Where to relive the Summer of Love, San Francisco

Lynn Houghton

Lynn Houghton

In 2017, San Francisco marked the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, bringing back tie-dye tops, bell-bottom jeans, and giving you the perfect excuse to discover its history for yourself.

Where to relive the Summer of Love, San Francisco
Where to relive the Summer of Love, San Francisco © Rojer - Flickr CC BY 2.0

The Summer of Love: San Francisco's cultural revolution

The anthem "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" was written to promote the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, which was one of many concerts that took place early in the summer; its popularity and huge turnout heralding the start of something significant: the Summer of Love.

Hippies (aka flower children), mainly college students, descended on the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood of San Francisco in their thousands.

Young people throughout the country were resisting the draft, experimenting with drugs, promoting peace and love, and rejecting the agenda of authorities and white middle-class America.

The mantra was turn on, tune in, drop out. Psychedelic clothing, mini and maxi skirts were all the rage and the counterculture movement had an enormous influence on music, art, and literature. Today, you can still walk in the footsteps of those non-conformists and visit the places that helped shape this peace-loving revolution.

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Top places to relive the Summer of Love

Haight-Ashbury

Haight-Ashbury was the epicentre of San Francisco's Summer of Love in 1967. The movement had already been gaining momentum around the USA, but it was here that the media focused their attention.

The Pipe Dreams shop, Haight Ashbury
The Pipe Dreams shop, Haight Ashbury © David Ohmer - Flickr CC BY 2.0

College students and musicians moved into the neighbourhood for the summer. Many came for the music and to 'hang out' with like-minded souls. Ron and Jay Thelin's Psychedelic Shop, the first of its kind in the city, opened on the corner of Haight-Ashbury selling marijuana and hallucinogens.

Pipe Dreams, the oldest smoke shop in San Francisco, is still going strong and is, today, as close as you can get to a head shop, selling paraphernalia, t-shirts, and posters.

The corner of Haight-Ashbury has attempted to hold on to its tie-dyed roots with vintage clothing, book and record shops. Jammin' on Haight has an extensive collection of tie-dye shirts, while The Tibetan Gift Corner, Amoeba Music, and Held Over Vintage clothing all have a pseudo-hippy vibe.

For a pitstop, make for Memphis Minnie's Barbeque Joint, which is dedicated to maintaining and celebrating the time honoured American tradition of slow smoked southern style BBQ.

If you want to really get under the skin of this area, check out Flower Power Walking Tours, which offers guided routes through Haight-Ashbury, walking you in the footsteps of icons like Janis Joplin and Jerry Garcia.

Meanwhile, Alamo Square's 'postcard row' at Hayes and Steiner streets has distinctive Victorian houses, with a backdrop of downtown skyscrapers providing a striking contrast of styles and eras.

Want to know when to head to San Francisco? Check out the weather in San Francisco and see when we think is the best time to go for the finest conditions possible to make the most of this colourful city.

Fillmore District

Once known as the Harlem of the West, the Fillmore was one of the first places in America to feature African American artists in its cabarets and jazz clubs.

Music lovers will want to visit The Fillmore, a legendary live venue which featured prominently during the Summer of Love.

Concert at the Fillmore
Concert at the Fillmore © Swimfinfan - Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

Major artists launched their careers here from The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin to Jefferson Airplane, and Country Joe and the Fish, among others.

It was also well known for its psychedelic light shows and creative, now collectible, posters. It is still possible to catch a gig at this world-famous venue, but do book in advance.

The neighbourhood fell on hard times during the seventies and eighties when jazz clubs moved on to larger venues. Fires and the earthquake of 1989 also took their toll.

But redevelopment has brought back the jazz venues plus a streetscape with new plazas and a history walk. The Sheba Piano Lounge and Boom Boom Room are worth checking out.

Meanwhile, 1300 on Fillmore specialises in soul food with a side of jazz trios and gospel groups. Sunday Gospel Brunches are a sold-out affair, so arrive early.

Golden Gate Park - Hippie Hill

Explore dozens of gardens and plants among the 55 acres nestled within Golden Gate Park, considered by most to be the home of the Summer of Love.

Make your way to Hippie Hill for a Drum Circle. A favourite of locals, the spontaneous drumming is dramatic, energetic and fun. Get ready to people watch and even participate.

North Beach

In the fifties, the North Beach neighbourhood became the stomping ground for beat artists, precursors to the hippy movement.

They were attracted by the area's affordability and its cultural vibrancy. The Beat Museum offers a curated look at artists such as Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Gary Snyder.

It houses original manuscripts as well as photos, personal effects, and memorabilia. Book a tour of The Beat Museum to get some context about the emergence of the movement, their ideas, and their influence on sixties' counterculture.

The first all-paperback store in the country, City Lights Books was founded by Beat Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1953. It maintains its progressive, sometimes anarchic, values while also offering more mainstream fare.

On leaving City Lights, duck into Jack Kerouac Alley, which is dedicated to the late writer, and connects North Beach with Chinatown. It is covered with plaques and artwork, and makes for a special Instagram snap.

City Lights Bookstore, North Beach
City Lights Bookstore, North Beach © Travellinglight - Alamy Stock Photo

Across the street from City Lights is Specs', an establishment that has been everything from a speakeasy to a lesbian bar. The bar is officially called Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Café, and named after its owner Richard "Specs" Simmons.

It is important to note that Specs' is more famous for its history and characters (long-time North Beach residents) than the quality of its beverages.

Get the most out of the area with a two-hour walking tour of North Beach with Walk SF Tours, which focuses on renowned haunts of the Beat generation in the 1950s.

Mission District

The oldest neighbourhood in San Francisco was named after Mission Dolores, which was built in 1776. Murals and artwork are everywhere in this neighbourhood adorning walls, fences and buildings.

Some of the trendiest new restaurants and art galleries are springing up in this venerable part of the city; some say it has the most independent spirit, a throwback to the counterculture influence of the 1960s.

The shops on Valencia Street are independent and quirky with specialities ranging from artisan chocolate to vintage clothing (including customisable rucksacks), locally made perfumes to stationary. You get all walks of life in the Mission so people watching is one of the top things to do here.

Chilling out in Mission Dolores Park, San Francisco
Chilling out in Mission Dolores Park, San Francisco © Eugene Kim - Flickr CC BY 2.0

In homage to the vibe prevalent during the heyday of the hippy movement, have a picnic, catch some rays or just chill out in Mission Dolores Park.

Head to Alba Ray, a new Cajun-style restaurant, for classics like shrimp n' grits and El Techo for tamales. For some lighthearted competition, visit Urban Putt, a funky 14-hole indoor mini-golf course.

Fancy walking in the footsteps of free-loving activists? Book an escape with Virgin Holidays, and you'll be in the hedonistic capital of cool in no time. Check out the latest online offers on trips to San Francisco in 2019 with Virgin Holidays and get booking today.

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Lynn Houghton

Lynn Houghton

Posted on Wednesday 15th February 2017 in: City Culture Festival North America

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