attention placed on creative, classy home appearance. There is a thread of Spanish design that runs through the architecture. But if you are buying a home in Balboa Terrace, be prepared to spend.

According to City Data in 2008, the average income is $164,000. This is more than double of the average person’s income in San Francisco, which is roughly $73,000. These statistics mean that your neighbors in this part of town will typically be making a very good income.

The streets are very clean and people seem friendly in Balboa Terrace. You will find nicely manicured gardens and hedges. For the amount of tranquility that you get in this neighborhood, you also get a lot of convenience that comes with the big city. You are close by the City College of San Francisco and also San Francisco State University. You also are close to golfing on the coast. And if you live in Balboa Terrace, chances are fairly high that you like golfing.

Anza Vista may be haunted, but it’s got a great view of downtown. Seriously though, I have no proof this neighborhood is haunted, but it was built on the San Francisco Calvalry Cemetery. All the graves were moved in the 30’s. So if you decide to live in Anza Vista, don’t be surprised to see floating chairs in your house. I don’t know if I believe in ghosts, but even so, I am not sure I would be completely comfortable. I am just sayin'...

One thing to note is that Anza Vista can be rather full of traffic, no matter what time of day you travel through it. Plus, you may feel as though you have a rather long commute to work given the traffic and all. On the positive side though, you are pretty close to the University of San Fransisco.

If you are looking to rent and you don't have a lot to spend, there are lots of apartments for rent at a fairly reasonable rate. Unfortunately, these apartments tend to be housed in ugly buildings. Since Anza Vista was built up in the 30’s, some parts of this neighborhood offer a bit of a historic flair. On the plus side, Anza Vista is nearby Alamo square, which as we all know is a nice neighborhood with a great park.

Outer Sunset is on the West Side of San Francisco, just south of Golden Gate Park. This is the part of town that seems to get all the SF fog. If you are looking for bright sunshine, you are far less likely to find it in Outer Sunset. But you will find a lot of surfers looking to catch that perfect wave.

There are a variety of attractions in Outer Sunset. They include the Zoo and a variety of golf courses. So if nothing else, Outer Sunset is cool in that it shares its territories with giraffes, emus, llamas, etc.

The bottom line is that there is definitely a lot to do in this area and amenities are convenient. Incidentally, there is a very large Asian population. In fact, I heard that between Inner and Outer Sunset, about 50% of residents were Asian.

The commerce part of Outer Sunset has typical amenities you might find in any city. For example, there is the Stonestown Galleria. This is a standard mall (one much like you might find in any city) that has Border’s, Macy’s etc. There are a lot of stores however as well as a big movie theatre. I did note that there seems to be a lot of traffic on Sunset, especially on the retail area of Irving Street.

I really like the location of Potrero Hill. You are really close to the Central Waterfront area and conveniently located to the water. This is a good place for families or young couples.

Regardless of the location, you get a feeling for being separate from the city in Potrero Hill. This gives it a relaxing feeling and you area away from the “hustle and bustle” of city life. The streets are clean and the neighborhood feels safe enough. Plus, Potreto Hill’s home prices seem to be on the lower end. As a result, this is a neighborhood that home buyers on a budget should take a look at.

18th Avenue is the main shopping area in Potreto Hill. There is also the Anchor Brewing Company where you can take a tour and sample some beers. Potreto Hill seems to have some decent nightlife too. There is the Bottom of the Hill, which showcases some relatively well known bands.

One negative about this neighborhood is you will see murals of OJ Simpson. He grew up in Potreto Hill. If you are still tired of seeing or thinking about OJ, you wil find this annoying!

Noe Valley is an interesting blend of different types of people. However, prepare to see a lot of families and many strollers on the sidewalk.

The area has a great deal of nice restaurants, and cute boutiques. Apparently, due to the recession, prices in Noe Valley have dropped somewhat and some of the boutiques have gone out of business. There has also been a wave of crime and graffiti. However, still this is a nice area where you can do a lot of shopping for pretty things that you don't really need.

As far as the real estate goes, there are lots of pretty Victorian era homes. This is a great neighborhood for families. There are also a lot of row houses which were built for when this was a working class neighborhood. At this point, however, Noe Valley is pretty heavily gentrified.

