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Mission Street is the main street in the heart of the Pilipino/Latino community in San Francisco. It has authentic, delicious Mexican food that is not some byproduct of a huge corporation like Taco Bell. It is a friendly community, where many people go to church over the weekends, and will usually grab a bite to eat afterwards. There are bakeries, nail salons, produce stores, and miscellaneous shops. There are a large number of schools nearby, so living near this street would be beneficial to your children. However, this street is mostly occupied by small, independent businesses, and isn’t quite a residential street. The Excelsior Public Library is on this street, so free books are accessible.

Eucalyptus Drive is not a very large street. It’s accessible if you’re driving on Lake Merced Boulevard by Lake Merced. The only distinguishable feature about this street is that one of San Francisco’s best a public school is located here, Lowell High School. On the same street is Lakeshore Elementary School, a church, a mini park, and a 24-Hour Fitness gym. This street is barely lit, which is actually a good sign in San Francisco. It means that crime rarely occurs on this street; therefore lights are not a necessity. The houses here are gorgeous two-story homes with kept lawns. Not very many people walk on this street when it’s not time for students to go to or leave school. However, this is an ideal place to raise a family.

Lake Merced Boulevard is a long street that curves around one side of Lake Merced, one of the few lakes in California that actually is within city limits. It’s a scenic drive as Sunset Boulevard transitions into Lake Merced Boulevard once you are out of the Sunset District. Nobody actually lives on this street because it’s more for driving, and the houses that overlook the lake are separated by a smaller street called Gellert Drive. Many people like to run along this street in the mornings and on the weekends. You will usually see high school teams paddling for dragon boat or rowing for crew during the late afternoons and early weekends. There are a lot of cars once it hits 5:00 p.m during the weekdays, but there is usually no overwhelming traffic.

Clement Street is a very busy street, and very similar to Geary Boulevard, except that the street is physically less wide. There are a wide variety of shops and restaurants that the whole family can enjoy. The street is much busier once you are past Park Presidio. Restaurants range from Thai, Chinese, Ethiopian, Indian, Malaysian, etc. There are also a variety of coffee shops, grocery stores, and dessert places that open until 10 or 11 at night. There is significant nightlife because of all the restaurants, and you will mainly see large groups of friends or family members having dinner together. While there are some corporate stores on this street, Clement is known for its many small businesses, giving patrons more variety in food, clothing, and gifts. There are also some fantastic bookstores that one should look into, such as the Green Apple. They have old paperbacks, new hardcovers, and delightful stationary.

Pine Street is a bustling street in the heart of downtown, but the people on these streets will probably be businessmen and women. There are not many tourist attractions on this street since this is mostly centered for business buildings. The shops here cater to the needs of these business professionals, including banks, 24-Hour Fitness gyms, small sandwich and soup shops, coffee shops, and fast food restaurants. The busiest hours will be in the morning around 8-9 a.m., and in the early evening around 5-7 p.m. Once you get past these hours, the street will be pretty quiet and deserted. However, it is fairly well-lit so no need to fear.

Fourth Street is a street in downtown that’s not extremely busy. Only the few blocks that are near Market Street tend to be busier and have more people on them, otherwise its mostly empty because of people working in the buildings. The main attraction of Fourth Street is the Metreon. It’s been in San Francisco for less than a decade, and it was a bigger attraction a few years ago. Due to our falling economy, most people don’t really go there anymore. It’s a small technology-based shopping mall with dining, a theater, and shopping. However, it is a main reason why Fourth Street has a decent nightlife, because people enjoying watching movies at night and then dining around the area afterwards.

2nd Street, located in the heart of San Francisco’s downtown, mostly concerns financial and company matters. The streets around the Montgomery BART Station are generally more for business. If you want to go shopping, it is best you get off at Powell Street, the stop before Montgomery. Second Street is home to the American Red Cross Bay Area chapter. I am generally only familiar with the part that is closer to the BART Station, not the ballpark area.This street has expensive restaurants, but there is a delicious (but overpriced) thai place on the same street. There are wonderfully interesting bookstores on the same street, a Starbucks, and some convenience stores. Nearby are a couple of McDonalds, a Jamba Juice, and other various dining areas. The people on this street typically work nearby, and will be wearing business-attire. It will typically be busiest around lunch time, and 5-6pm, when people start getting off work.

