Just call me a cray, foot-sore Architecture Buff.

Anybody have any thoughts about wandering around this historic area and taking photos? What is the closest public transportation point?

I read it has the greatest number of painted ladies in SF. Alamo Square at Fulton and Steiner Sts is supposed to provide one of the most famous views of SF.

I'm showing it about ten blocks west of the Civic Center with Divisadero St on the west, Golden Gate Ave on the north, Webster St on the east, and Fell St on the south.

Suggestions on similiar areas and famous viewpoints are welcome.

It seems to me we took the Bart to a store out that way and then took a cab up to Alamo Square. A bus runs alongside the Square and it seemed a long ride back downtown. Someone here described some of the bus rides as being "skanky" and that was where I learned what they meant!

The point is, without a car and fumbling around as tourists, we found it a little awkward getting to Alamo Square. It is wonderfully picturesque though so I don't regret it one bit. While there, a busload of people poured out at the side of the park, snapped pictures and left. We spent a bit of time in the park. There is an attractive Alamo Square sign that we took a picture of to show our location in our photo album.

Hopefully someone else can map out a more logical method of getting there.

My memory fails me on a lot of the details, but we called a cab to our hotel and asked the driver to take us to the Painted Ladies across from Alamo Square. We were there in a matter of minutes and the cost wasn't unreasonable. The driver waited while we took pictures, then took us on to our next destination. I could kick myself for not getting the guy's name (have even forgotten what company, but it was a white cab). I remember the driver was a white guy with dreadlocks, who told us he was a writer. He was also the best tourguide we had the whole time we were in SF!

Almo Square doesn't have the greatest number of restored Victorians that I'm aware of, what is has is a row of some of most photographed because from a certain point you can see the downtown skyline above a row of houses. I usually take visitors to lower Pacific Heights to see Victorians or Liberty Street near Dolores Park rather than Almo Square.

Thanks for the feedback.

I got the idea this area had the greatest number of painted ladies from a guidebook. However, I plan to do a Pacific Heights walk and will also check out Liberty street when I go to the Mission District.

Guess I'll be "maxed out" by then on these pretty homes.

ChatNoir,
SAB is right - the row of houses along the east end of Alamo Square is THE most photographed group of Victorians in S.F. It's a nice enough place to see this type of architecture, by no means the only neighborhood. My favorite area for Victorian-viewing is upper Masonic Street (uphill from Haight), around Buena Vista Park.

And if you do go to Alamo Square please don't just "walk directly west from Civic Center". You will be going right through some areas (called the Western Addition) which would not be the safest. Take a bus to Haight and Divisadero, and then the 24 Divisadero bus northbound to McAllister or so. Then walk a couple of blocks to the east.

I agree with the above points. If you travel directly between downtown and Alamo Square, the 5 Fulton bus is the most direct route. I would say it's a bit sketchy and is not my favorite bus line, but I took it many times without incident when I lived in the Richmond district.

By just traveling around SF away from downtown and the Wharf you will be exposed to many restored Victorian homes. I see from your many posts that you intend to do quite a bit of exploring, so I think you will be exposed to lots of homes.

"Anybody have any thoughts about wandering around this historic area and taking photos?" the only thought I want to share with you - the area "around" is not safe.

Divisadero Street is getting pretty gentrified and is in general safe to walk around. Other parts of the Western Addition would not be so cool to be wandering about in, particularly with a camera on you. It is difficult sometimes, if you are not a local, to realize when you are heading towards murky waters - and sometimes a distance of just two blocks can make a world of difference. I would make this one of your shorter rambles - enjoy but don't get too far off track. Just two cents worth of "wisdom" from someone who's been here a long time.

Thanks for all the security and transportation tips.

I may spring for a new digital camera and would hate to lose that bad boy on my first trip. Of course, they would have to drag me kicking and screaming down a steep hill in order to get the darn thing.

It is funny how an area can go bad on you in a matter of a couple of blocks.