Part trendy, part nostalgic, part funky, the Haight, as it’s most commonly known, was the soul of the psychedelic, free-loving 1960s and the center of the counterculture movement. Today the gritty neighborhood straddling upper Haight Street, on the eastern border of Golden Gate Park, is more gentrified, but the commercial area still harbors all walks of life. Leftover aging hippies mingle with grungy, begging street kids outside Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Store (where they might still be talking about Jerry Garcia), nondescript marijuana dealers whisper “Buds” as shoppers pass, and many people walking down the street have Day-Glo hair. But you don’t need to be a freak or wear tie-dye to enjoy the Haight -- the ethnic food, trendy shops, and bars cover all tastes. From Haight Street, walk south on Cole Street for a more peaceful and quaint neighborhood experience.