| San Francisco, California is also known as "The | | | | The park is planted with thousands of non-native |
| City by the Bay". The City and County of San | | | | trees and plants and is rich with attractions |
| Francisco is the fourth most populous city in | | | | including the Conservatory of Flowers, the |
| California and the fourteenth most populous city in | | | | Japanese Tea Garden and Strybing Arboretum. |
| the U.S., with an estimated populated of 744,041 | | | | The Presidio and Crissy Field are part of the |
| as of 2006. The city is most well known for its | | | | Golde Gate National Recreation Area, which |
| chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of | | | | includes Alcatraz. Buena Vista Park is the city's |
| Victorian and modern architecture, and its | | | | oldest park, established in 1867. Lake Merced is a |
| peninsular location. | | | | freshwater lake surrounded by parkland. |
| Famous landmarks include the Golden Gate Bridge, | | | | San Francisco is characterized by a high standard |
| Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, Coit Tower and | | | | of living. Property value and household income |
| Chinatown. Fisherman's Wharf is also a must-see | | | | have escalated to be among the highest in the |
| for tourists and a favorite place for residents. | | | | nation, allowing the city to support a large |
| The city is also infamous for the major | | | | restaurant and entertainment infrastructure. |
| earthquake on the morning of April 19, 1906 that | | | | Reflecting San Francisco's high-class economy, |
| ruptured gas lines and ignited fires that destroyed | | | | luxury dining graces the streets of the city. Some |
| over three-quarters if the city. More than 200,000 | | | | of the city's fine dining includes Park Chow, |
| people were left homeless and settled into | | | | Universal Caf, Restaurant Gary Danko, The Blue |
| temporary tent villages in Golden Gate Park, the | | | | Plate, Luna Park, The Last Supper Club, |
| Presidio, on the beaches, or elsewhere. When it | | | | Restaurant Lulu, Limon Restaurant and Levende |
| was time to rebuild, the destroyed mansions of | | | | Lounge. Favorit Italian restaurants in the city |
| Nob Hill became grand hotels, City Hall rose again | | | | include Rose Pistola, Little City, Buca Giovanni, The |
| and the city celebrated is rebirth in 1915 at the | | | | Stinking Rose, Il Fornaio, Caf Macaroni and more. |
| Panama-Pacific International Exposition. | | | | The city spices things up a bit with favorite |
| The San Andreas and Hayward Faults are | | | | Mexican restaurants such as La Cumbre, La |
| responsible for much earthquake activity, although | | | | Rondalla, Chevy's, Left at Albuquerque, Caf |
| neither passes directly through the city itself. | | | | Marimba and Taqueria El Toro. Streetside and |
| San Francisco's peninsular geography makes the | | | | waterfront cafes are the perfect place to sit for |
| city unique. San Francisco, California is located on | | | | a while, some of which are Union Square Caf, |
| the west coast of the U.S. at the tip of the San | | | | Muddy's, Caf Francisco's and Starbucks. |
| Francisco Peninsula. It includes significant stretches | | | | Boasting the best Asian food in the country, San |
| of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. | | | | Francisco has authentic Japanese, Thai, Korean |
| Several islands are also part of the city including, | | | | and Chinese restaurants. Some favorite Thai |
| Alcatraz, Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island. | | | | restaurants are Khan Toke Thai House, Bethelnut |
| The uninhabited Farallon Islands are also included in | | | | and Zao. Chinese restaurants include R&G Lounge |
| the city and are 27 miles offshore in the Pacific | | | | and Hong Kong Flower Lounge. Korean cuisine can |
| Ocean. | | | | be enjoyed at The Slanted Door or Ace Wasabi's. |
| San Francisco is famous for hills, with more than | | | | Other restaurants include The Golden Dragon, |
| 50 just within the city limits. Some of these | | | | Golden Mountain, Naan and Curry, Maharani |
| illustrious hills include Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, | | | | Restaurant and Angkor Wat. |
| Russian Hill, Potrero Hill and Telegraph Hill. Mount | | | | San Francisco's entertainment allures tourists and |
| Sutro is the site of Sutro Tower, a large red and | | | | caters to the city's residents. The War Memorial |
| white television transmission tower. Twin Peaks is | | | | and Performing Arts Center features some of |
| a pair of hills resting at one of the highest points | | | | the longest performing arts companies in the U.S. |
| in the city and is a popular spot for tour groups. | | | | The War Memorial Opera House houses the San |
| The city's tallest hill, Mount Davidson, is 925 feet | | | | Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet. The |
| high and is capped with a 103 feet tall cross. | | | | Davies Symphony Hall is home to the San |
| Entire neighborhoods such as Marina and Hunters | | | | Francisco Symphony. The Herbst Theatre stages |
