Wellvis

Walk along 24th Street in Noe Valley (roughly from Church Street to Castro).

Spend some time in the Castro district, checking out the various Victorian houses in the area. Walk along Castro from 19th Avenue to Market, then along any of the side streets that look interesting.

Walk along Valencia Street from 16th Street to 24th Street.

Walk along Irving Street from 7th Avenue to 11th Avenue, with special attention paid to 9th Avenue.

Any of those streets will give you a feel for some more "local" color that won't be found in more typical touristy areas.

iamq

City Lights Books.

Blacknight

Once again, thanks for all the input. I take public transportation and/or walk almost everyday, so it sounds like Union Square is the place to stay. You guys have provided me with the great ideas. I'll be sure to post after I get back and let you all know how it went.

Until then, keep those tips coming. : )

dovima

Pay heed to Wellvis'suggestions - they're the words of someone who knows. One more neighborhood if you have the time: Glen Park. Take Bart or the 26 Valencia bus to Glen Park Bart Station. Walk around the little commercial area, have coffee or dinner, walk up the hill through streets named for the counties of England (Sussex, Surrey) and Norse gods (Thor Street). Wander at will, if you get lost, walk back downhill, you'll be at the Bart station again. You'll see one of the sweetest, most desirable 'hoods in the Bay Area.

dovima

One minor correction to Elvis' suggestions - it's 19th Street he means, NOT 19th Avenue. If you walked from 19th Ave.(which is in the western part of the city) to Market, you'd have a darn long walk -like all day.

Wellvis

Sorry, 19th STREET in the Castro district. I agree with Dovima's suggestion of Glen Park as another cool area to check out. It's easily accessible through BART from Union Square, as is the Valencia Street walk I suggested (get off at Mission Street 16th station and walk west) and the Noe Valley walk (get off BART at Mission Street 24th station and walk up the hill).
The Irving street walk involves taking the N-Judah MUNI streetcar, which is actually a very good ride.

PeaceOut

I don't know if this is exactly 'local culture', but a beautiful old monastery is at the top of one of the hills, with sweeping views.

It is called the Lone Mountain campus of U. of San Francisco (the Jesuit school). It's landscaped nicely and has a little courtyard outside the food court. Very low-key, but a lovely little place to visit. It's been beautifully maintained.

dovima

Whoops, Wellvis, I made a mistake of my own, referring to you as "Elvis"!

Hope you don't mind.

Long live the King.

Paulchili

Another vote for Union Square for hotels. Fisherman's Wharf is kind of sleazy - you have to see it, but don't spend too much time there.
If you go to the market at the Ferry Terminal, try the Slanted Door - best Vietnamese restaurant with great views of the Bay (gets very busy - reservations or go early).
You can rent a ?Go-cart (motorized "tricycle like thing") with narrated self guided tours of the city. I live here, but I want to try it myself one day.
Biking along the beach and through the Golden Gate park would be fun.

Leely2

re: Glen Park
I like the chichi little pizza place if you're there in the evening and hungry. But if you're after some old-timey SF culture, nothing beats breakfast at Tyger's on Chenery and Diamond.

If it happens to be warm while you're here in September you might like to head out to Baker Beach.