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San Francisco, United States
Photo: Daniel Ramirez, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Southwestern San Francisco is made up of several hilly neighborhoods that include some of the city's highest peaks, beautiful parkland, and tranquil neighborhoods tucked in the hillsides, where you'll find spectacular views and quiet parks. Running from the Twin Peaks to Lake Merced at the very southwestern corner of the city, the area includes the Twin Peaks neighborhoods, West Portal, and Miraloma Park before stretching southwest to Ingleside, SFSU and Lake Merced. It is bordered by the Sunset neighborhood on the northwest, the Castro-Noe Valley district to the northeast, and I-280 to the southeast.
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This scenic section of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a favorite for hikers, bikers and beach-goers, with rugged coastal highlands and deep sand dunes. Hang gliding is quite popular here, with several shops for hang gliders in the area. Nearby is the remnants of Battery Davis, a WWII-era military defense mechanism.
A quiet city park great for hiking, dogwalking and nature viewing, containing a steep canyon situated amidst some residential neighborhoods. The park offers a rare glimpse into what the hilly landscape of San Francisco looked like before development. A small creek, Islais Creek, runs through the canyon and is one of the last free-flowing streams in the city.
In the middle of a residential neighborhood, Mt. Davidson Park (which boasts the highest point in San Francisco) offers great hiking trails. Mt. Davidson's most distinguishing feature is a 6-story cross nestled among the many eucalyptus trees, which can be seen from various spots in the city depending on which angle you´re looking from. It was constructed as part of the WPA program of the 1930s, and is now dedicated as a memorial to the Armenian Genocide. At the peak, you're rewarded with great views of downtown and the bay.
A large chunk of undeveloped green space atop Mount Sutro owned and maintained by the University of California San Francisco, lying directly south of the UCSF Parnassus campus. Mount Sutro is covered in eucalyptus trees with a network of hiking trails winding up the steep slopes to a native-plant meadow at the summit. Numerous trailheads connect the park to the surrounding neighborhoods.
A large zoo with all the animals you'd expect, and then some. Some of the highlight exhibits are the African area (where you'll see many African animals living together in the same exhibit), a primate center, a children's zoo, and a family farm (a large petting zoo), but there's plenty more, along with events like wildlife shows. A flock of free-roaming peacocks also inhabits the zoo, outside of the enclosures.
Though not a typical architectural attraction, this tower is nevertheless a well-known landmark among locals. Built in the 1970s to provide television reception to the city's hilly neighborhoods, this three-pronged antenna tower reaches 977 feet into the air atop one of San Francisco's tallest hills and is visible from just about anywhere in the city when it's not shrouded in fog. While the tower itself is off-limits to the public, there are walking trails that get very close to the base of the tower and offer great views of the surrounding neighborhoods.
The small parking area at the northern tip of Twin Peaks Boulevard (875' above sea level) is near the physical center of the city, and one of its highest points, providing spectacular views in all directions. Tour buses can get backed up here during the day, but it's a great place to really appreciate the city from above, especially at and after sunset. Temperatures up there can be quite a bit lower than in the rest of the city, so bring a jacket. Muni bus #37, a scenic ride from the Haight-Ashbury or Castro and Market streets, gets you close, so you only have to climb the last 120' up.
Weird, creative, elaborate, immersive museum created by artist and circus impresario Gregangelo Herrera.
A freshwater lake in the very southwestern corner of San Francisco. It's a scenic place to hike and a popular fishing spot.
Various college sports including baseball, basketball and soccer.
This library was the site of one of the highest profile arrests in the 21st century, as Ross Ulbricht, alias The Dread Pirate Roberts, was arrested here in the Science Fiction section in 2013.
A steakhouse well known for their excellent buffalo burgers.
A glossy Mediterranean and Turkish restaurant with a large menu.
Local coffee shop and bakery. Patronized largely by students of the nearby Ruth Asawa School of the Arts.
A small but popular and great Peruvian restaurant.
A locally owned coffee shop with sandwiches and Middle Eastern fare. Get a quick bite to eat or stay and have a cappuccino while surfing the internet. They provide paid terminals or paid wireless access through the ZRNet subscription service. The owners have outfitted this joint with Salvation Army sofas and chairs and play eclectic music on the stereo.
A superb Chinese restaurant with large portions and good take-out service.
Part of a San Francisco chain, this is a pleasant breakfast place with some excellent crepes. Good place to take the kids.
A hidden gem of a taco stand (and truly a "stand", it's take-out only) in the Miraloma neighborhood, with excellent burritos.
Burgers made from Niman Ranch beef are a specialty here.
Midwestern American food as seen through Hong Kong eyes: complete meals include soup, roll, coffee or HK milk tea, entree, rice or spaghetti, Jello or Chinese bean soup dessert. Extensive list of unusual beverages from Ovaltine to Ginger Coke to green tea milk shakes; Chinese food available after 10PM only. Coffee shop ambiance with TVs at low volume usually tuned to a Chinese station.
Authentic Chinese food with vegetarian options. Try the spicy bamboo shoots.
Nice Irish pub. Lots of events, like trivia nights, bingo nights, and $3 drinks from 8-10PM on Su, Th and Sa.
Neighborhood watering hole with a pool table.
A friendly neighborhood bar with a pool table, jukebox and a couple of TVs.
Neighborhood convenience store that also sells lottery tickets and is also home to the Miraloma Tacqueria.
Boutique market with butcher and deli departments
Trendy two-story indoor shopping mall next to SFSU, with an emphasis on Chinese and Japanese shops and restaurants. Anchor stores include Target, Uniqlo, Sports Basement, and an Apple store. Good Chinese food.
MUNI Metro , and lines serve the area. From Downtown, all three lines travel underground through the Twin Peaks Tunnel, stopping at the Forest Hill station before emerging aboveground at West Portal station.
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