Sloat Boulevard is one of the busier streets in the Sunset District (some would argue Parkside area instead of the Sunset.) The street is much wider compared to the other streets in the Sunset, therefore it can accompany a higher volume of traffic. Driving on this street is not difficult because it is a fairly straight street. If you are living near the beach, it can be difficult to cross the street because there is a long wire fence that divides the road. You have to search for an opening if you want to cross to the other side. One side is mostly beach/surf shops, a garden shop, small dining places, and houses. The other side is the San Francisco Zoo. I have heard that you can hear some of the animals there at night if it is very quiet. It is convenient living here because Lakeshore Plaza is nearby, and you can buy all your groceries and do some shopping there. It has a Lucky, Payless Shoe Store, UPS Store, and a Ross, just to name a few things.

Skyline Boulevard is a terrific road to learn how to drive on, and just to drive in general. It is a very wide street, but it usually doesn’t have a wide volume of traffic, even though it’s considered Highway 35. The speed limit is about 50. Once you get off Sloat Boulevard, it merges and becomes Skyline Boulevard. This road curves behind Lake Merced, a body of water that is actually within city limits. There are no houses on Skyline Boulevard because it is not a residential area. When you drive, you will usually just see the lake, trees, and a private golf club. When are you are exiting San Francisco and are nearing Daly City, you can start seeing small hills with yellow grass and a very tiny horse farm.

48th avenue is similar in many ways to the other streets in the Sunset/Richmond District. Housing along this avenue tends to be very homogenized in terms of architecture. However, those that are a few blocks from the beach differ slightly in that there are stairs outside leading up to the front door of the home. Living on 48th avenue is very convenient in that the 18 bus line just runs a block away. Parking is relatively easy. It is relatively quiet on this street in any given day. There is a lack of nightlife unless you go off 48th avenue onto the cross-streets. If you live near the beach, that will be the main attraction – there are no major shopping centers or clubs nearby. This is a good place to raise a family.

Fulton Street stretches from the Great Highway to Webster Street, and is a fairly long and straight street. Located in the Richmond District, Fulton lines the north edge of Golden Gate Park. You can basically get anywhere inside the park if you enter through Fulton. On the other side of Fulton are residential houses, which are typical two-story houses and occasional three-story apartments. There is a lack of nightlife mostly because Golden Gate Park doesn’t host many events in the evening. However, throughout the year during the daytime, there are tons of great things to do. You can go pedal-boating, have a picnic, visit a museum, or attend concerts in the park. It’s very family-friendly. The 5 runs the entire length of Fulton Street, and to the University of San Francisco if you attend school there.

Wawona Street is a typical street in the Sunset, albeit shorter than the other streets. The houses are typical two-story houses. This is a safe street and parking is relatively easy. A lot of families with young children prefer living on or around this street because it is very close to the South Sunset Playground and Ulloa Elementary School. Sava Pool on 19th and Wawona recently re-opened after months of construction and now it looks even more aesthetically appealing than before. You are close to the 18th-bus line and nearby is the San Francisco Zoo. It’s a quiet and safe street to live on, but it lacks nightlife and major commercial sites. In the movie “The Princess Diaries, “ the school that the main character goes to supposedly is filmed at this private school near Wawona Street.

Ortega Street is a really peaceful and nice street to live on. It is like a typical street in the Sunset. The houses are typically two stories and usually have a gate outside that leads into a walkway, then to the main door of the house. This is a really great street to live on if you have children because you are very close to many schools, such as AP Giannini Middle School, which is on the same street. If you go off a few blocks, you will find Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School. The Ortega Public Library is right on the same street, and it’s a very modest-sized, but comfortable library with very nice librarians.

Quintara Street is almost like any other street in the Sunset District in terms of building structure and atmosphere. There is not much of nightlife, nor are there lots of stores to satisfy anyone’s craving for shopping. This is mostly a residential street, and I recommend it to families with high school kids because Lincoln High School is located on 24th avenue and Quintara. I have to warn drivers though, if you are trying to drive to Quintara and 14th, you will run into trouble if you drive directly up Quintara Street. There are weird ramps and many small side-streets once you reach that area, and I would recommend you just drive along Rivera Street, then turn back onto Quintara at 14th avenue.

