18th St, Castro District

Like many streets in the Mission, there are some parts that seem run down, where leaving a car unattended for extended periods of time might not be the greatest idea in the world. However, the further west you head, the nicer it becomes, and there are some unique spots. Most notable are Dolores Park (possibly the best park in San Francisco) and the neighboring Bi-Rite creamery, a crowded ice cream restaurant that practically deserves a review in and of itself and employs an adjacent bakery and a nearby grocery store.

The crowd in this area is very young, hip, and diverse - and friendly, and is practically definitive of San Francisco. If you want urban excitement, this could be a great spot to settle down. However, I can understand how a winding line of tourists waiting for ice cream that blocks your front door could get old rather quickly.

18th Street between Texas Street and Connecticut Street is the main section of Potrero Hill, a famous neighborhood in the east side of San Francisco. Potrero Hill, especially along 18th Street, has great spots eat and get coffee as well as a variety of unique shops. If you're looking for an atypical San Francisco street I would recommend taking a hike down 18th.

18th St. runs from the Mission District to the Castro District. It is a busy street in some areas and pretty quiet in others. It is safe in some areas and in others, you should be cautious. It runs by many businesses, stores, and restaurants at Mission St., Church, and Castro. It is generally a pretty lively street. It passes by Mission Dolores park, which is a very big park with outdoor basketball and tenis courts. There are a few muni lines nearby like the 14, J, and 24.

This street is near market st, meaning it has access to a lot of entertainment. However, this street is not that great to live on. Aside from the enormous amount of traffic that is always present, it is very loud and there are kids always running across the street, riding bikes, and causing trouble.