Haight Ashbury is more than a name.
Haight Ashbury is one of those neighborhoods that defines a whole culture. Even though more than 40 years years have passed since the “Summer of Love“ the name Haight-Ashbury still has a ring to it. The whole district became known for psychaelic drugs, pot, music, beaniks and hippies, and we, the young of “yesteryear” are still drawn to the district hoping to get a glimpse of anything the past may have left behind. Haight Ashbury was the mecca for the young and the wild.
Many people up-rooted their lives, dropped out of school, or at least dreamt about doing so and travel to San Francisco, making sure to wear “some flowers in their hair”, hoping to make love not war. During the summer of ’67, known famously as “The Summer of Love”, the mainstream media’s coverage of life in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood drew so many young people to San Francisco’s Haight district, that The New York Times sent a reporter to provide coverage. That reporter, Hunter S. Thompson, labeled the neighborhood, “Hashbury”, in most of his articles for The New York Times.
But what the neighborhood is most famous for is as the home of musicians such as The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby Stills and Nash, and Janis Joplin, who all lived close to the famous Haight-Ashbury intersection and many of these houses still exist (although none of the people live their anymore so don’t knock), making it a fantastic neighborhood to take your own walking tour through.
It’s a nice neighbourhood for a leisurely walk, taking the time to look around, so take your time. Also the surrounding areas makes for a nice walk. Haight Ashbury should definetly be explored on foot.
The neighbourhood is packed with really nice houses, like the Painted Ladies of Steiner Street just across the road from Alamo Square Park.
Finally. as evening sets in, we return to our hotel. The Courtyard is perfectly located close to San Franciscos famous waterfront and restaurant area. This is where you’ll find the best seafood restaurants and also the most people.
It’s a beautiful evening, the sun is setting over Golden Gate Bridge as we walk home from dinner. Tomorrow we’ll be going over the bridge to Sausalito and Muir Woods.
Haight Ashbury
Haight Ashbury
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