| Point and sections of Embarcadero sit on areas of | | | | a mix of musical performances and public radio's |
| landfill because the city has outgrown its natural | | | | City Arts & Lectures. The Fillmore is a popular |
| limits. Treasure Island was constructed from | | | | music venue and has fostered the San Francisco |
| material dredged from the bay as well as material | | | | Sound with artists such as the Grateful Dead, |
| resulting from tunneling through Yerba Island | | | | Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane. |
| during the building of the Bay Bridge. | | | | The American Conservatory Theater routinely |
| The historic center of San Francisco is home to | | | | stages original productions. The city also |
| the Financial District, with Union Square, the | | | | frequently hosts touring Broadway productions in |
| principal shopping and hotel district nearby. | | | | a number of vintage venues in the Theater |
| Union Square is home to some of the finest | | | | District including Curran, Orpheum and Golden |
| department stores including Macy's, Neiman | | | | Gate Theatres. |
| Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's. | | | | San Francisco celebrates history and art in the |
| Nordstrom's is just off the square on Market. Fine | | | | Museum of Modern Art, the Palace of the Legion |
| designers such as Christian Dior, Gucci, Kate | | | | of Honor, the De Young Museum, the Asian Art |
| Spade, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren | | | | Museum. Tthe Palace of Fine Arts today houses |
| and Versace can be found at Union Square. Other | | | | the Exploratorium, a popular science museum |
| popular clothing stores are Banana Republic, Bebe, | | | | dedicated to teaching through hands-on interaction. |
| Diesel USA, Guess?, Gap, Victoria's Secret, Levi's | | | | The California Academy of Sciences is a natural |
| Flagship Store, Urban Outfitters, Nine West, | | | | history museum and hosts the Morrison |
| Cole-Haan, Johnston & Murphy, Loehman's and | | | | Planetarium and Steinhart Aquarium. The San |
| DSW. Jewelry stores at Union Square include | | | | Francisco Zoo cared for roughly 250 animal |
| Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Cartier, Swatch and | | | | species, 39 of which have been deemed |
| Simayof. | | | | endangered or threatened. |
| The city is a gracious host to tourist, offering | | | | Tourism is the backbone of the San Francisco |
| charming bed and breakfasts as well as hotels. | | | | economy. Its frequent portrayal in music, film and |
| Bed and breakfasts in the city include The Inn | | | | popular culture has made the city and its |
| San Francisco, Red Victorian B&B, Chateau Tivoli, | | | | landmarks recognizable worldwide. San Francisco |
| Victorian Inn On the Park, Archbishop's Mansion, | | | | attracts the fifth highest number of foreign |
| Albion House Inn, Bocks B&B, Golden Gate Hotel, | | | | tourists of any city in the United States and |
| Hayes Valley In, Jackson Court, The Mansions and | | | | claims Pier 39 near Fisherman's Wharf to be the |
| more. Area hotels include Nob Hill Motor Inn, | | | | third-most popular tourist attraction in the nation. |
| Comfort Inn by the Bay, Castle Inn Motel, | | | | San Francisco is also the principal banking and |
| Heritage Marina Hotel, Carriage Inn, Hotel Britton | | | | finance center of the west coast. Known as the |
| and Hotel Americania. Luxury hotel suites are | | | | "Wall Street of the West", Montgomery Street is |
| widely available at Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, | | | | home to the Federal Reserve Bank of San |
| Mandarin Oriental, Palace Hotel, Argent Hotel, | | | | Francisco. The Wells Fargo corporate |
| Hilton, Hotel Vitale, Pan Pacific, Grand Hyatt, | | | | headquarters and the site of the former Pacific |
| Prescott, Sir Francis Drake, Galleria Park, Stanford | | | | Stock Exchange are all held there. Bank of |
| Court, The Omni Hotel, Hotel Monaco, El Drisco, | | | | America was also founded in San Francisco. San |
| Hotel Griffon, Hotel Nikko and Huntington, to name | | | | Francisco is a Beta World City, with over thirty |
| a few. | | | | international financial institutions, six Fortune 500 |
| The San Francisco night life has something that | | | | companies and services including law, public |
| appeals to everyone with its many clubs and bars | | | | relations, architecture and graphic design. |
| including 1751 Social Club, Velvet Lounge, Brunos, | | | | Small businesses make up 85 percent of the city's |
| The End Up, The Fillmore, Caf Du Nord, Ashkenaz, | | | | establishments. The penetration of national big box |
| New Wave City, Toronado, Bottom of the Hill, | | | | retail chains into the city has been slow. The Small |
| Bimbo's 365 Club, Elbo Room, Sweetwater and | | | | Business Commission supports a publicity |
| Ruby Sky. | | | | campaign to keep a larger share of retail dollars in |
| The beauty of San Francisco is appreciated in its | | | | the local economy in an effort to buoy small |
| many parks. The Golden Gate Park, stretches | | | | privately owned businesses in San Francisco. |
| from the center of the city to the Pacific Ocean. | | | | |