See the Haight-Ashbury area by taking a walking tour. San Francisco City Guides (sfcityguides.org) offers a free walking tour with local volunteer guides. Just show up at the time and place indicated on the website and spend about two hours walking and learning about the area. Or, for a fee, try the Haight-Ashbury Flower Power Walking Tour (haightashburytour.com), which includes a visit to the Psychedelic History Museum. The tour is described by its operators as being about 60 percent hippie history and 40 percent general neighborhood information. Either tour will allow you ample opportunity to appreciate the "painted lady" Victorian homes in the area.
You can shop to your heart's content in the Haight-Ashbury district, which features clothing, music, books and gift items in the many shops. Expect to find jewelry, tie-dyed clothing, posters, incense and candles readily available. If you want to get yourself pierced or tattooed, you can also do that here. Restaurant options abound, too, with cafes, coffee shops, and Indian, Moroccan, and Thai cuisines all on offer, as well as American fare such as hamburgers and barbecue. Vegetarian choices are fairly easy to find on local menus.
The Red Victorian (redvic.com) is a bed-and-breakfast, a cafe and the Peaceful World Center, a "living peace museum," according to its website. The bed-and-breakfast offers 18 individually decorated guest rooms, with names such as Redwood Forest, Summer of Love and the Conservatory. Some rooms have private baths and others share a bath. The cafe features light breakfasts, coffees, soup and sandwiches. A gift shop sells posters, T-shirts, mugs and peace buttons. The Red Vic bills itself as a place for people to gather for conversation, food and drink.
If you're in the area on the second Sunday in June, you can attend the Haight-Ashbury Street Fair, held annually since 1978. It's an all-day celebration with live music, dancing in the streets, and booths with food, beverages, clothing, and crafts. Three stages present entertainment, and one stage is devoted to family-friendly shows.