Point Lobos Avenue is a very small side street in the Richmond District. It only continues along the cliff, then for a few blocks before it inevitably merges onto the great Geary Boulevard. Although this avenue is awkwardly designated, because it’s part on a cliff, and part in the Richmond District, it is worthy of visiting. Point Lobos has a beautiful view of the beach and the ocean, and you will be able to find some fine dining restaurants on the cliff. It is highly recommended you go during the Sunset. For those who do not want to drive, the 18 bus will take you directly there. Also, just off of Point Lobos Avenue, near the sand dunes, is the old abandoned Sutro Park Bathhouse. It is in ruins now, and only the stone skeleton remains. For those into adventures, visit the bathhouse and the cave nearby.

9th Avenue doesn’t have much to offer in terms of entertainment and nightlife because it’s mostly apartments and three-story houses. If you are in the Sunset District, once you pass Judah Street and continue on your way south, it will gradually become very uphill. However, if you happen to be between Judah Street and Lincoln Way when you are on 9th Avenue, you will find two blocks of tons of great eating places. There is a Jamba Juice, an amazing sushi place called Kiki’s, the infamous Arizmendi Bakery, and many other places in which you can get a quick bite to eat. If you wander off the avenue, there are grocery stores, hobby shops, and clothing stores to go shopping at. This specific part of 9th avenue is recommended for any group of family and friends looking for a good place to sit down and have a meal.

Kirkham Street is a residential street in the Sunset District. There is nothing exceptionally distinct about this street because it’s a typical street in the Sunset. The houses are usually two stories, and become three-story apartments once you reach the inner Sunset. It is very quiet, but very safe to live on Kirkham Street and it’s recommended for families and children. Lawton, a K-8 school, and Francis Scott Key Elementary School are not too far. People tend to keep to themselves here. Unfortunately, you will not get much of nightlife here, and there are essentially no stores on this street, so you’ll always need to get off this street to buy groceries or fill up your car.

Geary Street is one of the longest and busiest streets in San Francisco. It literally spans across the city in one straight line. The 38 and 38 Limited buses will take you directly to any part of Geary you need to get to when you’re on that street. This street gets progressively busier once you are closer to downtown, it’s quieter when you’re closer to the beach because there are less businesses. Once you reach around the 20’s in avenues, you will see an increase in businesses. There will be familiar stores like Ross, Best Buy, and Office Max. There are also some bars and some palm reading stores. You will find Kaiser Hospital on Geary Street. This street has terrific night life because people love dining out. This street can get fairly traffic-heavy sometimes, and parking can sometimes be difficult, so public transportation is highly recommended.

Broadway is one of the bigger streets that run through the district of Chinatown, both figuratively and literally. The road seems to be a little bigger here than other streets that cross through Stocktown, the main street. There are also lots of miscellaneous restaurants and boutiques here. The old gelato place at the corner had recently been converted into a Tuttimelon (a frozen yogurt place). There is a pet shop which is very popular, and will usually be filled with many youngsters marveling at the fishes and turtles in the back. There are apartment buildings of about three or four floors scattered about. There are some very famous Chinese restaurants on this street, and a very good hole-in-the wall Thai restaurant. You will find lots of locals on this street buying groceries and eating, and it will be most crowded during the weekends and major Chinese holidays.

The part of Grant Street that I know best is the part that runs through Chinatown. Grant Street is easily identifiable because it is the street with all the major banks. Just in three blocks, four major banks can be accessed (for example, one is Washington Mutual.) This street is also well known for its miscellaneous curio shops that sell various souvenirs, gifts, and household items such as chopsticks. Many tourists like coming to this street because of its various curio shops, and this street will usually be filled with people during the daytime. Items like Hello Kitty lunchboxes and Mario candies can be found here. The best time to come is during a sunny weekend, that’s when you’ll find it most lively.

Stockton Street is a major street because it runs through the heart of downtown (Market Street) and then becomes the main street of the Chinatown District. In the section that runs downtown, you will find many high-end stores like Gucci and Nike. You will also find Union Square, a little miniature courtyard with little cafes that will have art exhibitions and music performances throughout the year. You have to pass the Stocktown tunnel in order to get into Chinatown. You can either drive through it with your car, wait for the bus right outside, or you can walk through. There are walkways on either side of the tunnel for people to walk. It is perfectly safe to do so during the day. Once in Chinatown, you’ll find that Stocktown Street is known for the multitude of grocery stores. It will usually be bustling with the elderly and children.

