Alamo Square and the Painted Ladies

Alamo Square is a hilltop park with ample trees and steep lawns. From here, you can see the Painted Ladies, a row of Victorian houses that are so pretty they have become immortalized on postcards of San Francisco. Sit on the grassy hill and take them in, with all the other happy tourists! These are the houses shown in the opening credits of the 1980s TV sitcom Full House. If you want to get a good photo of them, come in the afternoon, when the light is at the right angle. You can also see gorgeous views of San Francisco's skyline. There is a fenced-in playground at this park, on the sheltered side of the hill. It has a small play structure for toddlers and a larger playground for big kids. On the other side of the hill, at the top of the park, it's very windy and cold!

Dogs are allowed off-leash in the west half of the park. 
I haven't tried this, but from Alamo Square you can walk downhill to Cafe International, which sells middle-eastern food and homemade soups. Their sandwiches come on bread from local bakeries. If it's sunny, sit out on the back patio. On Sunday from 4-9pm they have live jazz music.
A three minute drive south is Duboce Park, a small park and playground with pretty views. 
Eight minutes drive south is Mission Dolores Park, another hilltop park, with sweeping views of the city from so high up!

Directions

From Powell Station, you can take the N (Judah) line on the Muni light rail system towards Ocean Beach to get here. Get off at Duboce Park and then walk north on Pierce Street. It's a steep pleasant walk a few blocks to Alamo Square.
Cafe International, 508 Haight Street, call (415) 552-7390. Open for breakfast and lunch.

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