CASTRO/ NOE VALLEY WHAT TO SEE & DO regardless of your sexual orientation, no trip to san Francisco would be complete without a visit to the Castro, the country’s most famous LgbTQ neighborhood. Nearby Noe Valley, a village of wooden Victorian houses, has a touch of the Castro’s flair and an easygoing mix of hipsters and families. san Francisco Travel Association (2) • start your tour on the Castro’s eponymous main drag and visit the Castro Theatre , an ornate movie palace with a Mighty Wurlitzer-playing organist who performs before every show. on your way out, take note of the golden plaques that make up the Rainbow Honor Walk , paying tribute to LgbTQ pioneers. • For more history, consider a tour with Wild SF Walking Tours or a visit to the GLBT History Museum , the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of its kind in the U.s. • don’t miss Cliff’s Variety , a local institution where you’ll find just about anything, including housewares, home furnishings, toys and costumes. • The upper stretch of Market st. coils around the lower reaches of Twin Peaks . Noted for their sweeping vistas, these crests are popular with hikers, cyclists and photographers in search of the perfect shot. • The liveliest times of year are during Pride in June and the Castro Street Fair in october. Noe Valley features a Wine Walk in August, seasonal hayrides and “24 holidAYs on 24th street” in december. Neighborhoods . 35
San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide 2020: Page 35
