Alta Plaza
Named after the park and playground, which it surrounds. Victorian houses and charming flats make up this area. Bordered by Clay, Scott, Jackson and Steiner Streets and close to Filmore Street, a thriving commercial area.

Cow Hollow
Cow Hollow is located between Pacific Heights and the Marina, consisting of a small section along Union Street. Once filled with natural springs, san dunes and a small lagoon, Cow Hollow is home to many young professionals and is characterized by quaint homes and apartments. At the heart of Cow Hollow is popular Union Street, which is lined with fashionable shops and restaurants. Benito Diaz, a Spanish chaplain, was the first to inhabit this area. In 1845, he petitioned the governor for the land a year later sold the area for 1,000 in silver to Thomas G. Larkin, a real estate speculator and dealer in hides. Cow Hollow is named after the dairy farms that comprised the area during the 19tth century. Approximately 30 dairies existed, the largest having more than 200 cows. During the early part of the century, Cow Hollow's vegetable gardens provided San Francisco with much of its produce.

Marina
Once marshland, the Marina is now home to many young professionals and is recognized by the landmark Palace of Fine Arts. In 1915, the Palace of Fine Arts was built to host the Pan Pacific Exposition, celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal, as well as San Francisco's recovery from the physical and economic devastation of the 1906 earthquake.
Designed by Bernard Maybeck, the palace became the focal point of the fair. Deeded to the city by the Army after World War II, the once temporary structure fell to ruin. By the 1950s, a movement to save the palace emerged, and funds were raised to tear down the entire building and rebuild using permanent materials. The unique San Francisco landmark is owned by the city and is leased to the Exploratorium and the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. The Marina attracts many seeking the pleasures of jogging, sunbathing and strolling by the Bay. The Marina Green is a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors, with a pedestrian path that is perfect for roller blading, walking or running. For shopping enthusiasts, Chestnut Street has many fashionable shops and boutiques. Fort Mason is also nearby and hosts many cultural events, including the San Francisco Blues and Jazz Festival. With views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, the Marina offers quaint neighborhoods with a relaxed lifestyle.

Pacific Heights
One of the city's most richly varied residential areas, with houses of all sizes and a remarkable collection of churches and temples. Many of the elegant mansions in Pacific Heights now serve as apartment houses, schools and international consulates. Condominium and Co-operative buildings offer great views and rise many stories. Lafayette and Alta Plaza parks and great bay views (of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and even Marin County) have added to the desirability of this prime San Francisco residential location. Its chief commercial strip, Union Street, has a variety of good shops and restaurants. The neighborhood extends from the Presidio to Van Ness and from Sacramento to Green Streets.

The Presidio
Originally a Spanish military stockade, the Presidio was later occupied by the U.S. Army in 1846 and then nearly abandoned (1849) when troops deserted to seek their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Some of the buildings were built in the 1930's to imitate the Spanish Mission style. Officers quarters and parade grounds still spread out along the beautiful wooded hills of the Presidio. The oldest intact building on the fort is the Army Museum, originally Wright General Hospital, built in 1863. Apart from its interest as a historic military post, the Presidio has some of the finest scenery in the Bay Area, with unmatched views of the Golden Gate Bridge and great windswept stands of Monterey Cyprus. A newly-restored wetlands area along the Bay provides a completely new outdoor landscape.

Presidio Heights
Architecturally known for works by Bernard Maybeck, Ernest Coxhead and an imitation of Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon, this beautiful area is known for its elegant mansions. There are no hi-rises here. Many of the houses have the Presidio in their back garden and others have fantastic views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.

Presidio Terrace
A circular, one street neighborhood in which the houses and gardens are of significant size. Very attractive and prestigious. Originally created by Fernando Nelson, who also created Jordan Park.

Union Street
This popular Cow Hollow street which defines the neighborhood is filled with specialty shops and restaurants. The 3/4 mile strip extends from Franklin to Steiner and includes the nearby blocks of Fillmore from Union to Greenwich. A social institution!

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