Excelsior/Mission Street

Now: Mission Street just keeps on going after it skirts Bernal Heights, and any attempt at gentrification is abandoned. It's replaced by liquors, laundromats, and a few dining establishments with seriously unpretentious character. The Oriental and Latino cultures that exist separately in other SF neighborhoods seem to have intertwined as an aggressive hybrid. The adventurous will find some low-key dining gems between the liqour stores and produce markets. John McLaren Park roughly resides in the Excelsior District, also bordering Portola to the immediate north.

Then: Someone thought it was a good idea to name all the streets here after places in Europe.

How To Get There: Although Excelsior lies directly along Mission Street, it can be a long trip on the 49 bus line. If you're driving, you just keep going down Mission Street and park somewhere around Excelsior Avenue. To get the McLaren Park, follow Persia Street from Mission.

Mission Street in the Excelsior District
Mission Street in the Excelsior District
Excelsior Mural on Mission Street

Excelsior Wine and Liquors
El Chico Produce on Mission Street in the Excelsior
Dragon House Martial Arts in Excelsior

Clean Wash Center Laundromat in Excelsior
Vacant storefront on Mission Street in Excelsior
Goldilocks - cakes, breads, pastries and Asian cuisine

Super Low Market in Excelsior
John McLaren Park at the Persia Avenue entrance
Picnic tables in McLaren Park

Walking path in McLaren Park
Water tower on the peak of McLaren Park
City view to the north, from McLaren Park

Northwest view from McLaren Park
Southwest view from McLaren Park
Pine tree in McLaren Park

Pond in McLaren Park
Grove of trees and east view from McLaren Park (it's a blimp)
South view on the border between McLaren Park and Crocker Amazon Park, at Sunnydale Avenue

Excelsior/Mission Street info on other sites
The Excelsior District on Wikipedia

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