One interesting place to check out is Lovejoy’s Tea Room. Lovejoy is really like nowhere I have been before in America. You actually get a nice UK experience with biscuits, tiny sandwiches, and plenty of tea. It’s a perfect place to checkout with female friends or perhaps your mom. Bars in Noe Valley include the Bliss Bar and The Dubliner. Another place that everyone loves is Firefly. This is a fairly fancy, sophisticated restaurant with cute ambiance.

Nob Hill is a famous San Francisco neighborhood. There are quite a few landmarks that you will want to see if you are just visiting San Francisco and want to get a taste. Nob Hill also is home to some fancy hotels in Huntington Park. If you want to stay at a “snooty” hotel, Nob Hill is the place to go!

In fact, Huntington Park is the center of Nob Hill. It offers the Fountain of the Tortoises, which resembles the famous fountain in Rome.

Mostly, this is a rich person’s area. There are lots of wealthy families and yuppies.

Nob Hill also has some quintessential San Francisco attractions like the Cable Car Museum. Plus, you are not too far from the waterfront and Fisherman’s Wharf.

However, on the down side, Nob Hill is next to the Tenderloin neighborhood. This means that you will start to see some dive bars and crime protruding into the area. Also Chinatown juts into Nob Hill as well. It is difficult to see where Nob Hill ends and Chinatown begins. But who cares really? This is an interesting neighborhood and a good place to get a feel for San Francisco life.

Hayes Valley is where lots of the cool trendy people live. And in keeping with that fact, you can find hip places to go.

This is a great place to go shopping for innovative items. There are art stores, craft stores and even stores selling interesting clothing by independent designers. I also liked how they have the Absinthe Brasserie. Absinthe, of course, was once outlawed. But today people drink this green liquid freely at places like this one. It looks like many of the restaurants and bars have very good atmosphere.

I did stop at the Mercury Café. This is a nice little coffee shop with decent food. They have excellent organic coffee. I also ate at Sushi Zone which is located on Market Street. It’s a popular spot with absolutely fantastic sushi! I am glad we got there early; because there were lots of people lined up waiting by the time we left.

I definitely recommend Hayes Valley as a place for singles and young couples to live. It is clearly an up and coming neighborhood. Apparently, before the onslaught of cute trendy stores and galleries, there was a plethora of crack dens and hookers. I am glad I missed those days!

Excelsior is home to the Excelsior Festival. This annual event celebrates cultural diversity. This neighborhood is indeed quite diverse, with a large population of Latinos and Asians. The Excelsior Festival brings in about 5000 people each year and has free music and entertainment. They even have an “Excelsior’s Got Talent” competition. I am sure that is pretty cute to watch.

There is also Jerry Day, which celebrates Jerry Garcia who was a former Excelsior resident. This event brings out a lot of deadheads to the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, which is also in this neighborhood. You can learn more about this event at jerryday.org.

Excelsior isn’t terribly close to downtown or the waterfront. However, it is near San Bruno National Park, which is a definite plus.

A good thing, of course, about all the cultural diversity in Excelsior is that it means lots of places to eat. There seem to be a lot of Asian and Mexican restaurants.

Excelsior doesn’t seem to have much in the way of cool stores or trendy restaurants at this stage in its development. However, this seems to be a great place for families and I don’t think it would “break the bank” quite as much as many other San Francisco neighborhoods.

Diamond Heights is roughly in the center of San Francisco. It is near Glen Canyon Park though, and as I explained in my review of Glen Park, this is one of my favorite spots in the city. So right off the bat, I can tell you that Diamond Heights is alright in my book.

The neighborhood is built into hills and the streets are very curvy. Some of the homes have very interesting modern architecture. I would say that this is one of the newer areas in San Francisco, so you see more houses that were built in the 60’s and 70’s.

Diamond Heights also has Diamond Heights Shopping Center, which actually isn’t too exciting. It has your boring stores like Walgreens and the bank. You aren't going to find a lot of intriguing shops in Diamond Heights, but at least they aren't too far away.

There is also the Walter Haas Park. This park has a nice playground, picnic tables and excellent city views. Walter Haas also contains a dog park.

This is a convenient and cute area that I think would be perfect for families. You are not going to find tons of hotspots or nightlife in Diamond Heights, but it is a good place to relax and unwind.

Bernal Heights is another part of San Francisco that I would call a "sleeper area." It is at the top of the Mission Valley and has a very quant little village with a bohemian vibe. You can find various little stores and restaurants along Cortland.