47th avenue is similar in many ways to the other streets in the Sunset District. The Sunset District tends to be very homogenized in terms of housing architecture. However, those that are a few blocks from the beach differ slightly in that there are stairs outside leading up to the front door of the home. Living on 47th avenue is very convenient in that the 18 bus line just runs a block away. Parking is relatively easy. It is relatively quiet on this street in any given day. There is no real nightlife since there are no clubs, restaurants, or parks on this street, but once you walk off of it and onto cross streets such as Taraval, you will be able to find convenience stores and such. This is a good place to raise a family.

22nd avenue is similar to many of the streets in the Sunset. It stretches from the edge of Golden Gate Park at Lincoln Street all the way to Stern Grove at Wawona Street. Most houses on this street, as on many other streets, are typical two-story houses with an outer gated door. It leads into a small entryway before the actual door to the home. This street doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of entertainment or nightlife, because it’s a residential street mostly. It’s relatively quiet, and there’s a huge hill between Noriega and Taraval. However, if you are on certain cross streets like Irving, Noriega, or Taraval, you can find restaurants, stores like Walgreens, or movie rental places. The 71 bus line runs on 22nd avenue for about six blocks, so there is a form of transportation. 22nd avenue also runs along the back of Lincoln High School, located on Quintara.

Jackson Street stretches from the side of Golden Gate Park at Arguello Boulevard to just about where Embarcadero Street is (but it never touches it). This street cuts through Chinatown, which I am more familiar with. The part of Jackson Street that is in Chinatown contains many Chinese Buddhist prayer shops that sell paper money, and other various objects that you can burn for the dead when you go to their graves to pay respects to them. Within two blocks, I saw about three of these shops. Some shops are very small, while others are much larger. There are also lots of Chinese restaurants and souvenir shops. On Jackson Street, you are allowed to bargain with the vendors that have tables set up in front of shops. They will usually sell clothing and religious items, such as “I Love SF” caps and small Buddhist statues.

35th Avenue is very similar to all the other streets in the Sunset/Richmond District, but I will focus primarily on the Sunset District area. It’s a very a quiet street, and it is not extremely well lit. However, do not fear because in San Francisco, the streets that are not as well-lit means that crime does not occur on that street very often. On Halloween, many children can be seen wandering through this avenue because it is safe, and the houses give out a fair amount of candy. The houses are average two-story houses, and there are usually gates at the front of the house. You have to step past the gate and through a little walkway before actually getting to the front door of the house. This avenue is often very quiet. Robert Louie Stevenson Elementary School is on 34th avenue between Ortega and Quintara Street.

36th Avenue is very similar to all the other streets in the Sunset/Richmond District, but I will focus primarily on the Sunset District area. Living on 36th avenue is very convenient because if you need transportation, you can just walk one block down to Sunset Boulevard and take the 29 bus. Depending on which cross street you live on, you are also accessible to the 71, N, L, 43, and 23 bus lines. The houses are average two-story houses, and there are usually gates at the front of the house. You have to step past the gate and through a little walkway before actually getting to the front door of the house. It may be a little noisy sometimes if you are living on this street if there is a lot of traffic on Sunset Boulevard.

34th Avenue is like any other typical street in the Sunset/Richmond District. Although I have not physically lived here, I have spent a great deal of time on this street as a child because my grandparents’ house was here. It’s a very a quiet street, and it is not extremely well lit. However, do not fear because in San Francisco, the streets that are not as well-lit means that crime does not occur on that street very often. The houses are average two-story houses, and there are usually gates at the front of the house. You have to step past the gate and through a little walkway before actually getting to the front door of the house. This avenue is often very quiet. Robert Louie Stevenson Elementary School is on 34th avenue between Ortega and Quintara Street.

