San Francisco Districts: Central West

Families doing a San Francisco, CA home search would do well to explore the homes and neighborhoods of the Central West District. Largely residential, this area is made up of the communities of Sunset, Parkside and Golden Gate Heights.

Sunset

Often subdivided into Outer Sunset, Central Sunset and Inner Sunset, this community stretches west to east from Ocean Beach to Golden Gate Heights. Known for being one of San Francisco’s foggiest neighborhoods, it is nonetheless a popular choice among those looking for a little peace and quiet.

Outer Sunset is bordered by Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach and hence offers residents a multitude of recreational opportunities and great views. Inner Sunset has retained its small-town feel, making it one of the city’s most visited neighborhoods (notwithstanding the fog that generally covers it). If one is looking for property in this area, frequent San Francisco, CA listings updates would be a wise option as homes here don’t stay on the market for long.

Parkside

The Parkside neighborhood, south of Sunset, is also often divided into Inner and Outer Parkside. The latter lies east of Ocean Beach and north of Lake Merced and the San Francisco Zoo. Peaceful and residential, it’s home to the South Sunset Playground.

Inner Parkside has several recreation venues like McCoppin Square, Parkside Square, Pine Lake Park and Sigmund Stern Grove. Free concerts are usually held at Stern Grove in the summer.

Golden Gate Heights

Adjacent to the Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods is the high-altitude Golden Gate Heights, where homes have unbeatable ocean views. Northwest of Forest Hill, this hilly area is also called Sunset Heights and Larsen Peak. Grand View Park, sometimes called Turtle Hill, is a must-visit.