The homes are really pretty in Bernal Heights. You can find more historic bungalows and also gorgeous little gardens. From what I have heard, home prices in Bernal heights are pretty reasonable for San Francisco. This may be a place to check out (and cross your fingers) if you are looking to buy. Keep in mind, however, that this region doesn’t have superb public transit. You will need a car.

My friend who lives in SF, told me that The Blue Plate is a really popular (and tasty) restaurant to check out. It’s a romantic, but expensive, spot. If you are in Bernal and looking for dinner, that would be a good place to check out.

Bernal Park is a big-time dog park. Owners can unleash their dogs and let them run free. There is also a nice Farmer’s Market that takes place on Saturday. This is one of the oldest farmer’s markets in the country!

Glen Park is a relatively small neighborhood in San Francisco with a great deal to offer. This area has a lot of little privately owned stores and restaurants. You won’t see as many of the big chains and I, for one, appreciate this fact. "Quaint" is a great adjective to describe Glen Park.

Another good thing about this neighborhood is that is close to Glen Canyon Park. I went for a hike in this area and it was very convenient and pretty. There are people exercising and walking their dogs, but not overwhelming amounts of people. The best thing about Glen Canyon Park is that you really start to feel immersed in nature. You can see a little stream even running through the canyon. I love the fact that this neighborhood has such a great hiking locale and is close to the BART at the same time.

If you are looking for good restaurants, you can find them in Glen Park. I ate at La Ciccia, which was a really nice Italian place. To specify, its actually a “Sardinian” restaurant. Sardinia is an island, so this restaurant serves more like food that you would see on the Mediterranean diet, like seafood, olive oil and fresh vegetables. Delicious!

Fort Mason hosts a wide variety of events. In fact, you can rent out their center easily for parties, weddings etc. This is a pretty spectacular location for an event of any kind.

There is also the Fort Mason Campus, which hosts nonprofit organizations that mostly deal with arts and culture. This is where California Lawyers for the Arts is located.

Another interesting thing about Fort Mason is that this is where the Greens Restaurant is located. I haven’t eaten at Greens, but I hear that it is a very good vegetarian restaurant. Chef Annie Somerville wrote the cookbook “Field of Greens,” which I do use and like very much. I hope to eat at Greens one day soon.

This area of town is situated on the water, west of Fisherman’s Wharf. Fort Mason is also part of the Golden Gate Recreational Area and that means that it is a National Historic Landmark District too. You definitely can get some nice views in this part of town. There are also some interesting historic buildings to check out. I think it is really excellent that this historic region is so open to hosting the arts. For example, there is also the Artists Gallery at Fort Mason. You can easily visit this building and see the work by various local artists.

Haight-Ashbury (or "Hashbury" as Hunter S. Thompson called it) is one of my favorite San Francisco neighborhoods. But I am just that type of yoga-loving, vegetarian organic food loving chick.

If your tastes run differently, you may find Haight-Ashbury to be grating. As for me, I couldn’t be much happier with the peaceful hippy vibe in this neighborhood. Sure, it gets a bit much at times. But you have to appreciate the history. I just like walking around knowing that I am on the same exact path as the Grateful Dead and Janice Joplin.

On the down side, prices in this neighborhood are high. Yes, this does seem a bit hypocritical that a neighborhood so “earthy” has such unrealistic pricing. But what can you do? This is a beautiful, conveniently located neighborhood in San Francisco. Of course, the prices are high.

One great thing about Haight-Ashbury is the restaurants. Some of my favorites include Squat and Gobble Café, Panini, Cha Cha Cha and Siam Lotus Thai.

Also you can get a lot of fun shopping done in this neighborhood. Just be prepared that you will be walking through a lot of pot smoke.

Westwood Park is a affluent neighborhood. It was created in the early 20th century, and, as a result, you will see a lot of bungalow houses. I really like this style of home. There is no doubt that the bungalows are very quaint.

This neighborhood is adjacent to the City College of San Francisco. Obviously, if you are going to school there, this is a great place to live (if you can afford it.) This isn’t a particularly large neighborhood. According to City Data, less than 2000 people live here. Keep in mind, this isn't like a typical "college" environment. You won't see a lot of hip coffeeshops and funky stores. Westwood Park is really more subdued.

There isn’t too much to do in Westwood Park aside from the school. But the school does mean that you are walking distance from the BART, you have bookstores and ample parking. You can even take advantage of the school’s night classes, which cover a wide variety of topics.

If you are looking for tranquil residential neighborhoods in San Francisco, West Portal is a great area to check out.

