| San Francisco, California is also known as "The | | | | The city's tallest hill, Mount Davidson, is 925 feet |
| City by the Bay". The City and County of San | | | | high and is capped with a 103 feet tall cross. |
| Francisco is the fourth most populous city in | | | | Entire neighborhoods such as Marina and Hunters |
| California and the fourteenth most populous city in | | | | Point and sections of Embarcadero sit on areas of |
| the U.S., with an estimated populated of 744,041 | | | | landfill because the city has outgrown its natural |
| as of 2006. The city is most well known for its | | | | limits. Treasure Island was constructed from |
| chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of | | | | material dredged from the bay as well as material |
| Victorian and modern architecture, and its | | | | resulting from tunneling through Yerba Island |
| peninsular location. | | | | during the building of the Bay Bridge. |
| Famous landmarks include the Golden Gate Bridge, | | | | The historic center of San Francisco is home to |
| Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, Coit Tower and | | | | the Financial District, with Union Square, the |
| Chinatown. Fisherman's Wharf is also a must-see | | | | principal shopping and hotel district nearby. |
| for tourists and a favorite place for residents. | | | | Union Square is home to some of the finest |
| The city is also infamous for the major | | | | department stores including Macy's, Neiman |
| earthquake on the morning of April 19, 1906 that | | | | Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's. |
| ruptured gas lines and ignited fires that destroyed | | | | Nordstrom's is just off the square on Market. Fine |
| over three-quarters if the city. More than 200,000 | | | | designers such as Christian Dior, Gucci, Kate |
| people were left homeless and settled into | | | | Spade, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren |
| temporary tent villages in Golden Gate Park, the | | | | and Versace can be found at Union Square. Other |
| Presidio, on the beaches, or elsewhere. When it | | | | popular clothing stores are Banana Republic, Bebe, |
| was time to rebuild, the destroyed mansions of | | | | Diesel USA, Guess?, Gap, Victoria's Secret, Levi's |
| Nob Hill became grand hotels, City Hall rose again | | | | Flagship Store, Urban Outfitters, Nine West, |
| and the city celebrated is rebirth in 1915 at the | | | | Cole-Haan, Johnston & Murphy, Loehman's and |
| Panama-Pacific International Exposition. | | | | DSW. Jewelry stores at Union Square include |
| The San Andreas and Hayward Faults are | | | | Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Cartier, Swatch and |
| responsible for much earthquake activity, although | | | | Simayof. |
| neither passes directly through the city itself. | | | | The city is a gracious host to tourist, offering |
| San Francisco's peninsular geography makes the | | | | charming bed and breakfasts as well as hotels. |
| city unique. San Francisco, California is located on | | | | Bed and breakfasts in the city include The Inn |
| the west coast of the U.S. at the tip of the San | | | | San Francisco, Red Victorian B&B, Chateau Tivoli, |
| Francisco Peninsula. It includes significant stretches | | | | Victorian Inn On the Park, Archbishop's Mansion, |
| of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. | | | | Albion House Inn, Bocks B&B, Golden Gate Hotel, |
| Several islands are also part of the city including, | | | | Hayes Valley In, Jackson Court, The Mansions and |
| Alcatraz, Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island. | | | | more. Area hotels include Nob Hill Motor Inn, |
| The uninhabited Farallon Islands are also included in | | | | Comfort Inn by the Bay, Castle Inn Motel, |
| the city and are 27 miles offshore in the Pacific | | | | Heritage Marina Hotel, Carriage Inn, Hotel Britton |
| Ocean. | | | | and Hotel Americania. Luxury hotel suites are |
| San Francisco is famous for hills, with more than | | | | widely available at Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, |
| 50 just within the city limits. Some of these | | | | Mandarin Oriental, Palace Hotel, Argent Hotel, |
| illustrious hills include Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, | | | | Hilton, Hotel Vitale, Pan Pacific, Grand Hyatt, |
| Russian Hill, Potrero Hill and Telegraph Hill. Mount | | | | Prescott, Sir Francis Drake, Galleria Park, Stanford |
| Sutro is the site of Sutro Tower, a large red and | | | | Court, The Omni Hotel, Hotel Monaco, El Drisco, |
| white television transmission tower. Twin Peaks is | | | | Hotel Griffon, Hotel Nikko and Huntington, to name |
| a pair of hills resting at one of the highest points | | | | a few. |
| in the city and is a popular spot for tour groups. | | | | |