Murals and the Multi-Ethnic Mission 

In the beginning it was, of course, Ohlone Indian. Then it was Spanish-Ohlone. Were there Russians? It was Italian. Then it was Irish and German. As far as we can tell, the Mission District was never Chinese, but this is San Francisco, so why shouldn't it have been? It was Mexican, and then it was Salvadoran-Guatemalan-Honduran-Peruvian. All of the above contributed lesbians to the Valencia microclimate. Now, some would say, it's restaurant-hipster. So the San Francisco City Guides walking tour of the beloved, embattled, contradictory, and grimily beautiful area, Murals and the Multi-Ethnic Mission, is well-titled. It tromps through alleys, admires Victorian (is that an ethnicity?) homes, and traces the visual traditions of all these groups and more in the famous and numerous wall paintings — perfect for visiting family and friends, no matter where they're from. — By Hiya Swanhuyser

Website: http://www.sfcityguides.org

Price: free; donations accepted