Everyone always points out how cool it is that the homes in West Portal have yards. This fact is very true. You definitely feel as though you wish you had a friend in this neighborhood who would invite you over to hang out in their yard for a barbeque or something. I think a lot of people who live in San Francisco haven’t even seen this neighborhood, but it is indeed very cute.

West Portal Avenue has a great deal of shopping. There are some small boutiques, coffee shops, nice restaurants and a library. The CineArts at the Empire movie theatre has a nice old fashioned feel to it. It’s a relaxing place to see a film and you can avoid being in a huge Cineplex. Its probably worth coming to this neighborhood just to check out The CineArts.

A cute wine bar I visited was Que Syrah. It’s a laid back place where you can get a glass of wine in a peaceful setting. As for restaurants, I noticed a nice assortment including Japanese food, Indian food, pizza etc. Of course, there is also the obligatory Starbucks on West Portal.

Ah! The Embarcadero! I wish I lived in this neighborhood. You have waterfront views and tons of fresh air. Its also a very convenient location as you are really close to Fisherman’s Wharf. Maybe back in the 80’s this wasn’t a great neighborhood, but not it is very spiffy and there has been a lot of renovation over the years.

The Waterfront Embarcadero area is a fun part of the city to visit. There is Pier 14, which is a large stretch of sidewalk, as well as Pier 7, which has great views of the city. Of course, there is also the Embarcadero Center which seems to have a lot of traditional mall shops like the Gap and Nine West. The Embarcadero Center is really nothing too special, but if you need those stores, you have 'em handy.

This neighborhood also offers a huge farmer’s market on the weekend. It is a very nice high-end market with all kinds of delicious food and cooking demonstrations.

In Rincon Park, there is the cool 60 ft tall Cupid’s Span sculpture made out of fiberglass. I happen to love Claes Oldenburg's work and I was really impressed when I first saw this sculpture. A bit of history- Cupid's Span is supposed to symbolize where Tony Bennett "left his heart in San Francisco."

A lot of people come to the Embaradero for New Years Eve. I have always thought that would be a fun place to check out the fireworks, but I have never wanted to deal with the traffic.

I know that all out-of-towners instantly think of the tv show when they hear the words “Twin Peaks.” However, this neighborhood is really unique for a few different ways. First of all, Twin Peaks is the geographical center of the city and also one of the city’s highest points. And you know what that means- superb views!

So where does the name "Twin Peaks" come from? There actually are two peaks that are fairly identical. You can climb up one of the peaks and drive up the other.

When you come to the city, you have to stop in this neighborhood if nothing else for the views. By the way, people told me to be prepared for wind. I wasn’t totally prepared... and my hat flew right off my head. So just keep in mind that it really is quite windy at the top of Twin Peaks.

Another great place to go is Kite Hill park. This little park is pretty unknown also has some amazing views.

I don’t think that there are many hotspots in Twin Peaks. I did check out Chan Chan Café Cubano just to get a drink. It was expensive, but I have a feeling that they would have very authentic Cuban food.

Tenderloin is considered one of the least safe neighborhoods in San Francisco. On the good side, I can say that this neighborhood is conveniently located downtown near Nob Hill. I can also say that the rent is cheap. But in this case, I would say its a classic case of "you get what you pay for!" Yes, there are many homeless people, lots of drugs, prostitution, strip clubs, (you name it) lurking in the Tenderloin.

So why is this neighborhood named Tenderloin? No one knows exactly why. But as the story goes, cops who worked in this district made so much extra money from the bribes and various illegal activities that they were able to afford to eat tenderloin every night for dinner.

Strangely, this neighborhood is home to some of San Francisco's theatre district. Theatres include the Opheum Theatre, The Geary and the Curran. The EXIT theatre is also in the Tenderloin. Clearly, the arts needs better funding so that theatres can be located in better neighborhoods.

I haven’t spent too much time in the Ternderloin, so I can’t tell you much more. However, I have noticed that there are a lot of Indian restaurants that look pretty good. “The Tandoor-loin” is a little enclave of Indian restaurants.

If you are looking for a dive bar or just to see this part of town for yourself, feel free to check out this area. Just be sure not to look too much like a tourist. Be prepared to be hassled for money when you walk down the street.

South of Market, or SoMa, unsurprisingly borders on market Street. This is a nice little haven of arts and sophistication. This neighborhood is close to the Tenderloin, so you may have some issues with crime. But there are lots of things going on in SoMa including a lot of warehouses, nightclubs and artsy spaces. Also you will find various technology companies including Twitter.

