How to Explore San Francisco's North Beach Neighborhood

North Beach in San Francisco

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North Beach, the traditional Italian neighborhood of San Francisco, today is home to a variety of ethnic groups. However, it still retains its Italian flair. The compact area, sandwiched between the city's Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf, boasts dozens of restaurants, nightclubs and interesting shops. Unlike most of San Francisco, North Beach is relatively flat and thus a great place for an afternoon stroll.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Dine at an Italian cafe. North Beach, particularly on Columbus Avenue and Vallejo Street, is dotted with interesting Italian cafes, bakeries and restaurants. Stop in for a glass of wine or sample a pizza with fresh California-grown ingredients.

Step2

Relax in Washington Square Park. Washington square Park, located at the western edge of North Beach along Union Street, was created in 1850. During the San Francisco earthquake, the park served as a refuge for thousands of displaced residents. Today, the park hosts Tai Chi enthusiasts, a small playground and plenty of benches where you can rest after sightseeing. At the edge of the park sits Saints Peter and Paul Church, best known as a photo backdrop for hometown slugger Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, after their 1954 City Hall wedding.

Step3

Relive the Beat era at City Lights Bookstore. North Beach is also known as the home of the "Beat" literary movement. The neighborhood was home to such beat poets as Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady. Beat fans will want to visit City Lights Bookstore on Columbus Avenue, founded in 1954 by beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and still going strong.

Step4

Attend a neighborhood festival. North Beach hosts a number of street festivals throughout the year. Among these are Art in the Alley, a fine arts and crafts show held each May and October in the alley adjacent to City Lights Bookstore; the North Beach Festival, a summer celebration of art, music and food; and the Oyster and Beer Festival, an Irish-American festival, held each March in Washington Square Park.