DISTRICT 4

• Popular among young families, students, artists and professionals who want to avoid the "yuppier" neighborhoods, Diamond Heights offers sunshine and total panoramic views of downtown, the bay and the ocean from its hillside perch. Restored Victorian and Edwardian buildings and funky shops and cafes give it a unique San Francisco flavor. A nice selection of modest single-family homes, apartments and condos make it affordable as well. Shopping and restaurants for Diamonds Heights residents and the district at large can be found at the Diamond Heights Shopping Center and in nearby Noe Valley.
• Lush landscaping, curving lanes and thousands of trees make Forest Hill a highly desirable residential area. Most of the large, detached Arts and Crafts, Edwardian, and Mediterranean-style houses, built in the early 1900's, have ample yards as well. Noted architect Bernard Maybeck designed several Forest Hill residences as well as the Forest Hill Clubhouse, available for rent by residents and non-residents alike for weddings and other special occasions.
• Both Ingleside Terrace and Midtown Terrace, which climb the sloping hills near the Pacific, feature great views of San Bruno Mountain and Mt. Davidson, as well as more sun than many oceanside neighborhoods. Don't miss the 34-foot sundial at the gateway to Ingleside Terrace. Homes in this family-friendly neighborhood have both front and back yards as well as decent parking and easy access to MUNI and BART.
• St. Francis Wood is an enclave of more than 500 lovely homes in styles ranging from French Country to Georgian. It was planned as a garden community while the Twin Peaks Tunnel was being built and lured residents with the promise of a 20-minute trip to downtown. Beaux Arts architect John Galen Howard designed the fountain in the plaza on St. Francis Blvd. and the entry gates at St. Francis and Portola Drive.
• 927-foot Mount Davidson, the highest hill in the City, is surrounded by several tiny neighborhoods, including Sherwood Forest, Westwood Heights, Westwood Park, Mount Davidson Manor and Miraloma Park. The 103-foot, concrete Mt. Davidson cross, dedicated in 1934 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, has been the subject of church vs. state controversies for years . Following the Mt. Davidson Stairway Walk (see www.sanfrancisco.sidewalk.com/link/11390) is an interesting way to explore this forest of eucalyptus, cypress and pines interspersed with a variety of homes, from modest stuccos to elaborate ranch styles. From your vantage points along the stairway walk, you'll be able to spot the shops and restaurants of West Portal and the homes on San Bruno Mountain.
• West Portal, named for its location at the west entrance to the Twin Peaks Tunnel at the foot of Mt. Davidson, is a sedate residential neighborhood with businesses dating back to the 1920's. Today, the merchants of tree-lined West Portal Avenue provide the entire district with a vast array of goods and services. It combines a smalltown atmosphere — described by resident/author Frances Mayes' husband Ed as "diners that close at 8 and serve goulash on Thursdays" — with lots of new upscale yuppie businesses catering to the influx of young residents.