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