Hayes Valley is a cool, revitalized neighborhood in the Western Addition. The main commercial stretch, Hayes Street, teems with upscale boutiques for designer fashions and home decor, plus dessert shops, chill watering holes and a wide array of on-trend restaurants. The close-knit neighborhood features a community garden, a pocket park with art installations, and access to music and theater near the Civic Center.

The Castro District, in Eureka Valley, is synonymous with gay culture. Revelers often spill onto the sidewalks at numerous bars, like Twin Peaks Tavern, whose floor-to-ceiling windows were revolutionary when it opened in 1972. The lavish Castro Theatre and the GLBT Historic Museum are also found here, as are homey restaurants and adult shops. On Market Street, 19th-century F-line streetcars head to Fisherman’s Wharf.

Alamo Square is a residential neighborhood and park in San Francisco. It is home to the famous 'Painted Ladies', a tight, escalating formation of Victorian houses back-dropped by downtown skyscrapers. The view provide a stunning contrast; the grassy square an ideal midday break.