San Francisco: Ultimate Gde

This walking guide to San Francisco contains numerous historical and architectural tidbits of a variety well-suited for curious urban day-hikers. I've lived in San Francisco for three years and have walked by a great number of interesting buildings without noticing them until they were pointed out in this book. The text is organized into chapters devoted to neighborhoods, with (somewhat limited) information about lodging and dining and a walkable itinerary highlighting the most distinctive features of the area. Noteworthy are the chapters concerning the Victorian Painted Ladies of the Haight-Ashbury District and the excellent Mission District walk. A book like this is a fine way to get off the beaten path of San Francisco tourism and to see what the real neighborhoods are like.