Notable for the ruckus this district caused during the Summer of Love, The Haight has been going strong since the Sixties with a counterculture attitude and a youthful population.

Once an underpopulated neighborhood hit hard by the Depression, cheap rent and the elaborate Painted Lady Victorians lining Haight Street became a haven for hippies and artists in the '60s. With it came a rise in drugs, psychedelic culture and media attention that inspired musicians, influenced art, terrified older generations, and transformed the nation.

Today, the Upper Haight is one of the city's largest tourist attractions with direct bus lines and light rails feeding directly into the area - yet the imprint of the Sixties persists through the area's bohemian feel and heavy emphasis on locally owned business. Peruse the many thrift stores, ogle at the smoke shops, and explore the many parks that surround the neighborhood.

But if you're looking to escape the crowds, follow Haight Street down the hill to the Lower Haight where tourists tend to stray and a post-punk/street art vibe dominates throughout a livelier bar and art scene.