The perfect Sunday stroll: Alamo Square to Hayes Valley
For the best of both, begin your outing in the Alamo Square Historic District, take in the views and Victorians and then descend downhill to Hayes Valley for the boutiques and cafes.
Start with a visit to the modest Divisadero Farmers’ Market (Grove and Divisadero streets), which takes place every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Although this market is small, compared to the more elaborate one at the Ferry Building, it has an excellent array of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Park amenities include a dog play area, walking trails, a playground, restrooms, flower beds, a tennis court and benches where you can enjoy your farmers’ market snack.
Today, thanks to the efforts of the Alamo Square Neighborhood Association, Alamo Square is a protected historic district.
The streets surrounding Alamo Square are home to some of San Francisco’s most beautiful Victorians, as these homes largely escaped the wrecking ball of the city’s urban renewal project.
In the 1950s and ’60s, it was an apartment building, with units rented to jazz musicians, including alto saxophonist John Handy.
After you cross Buchanan Street, you come upon upscale boutiques and cafes, as the streets crowd with window-shoppers looking at high fashion shoes, antiques, corsets and exotic home collectibles.