st armands circle GETTING THERE Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) makes the trip from San Francisco to Oakland through one

Haight-Ashbury Part trendy, part nostalgic, part funky, the Haight, as it s known, was the soul of the psychedelic 60s and the center of the counterculture st armands circle movement. Today the neighborhood straddling upper Haight Street on the eastern border of Golden Gate Park is more gentrified, but the commercial area still harbors st armands circle all walks of life. Leftover hippies mingle outside Ben & Jerry s with grungy, begging street kids, marijuana dealers, and people with Day-Glo st armands circle hair. But you don t need to be a freak or wear tie-dye to enjoy the Haight: The food, shops, and bars cover all tastes. From Haight Street, walk south on Cole Street for a more peaceful neighborhood experience.

Explore the area at your leisure, or see Organized Tours, below if you d like to join a special-interest walking tour. FISHERMAN S WHARF & THE NORTHERN WATERFRONT Few cities in America are as adept at wholesaling their historical sites as San Francisco, which has converted Fisherman st armands circle s Wharf into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Unless you come really early, you won t find any traces of the traditional waterfront life that once existed here; the only serious fishing going on is for tourist dollars. A fleet of fewer than 30 boats still operates from here, but basically Fisherman s Wharf has been converted into one long shopping mall stretching from Ghirardelli Square at the west end to PIER 39 at the east. Some love it, others can t get far enough away from it, but most agree that Fisherman s Wharf, for better or for worse, has to be seen at least once.

In addition to the star-rating system, we also use seven feature icons that point you to the great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that separate travelers from tourists. Throughout the book, look for:

GETTING THERE Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) makes the trip from San Francisco to Oakland through one of the longest underwater transit tunnels in the world. Fares range from $1 to $4, depending on your station of origin; children 4 and under ride free. BART trains st armands circle operate Monday through st armands circle Friday from 4am to midnight, st armands circle Saturday from 6am to midnight, and Sunday from 8am to midnight. Exit at the 12th Street station for downtown Oakland.