The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the 13th most populous city in the United States, with a 2007 estimated population of 799,183. The second most densely populated major city in the U.S., it is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the larger San Francisco Bay Area, a region of more than 7 million people. The city is located at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Francisco Bay to the east. In 1776, the Spanish established a fort at the Golden Gate and a mission named for Francis of Assisi. The California Gold Rush in 1848 propelled the city into a period of rapid growth, transforming it into the largest city on the West Coast at the time. After being devastated by the 1906 earthquake and fire, San Francisco was quickly rebuilt, hosting the Panama-Pacific International Exposition nine years later. During World War II, San Francisco was the send-off point for many soldiers to the Pacific Theater. After the war, the confluence of returning servicemen, massive immigration, liberalizing attitudes, and other factors gave rise to the Summer of Love and the gay rights movement, cementing San Francisco as a liberal bastion in the United States.
San Francisco is a popular international tourist destination renowned for its chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture and its famous landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the cable cars, and Chinatown. The city is also known for its diverse, cosmopolitan population, including large and long-established Asian American and LGBT communities.
The City by the Bay is one of the world’s great cities and rightfully deserves its place among this list of urban superstars. Visitors will be overwhelmed by the natural beauty which embraces this culturally diverse metropolis and find that there is an incredible amount of things to do and see within such a compact area.
When trying to prioritise your agenda, don’t forget that San Francisco is a tapestry of smaller neighbourhoods. The city’s charm is a direct result of the sum of its parts, so be sure and make time to adequately explore a few of the quirky and engaging districts such as The Castro, Haight-Ashbury and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Some of the world’s finest museums, art galleries, and architecture can be found here and many of the world’s greatest musicians, art collections and special tours make a stop in this city, so you never know what will be waiting for you when you arrive. The dining and entertainment scene eclipses that of most other cities, so don’t worry about finding the right restaurant or the hippest bar, because most of them fall under that category.
Unless you have a couple of weeks to spend here, you’ll find that there will always be something else you wanted to do. Even the locals find the wealth of entertainment and cultural options overwhelming. Avoid doing a whirlwind tour, where you only scratch the surface of San Francisco. Spend the time getting to know a couple of the neighbourhoods, and start planning your return visit.
Accommodation is abundant in San Francisco with a number of top-class hotels available at very reasonable rates. Regardless of whether you are looking for luxury, comfort or facilities, many of the city’s hotels offer a wealth of options popular with all.