Judah Street runs perpendicular to Ocean Beach and starts Great Highway and ends around 5th avenue. Once it hits 5th avenue, it curves and becomes Parnassus Avenue, which is right by the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. Judah Street is almost like any other typical street in the Sunset, except that the N-Streetcar runs on it, so living on the street can be a little noisy. I know someone who lives there and she says that at night when she watches television, sometimes her house shakes because of the streetcars passing. Judah is far from a tourist attraction; there aren’t any amazing things to see. It’s a residential area, so there are mostly just houses with a few scattered businesses here and there. There is a church by 43rd avenue (I think Anglican, but I’m not sure), and a Korean church by 36th avenue. Once it gets to the 20’s, there are a few more businesses, like a Kumon tutoring center, a gymnastics studio, and a dentistry. St. Anne’s Church is by Funston. Once you finally hit 9th and Judah, the shops become a little more densely packed. There’s an Asian fusion restaurant called Dragonfly, a doughnut shop, a convenience store, and some other shops. However, if you are a tourist in San Francisco, this street is not vital to your sightseeing needs.

Nineteenth Avenue is one busy, hectic street. This street is essentially part of Highway 1, which explains the constant high volume of traffic that occurs every single day. There are always a lot of cars going in both directions. An interesting thing to note is that many people who live on this street park their cars half on the curb to make room for the road. 19th avenue basically extends from Holloway Avenue by San Francisco State to Lake Street in the Richmond District. However, Highway 1 itself merges from 19th avenue onto 14th avenue once you drive out of Golden Gate Park and into the Richmond. The 28 and 28 Limited lines go on the majority of 19th avenue as a bus route. They come very often and also add to the noise and bustle of the street. As for attractions, there is nothing particularly beautiful or breathtaking to see. However, I will note a few things worth mentioning. Sava Pool on 19th and Wawona are almost done remodeling (they were closed for about a year), and the new structure is much more aesthetically appealing. 19th Avenue just runs along the back of Stonestown Galleria and the front of San Francisco State. There are mostly gas stations running along this avenue.

Market Street is a cornucopia of festivity, bustling activity, and all sorts of different people all year round. I love Market Street and usually go here on the weekends when I’m free. It’s the main street of Downtown San Francisco, and no matter what time of day you go, there are bound to be lots of people walking down this main street, especially at the Powell stop. It’s especially busy and interesting during the winter holiday season, because you can see men and women dressed in fine suits and long overcoats doing their Christmas shopping, holding huge shopping bags and talking excitedly. I spent most of my time in the Powell Station part of Market Street, so I know that huge block better than the other parts of Market Street. On that one block along, there is a huge three-story Old Navy, a Walgreens that usually has long lines in the afternoon, the infamous Westfield Mall that just opened a few years ago, and the old San Francisco Shopping Center. Across the street are smaller, but still brand name stores like Puma. There is a Forever 21, which is usually very crowded, especially during holiday sales. The malls usually close around 10 p.m., and the smaller stores close earlier, so it’s quieter after then. If you are ever in San Francisco, Market Street is definitely a place you should visit.

Sunset Boulevard is just a main road in the Sunset District for cars. There are no houses on this street because it is a road, lined by trees and grass on both sides. The two directions of traffic are separated by about a three-yard wide lawn, and every so often, you will see maintenance men taking care of the grass and trees by trimming the grass with lawnmowers. The 29 bus runs on Sunset Boulevard. Not every cross street on Sunset Boulevard has traffic lights, so please proceed with cautious. Sunset Boulevard is usually very crowded with cars during the daytime. There are fewer cars on the road when it is between the hours of 10:30 pm and 7 a.m. After a certain time in the night, the traffic lights on the less busy cross streets of Sunset Boulevard would either be a flashing yellow light or a flashing red light. The speed limit is 35. Most of the drivers are pretty nice, because I was going incredibly slowly when I first learned how to drive. Many people did not honk at me, despite my slow driving. Most of them would just change lanes. It is a very quiet street at night, so even though it is located in a very safe neighborhood, I will not recommend you walk by yourself at night.

