The Summer of Love seems endless to guests at the Red Victorian Bed, Breakfast, and Art (1665 Haight St., 415/864-1978, www.redvic.com, $105–270). The Red Vic serves up peace, love, and literature along with breakfast, while community and color (but absolutely no TVs) decorate the guest rooms.

Part of the economy of this B&B includes shared, named bathrooms for some rooms, though many rooms do have their own private baths. Enjoy the intellectual, peaceful conversations over breakfast, browse the Peace Arts Gift Shop, and if you can, get in a chat with owner Sami Sunchild.

A charming Victorian, the Inn 1890 (1890 Page St., 415/386-0436, www.inn1890.com, $115–195) embodies truth in advertising. The Queen Anne Victorian mansion was built in 1890, at 1890 Page Street. Budget travelers enjoy the smaller rooms with private baths and memory-foam mattresses, while those with a bit more money pick the larger rooms with the original wood fireplaces. Enjoy a continental breakfast each morning, and feel free to use the guest kitchen 24 hours a day.

Down in the residential Richmond district, the Ocean Beach Bed & Breakfast (611 42nd Ave., 415/668-0193, www.oceanbeachbb.com, $140–175) sits three blocks from the all-day attractions of Golden Gate Park. Book early, since this B&B has only two rooms: a queen room and a suite both decorated with country-style antiques and traditional quilts. With its family-style continental breakfast each morning and cookies and milk in the afternoons, this inn may be as close as you can come to living in San Francisco by the sea. To round out your stay, peruse the collection of movies set in San Francisco, books on local history, and menus for local restaurants.