HotelTonight – Haight-Ashbury Hotels Are Out There
San Francisco is like a mosaic of different communities that is sewn together by things like geography and common purpose. Over the past couple of years, I've been traveling to San Francisco a lot for work. The first few times I was there, I was disappointed because I didn't get any time to explore the area for myself. Recently, I've been scheduling my return flights one day out so that I could pick one part of San Francisco and explore it for an entire day. It's been a fun way to get to know the overall city better, and it's an intriguing way to see just how different the norms can be from one local community to another. For my most recent trip there, I chose to explore Haight-Ashbury. I wasn't worried about lodging, as I have HotelTonight, the app that helps travelers find last-minute hotels almost instantly. I could not wait to see this part of San Francisco.
The History
You can't visit Haight-Ashbury without taking some time to learn more about how it became such an iconic neighborhood. This was the absolute center of the counter-cultural movement in the 1960's and 1970's, as people from all different walks of life flocked here to get together and do their thing. The most famous residents from that time were the members of the Grateful Dead, but many other writers, poets and musical artists called this part of the world home. You can still tour some of these sites, but you can just feel that history when you walk around and see how this neighborhood has hung onto its roots.
The Shopping
Haight-Ashbury is a funky neighborhood, and it seems as though every aspect of life here is dedicated as an homage to that funk. This is especially so with regards to the shopping. You won't find big chain stores here, but rather a lot of smaller boutiques and retail outlets that sell some of the coolest and most unique vintage clothing I have ever seen. I bought everything from hats to tops to pants to boots, and I think I got all of them in different locations. It's as if someone secured an enormous amount of goods in a vault for 40 or 50 years and brought them out for sale last week.
The Cuisine
I would never have thought that Haight-Ashbury would be a hot spot for foodies, but it has become that in recent years. I saw all kinds of different restaurants while there, and I noticed that they were reflective of the city as a whole. Specifically, there were quite a few places serving mostly seafood and others that were offering Asian fare. I decided on a Mediterranean place, and the hummus they served was exquisite as was the tasty falafel. It was a tremendous dinner.
HotelTonight – Haight-Ashbury Hotels in Seconds
After such a full day, it was time to turn in for the night. I pulled out my phone, opened HotelTonight, chose a Haight-Ashbury hotel based on my current location, and reserved a room within seconds--it was just that easy. I was looking forward to a deep slumber after creating so many memories in such a short amount of time.