When I went to SoMa, I checked out a few museums. The Cartoon Art Museum was my favorite. None other than Charlie Brown’s creator Charles Schulz funded this museum. There is also the Museum of the African Diaspora and The Contemporary Jewish Museum. There is also, of course, The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which is a must if you are visiting the city and an art lover.

I liked the fact that SOMA had a lot of theatres too. You will find various small theatres that seem to have interesting off-beat shows. There are also a ton of small bars and great restaurants.

SoMa is a unique neighborhood that gives you some of the gritty city feel while also providing access to great shopping and cultural activities. You can get a place in this neighborhood for a lower price than many others.

No trip to San Fransciso would be complete without a trip to Golden Gate Park. This park is actually larger than Central Park! It is a major tourist destination and one of my favorite places in San Francisco.

The park is very accessible. In fact, it is next to Haight-Ashbury (another favorite haunt of mine.) It is also the place to go for large outdoor gatherings. You definitely get the vibe that a lot of "free love" has taken place in this location. The park really is quite lovely. You can see some gorgeous trees and amazing foliage.

Golden Gate Park has some interesting attractions including the Conservatory of Flowers, The AIDS Memorial Grove and the Japanese Tea Gardens. Also the Academy of Sciences is a big natural history museum also situated in Golden Gate Park. My favorite of these places is the Conservatory of Flowers. It gave me a chance to see quite a few types of flowers that I had never seen before.

Another cool thing about Golden Gate Park is that there are historic windmills. They used to actually pump water into the park.

The only downside to the park is that there are a lot of homeless people. In fact, this park is known for its large homeless population. However, many of them seem very nice and peaceful.

At first, Fisherman’s Wharf may just sound like an old dock where there are some fisherman hanging out. However, San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf is nothing at all like that. In fact, this neighborhood is a pretty big tourist attraction. However, in the early days of San Francisco, this region really was where immigrant fisherman fished for crab. Luckily, there are still some fisherman in this part of town. They haven’t all been driven out by the tourists!

This area is situated on the waterfront and the streetcar turns directly though the area. Fisherman’s Wharf is home to a ton of tourist activities including The Aquarium Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Pier 39 and even a Wax Museum. Of course, there are also lots of restaurants serving seafood. Be sure to get the SF experience and get a sourdough bread bowl.

Of course, you will want to eat at Ghirardelli’s. You can eat a sundae, shop for chocolate gifts and see all the machines that make up the chocolate. The chocolate does seem to taste much better when you sit at the “original” Ghirardelli’s!

While there are a variety of upsides to Fisherman’s Wharf and its definitely worth seeing once, its not one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco. It is a bit too touristy for my tastes. When I was there, I found there to be too many noisy families.

Downtown San Francisco is gorgeous and exciting. I felt as though I could shop and shop for days. Of course, you will find all the typical stores you would expect in any other big city such as Macy’s, Saks, Gucci, The Apple Store, Coach etc. However, you can also find some charming eclectic stores downtown as well.

Don’t miss shopping at Union Square, which is just amazing. This area has the best shops as well as a lot of art galleries as well. Union Square also seemed to have an endless amount of restaurants. If you stay downtown when you visit, you will find that there are an endless array of delicious, famous restaurants.

The A.C.T American Conservatory Theatre is also located right on Geary Street in Union Square. This is a gorgeous building and the theatre has an amazing history. I didn’t get to see a performance there, but I would have if I had planned in advance. Of course, downtown San Francisco also has additional entertainment options including the Opera House, Symphony Hall and the Museum of Modern Art.

Not surprisingly, downtown SF also has tons of nice hotels. I stayed at the Westin St Francis, which was extremely convenient. It was directly facing Union Square. It’s very cool to sit in the lobby and watch the cable cars go by.

Who can visit San Francisco, without checking out Chinatown? I loved visiting this neighborhood and eating dim sum on Sunday.

However, honestly, I wouldn’t want to live in this neighborhood. It’s a bit too overwhelming for me personally. In fact, I didn't get to see a lot of the homes when I visited, I just checked out the shops and restaurants.

This is the largest Chinatown that exists outside of Asia! You definitely get the experience of visiting another country. If you situate yourself in the middle of Chinatown, you definitely start to feel as though you are no longer in the United States. Even the banks look Chinese. For example, if you are going to Bank of America, you will see that this institution is ironically also in a building adorned with dragons and medallions.