Irving Street is somewhat similar to Noriega Street in the fact that it’s both a major residential and small business street. Living on Irving Street is extremely desirable in that it is close to major public transportation (the N, 71, 16, 28, 36, all depending on which avenue cross street you’re on) and that shopping for groceries is extremely convenient. There is not much to see as if you’re living on Irving and 25th downwards, but from there on up, there are many different stores. The shops on Irving that go from 19th avenue to 24th avenue are mostly independent grocery stores, herbal shops, produce stores, and 99-cent shops. Sunset Super is the local supermarket and can be found filled with Asian families over the weekends. This part of Irving caters mostly to the Asian locals that live around there. There is also a Blockbuster, Walgreens, and Starbucks in the area. Once you get to Irving and 11th, the shops become more geared toward dining out, accessories, and reading. There are some wonderful gift-shops, such as Tutti Frutti and Wish Bone, which sell miscellaneous items like coloring books and cute t-shirts. The nightlife is very good when you’re on Irving and 11th up to about 5th street.

Lincoln Way is essentially a residential street right next to the popular and gloriously big Golden Gate Park. There are almost no shops on this street, and it mostly just contains two-story houses with typical, standard families. However, I have personally noticed that there are usually a lot of people on this street that put up signs stating the politicians they support. I am not sure if the people on this street just coincidentally tend to be drawn to politics or not. For example, during the presidential election, I noticed a lot of people with Obama signs on their living room windows. This street is not particularity very well-lighted, but it is incredibly convenient transportation-wise. The 71, 29, and 16 bus lines turn onto Lincoln Way before they either cut through Golden Gate Park, or continue to the Haight District. There is a bus stop every two to three blocks. In terms of night life, there is practically none because it’s a residential area, and there are houses on every street.

I have lived in the same house on this same street since I was born. Although physically, Moraga is very similar to many streets in the Sunset, it is very quiet and peaceful and holds a personal charm for me. Because no bus lines run on Moraga, and it is not a major street, Moraga is often forgotten when San Franciscan natives are asked to name the streets in the Sunset District. Moraga Street starts at approximately 14th avenue because of Laguna Honda Hospital and ends once it hits 48th avenue. Moraga Street is a wonderful, quiet, safe street to raise children. All sorts of people live in the houses on the street, from a couple of Asian teenagers to a middle-aged Caucasian couple. Over the years, there has been an increase in cars parked on the street, indicating that more people are moving onto this street, or that people in general feel safe about leaving their cars on this street. All the houses are rather similar, two-story buildings with an outer gate leading before the main door. It’s not particularly well-lighted because Moraga Street is not a commercial street.

46th Avenue is a little more atypical than most of the avenues in the Sunset and Richmond District, simply because the 18 bus line runs on it in the Sunset. Most of the buses in the Sunset tend to run on the major streets instead of the avenues. Other than that, the architecture of the houses is similar to those in the surrounding area. 46th Avenue is two blocks away from the Great Highway and the beach, so it is fairly common to see skateboarders, joggers, and people walking their dogs in the area. Although it is fairly quiet, you can still hear the buses, especially once you hit Taraval Street onward to Sloat, because the L-line makes a turn there just before going up Taraval. In general, this is a nice avenue to live on because transportation is very easy, with the bus lines N, 71, L, 18, etc. all located conveniently near 46th avenue. My father used to tell me that some of the houses on 46th avenue are not quite level due to the 1989 earthquake, but I cannot tell personally. Parking is surprisingly convenient. Overall, this is a nice avenue for families to raise children, or if you would just like to take a nice stroll with the breeze blowing in through your hair.

Settled right in the middle of the Sunset District is Noriega Street, home to many happy residents and small shops. Noriega Street extends perpendicular from Ocean Beach all the way up to around 14th avenue. There are a lot of small produce stores and restaurants on Noriega Street. Around 43rd-47th ave. on Noriega Street contains a pizza shop, a hair salon, various produce stores, coffee places, sandwich shops, and liquor stores that are consistently filled with customers, many of who are surfers because the beach is close-by. Once you get up to about 33rd and Noriega, it consists mostly of Asian grocery stores and restaurants. This is a fabulous place to get dim-sum, snacks, and go buy meat for meals However, there is a Safeway, various gas stations, and a Walgreens along the length of the street when you go farther away from the beach, so not all the stores are catered to eating. Noriega is very busy and lively during the day. Most of the shops close by 10pm, so it gets quieter at night. Noriega is mostly a commercial street, and one of the busier ones in the Sunset District. It is a great place to grab dessert, hang out with friends, and relax on a Sunday afternoon.