Food, Art and Shopping in the Mission District

Overview: Known for its vibrant Latino culture, colorful murals and hip, artistic spirit, the Mission is experiencing a second coming with a new crop of restaurants, boutiques and more.

While some locals have bemoaned the "gentrification" of the Mission during the past decade with scores of tech start-up workers flooding the neighborhood as renters and homeowners, there is still plenty of authenticity and grittiness in the Mission.

This guide references Travel + Leisure's article titled "Exploring San Francisco's Mission District," by Jaime Gross.

Tips: - Better to take MUNI or a cab than drive and try to find parking.

- The Mission is a flat neighborhood, so no worries about San Francisco's famously steep hills.

- Dress casual, very casual. The Mission is a mashup of artists, tech start-up workers, edgy fashion designers and working-class families. Think hip, not glam.

- There have been flashes of violence in the Mission in recent years, especially near the BART stations. As you would in any major city, stay aware of your surroundings, keep your wallet well secured and have a clear plan for getting back to your hotel or wherever you are staying at the end of the night. It is not a convenient or particularly safe walk back to downtown San Francisco, for example.