If you visit Chinatown, be sure to spend lots of time shopping. You can find all kinds of interesting decorative items that you could not find in just any store. There is also a cool Fortune Cookie Factory that you can visit. It's free to take a tour, and you can buy a big bag of fortune cookies for just a few dollars.

I did find parking a bit stressful. If you visit this part of town, you are probably just going to need to resign yourself to paying to park in a lot.

When I visited San Francisco last time, I stayed with my friend who lived in the Central Richmond neighborhood. It seems like a pretty decent area in which to live. My friend seemed pretty content with it and she had very reasonably priced rent.

You will see that many of the streets are named after Spanish Conquistadors. However, there are a lot of people from Eastern European countries living in this part of town. Between the Spanish named streets and all the Russian people, it is an interesting blend of culture. There are lots of Russian oriented places like a big Russian Orthodox Cathedral and delis that serve Russian food. Katia’s is a cute tearoom that serves Russian style tea and dessert. So if you have been craving Borsch, you know where to go.

Clement Street has a lot of different stores, bars and restaurants. Geary Blvd also seems to have some interesting spots to hang out including a Hookah bar. You will find lots of interesting restaurants on these streets. One great thing to mention is although this neighborhood seems to be predominentaly Russian, you can find food from different regions including Thai food, Mexican Food, Italian Food, Jewish Food and Chinese Food. I love San Francisco!

The Castro District is a great place to visit after seeing the movie Milk. I loved this film and luckily had a trip planned to San Francisco shortly afterwards. Not surprisingly, The Castro is the world’s most famous (and largest) gay neighborhood. There always seem to be tons of interesting events going on in this part of town. You will also see lots of rainbows. (Obviously, if you are homophobic, don’t choose to live in this neighborhood.)

I had a chance to check out the Castro Theatre. This historic building was built in the 1920’s and it’s a very cool part of history. This theatre houses all kinds of film festivals throughout the year. When I was in town, a South Asian Film Festival was going on at the Castro Theatre. Obviously, this theatre welcomes all kinds of programming, not just that which is gay oriented.

My friends brought me to a club on a Friday night (I can’t remember the name of it at the moment.) It was extremely crowded, but had excellent music.

We also went to Frances restaurant, which was amazing. It has the rating as one of the top new restaurants in the whole city. With things like bacon beignets on the menu, Frances wasn’t exactly diet friendly, but it was delicious. If you choose to live in this part of town, you will find that there is plenty to do.

Alamo Square is perhaps most famous for the “Painted Ladies.” These lovely pastel colored Victorian homes line the park and are quite picturesque. In fact, this San Francisco neighborhood gets a good deal of screen time in movies and tv shows. Many people remember these homes from the shot in the opening credits of the tv show Full House. I really didn't like that tv show, but if you can remove all memories of the show from your mind, you can definitely enjoy this neighborhood!

Alamo Square would be a perfect place to buy a home. Well, that is if you can afford one! Due to the location, architecture and size of homes in this area, costs can be quite high!

This really is a lovely park where lots of people hang out with their dogs and friends. It’s not a large park, but its definitely worth visiting. In fact, lots of tourists visit this locale to take photos when they are visiting San Francisco. Another great thing about the park in Alamo Square is that you can easily see views of the Golden Gate bridge. This part of town gives you a total San Francisco experience.

When I was in Alamo Square I ate at the Alamo Square Seafood Grill which borders the park. The food and atmosphere are recommended. They also havea half price wine list on Monday.

Crocker Amazon is North of the San Bruno Mountain State Park near Daly City. You don't hear about this neighborhood too much and it often is overlooked. However, I think this part of town is worth reviewing, especially considering that the home prices can be lower in Crocker Amazon than in other parts of the city. In SF, that is a big deal!

Some people may find this neighborhood to be a bit inconveniently located to the highways, but public transportation options like the bus are readily available.

Most of the action in Crocker Amazon is on Mission Street. You can browse through different ethic stores and restaurants. This area of the city has a particularly high Filipino population. By the way, you very well may be walking in Jerry Garcia’s footprints since he grew up in Crocker Amazon.

Crocker Amazon’s large park reportedly used to be quite nice, but now it has gotten considerably run down. However, the park does have facilities for sports like basketball, tennis courts, and a large playground area. You can take a nice long walk through this area. And if you are in Crocker Amazon and have children, you definitely will have a good place to take them.