San Francisco - A City Guide

Introduction" Haight Street
The City and County of San Francisco is the" SoMa
fourth-largest city in the state of California, in the United" Hayes Valley
States. A consolidated city-county, mainland SanFood & Drink
Francisco is located on the tip of the San FranciscoSan Francisco's restaurants are so renowned that
Peninsula. Insular San Francisco includes several islandsmany people visit the city just to eat -- and with good
in the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Strait,reason. The city's brilliant chefs, combined with
notably Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and the FarallonCalifornia's abundance of organic produce, seafood,
Islands 27 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean and alsofree-range meats, and Northern California wine,
most of the privately owned Red Rock Island near theguarantee some of the world's finest dining. San
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.Francisco also has varied nightlife ranging from bars to
Historylounges to clubs. Major areas of nightlife in San
San Francisco has a long history of events marking itsFrancisco are North Beach, the Mission District, the
growth from a small town to a big cityMarina, the Castro, and South of Market. San
" In 1776, the Spanish were the first Europeans toFrancisco also boasts of legendary pop music venues
settle in San Franciscosuch as The Fillmore and The Warfield.
" In 1848, with the advent of the California gold rush theUniversities
city entered a period of rapid growthSan Francisco Unified School District and the
" In 1822, serious development by non-SpanishArchdiocese of San Francisco's dozens of Catholic
speakers began, when William Richardson, an Englishelementary and high schools serve the city. Despite its
whaler redeveloped a section of Yerba Buena in whatlimited geographical space, San Francisco is home to a
is now Portsmouth Square in Chinatown.multitude of Universities and Colleges. Public universities
" In 1846, the Mexican-American War broke out.include:
" On January 30, 1847, a naval force under" University of California, San Francisco, primarily a
Commodore John D. Sloat claimed it in the name ofgraduate level health-sciences school, located north of
the United States and renamed it "San Francisco"Forest Hill
" On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake resulted" San Francisco State University located in the
from the rupture of over 270 miles of the Sansouthwest corner of the city near Lake Merced
Andreas Fault, from San Juan Bautista to Eureka," University of California, Hastings College of the Law
centered immediately offshore of San Francisco.located downtown at its Civic Center
" The city was quickly rebuilt after the earthquake." City College of San Francisco, one of the largest
" The phoenix on the city's flag represents Sancommunity colleges in the country is located in the
Francisco's "rebirth" from the ashes of the fire thatIngleside, with several extension campuses.
resulted from the quake." Private universities:
" In the 1950s San Francisco hired Harvard graduate" The Jesuit-run University of San Francisco, one of
Justin Herman to head the redevelopment agency forthe first universities established west of the Mississippi,
the city and county.located in the center of the city
" Justin Herman began an aggressive campaign to" Golden Gate University, a business and law school
renew blighted areas of the city.located downtown
" His planning led to the creation of Embarcadero" California Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu
Center, the Embarcadero Freeway, Japan town, theprogram located in the Tenderloin
Geary Street super blocks, and Yerba Buena" Academy of Art University
Gardens." San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking
Place of interest" Alliant International University.
San Francisco's parks, museums, tours, and landmarksSports
are favorites for travelers the world over and offer anSan Francisco is the home of many major league
array of activities to suit every visitor. But no particularteams like
activity or place makes the city one of the most" The San Francisco 49ers National Football League
popular destinations in the world. It's San Franciscoteam, who play at Monster Park
itself -- its charm, its atmosphere, its perfect blend of" The San Francisco Giants Major League Baseball
big metropolis with small-town hospitality. Some of itsteam, who play at SBC Park
main attractions are:" MLB 's Oakland Athletics
" Alcatraz Island" NFL's Oakland Raiders
" Cable Cars" The National Basketball Association's Golden State
" California Academy of SciencesWarriors play across the bay in Oakland
" Coit Tower" The regional National Hockey League team, the San
" Ferry Building Marketplace (and Farmers' Market)Jose Sharks play in San Jose
" Fisherman's WharfThe Warriors and Sharks were once based just south
" Ghiradelli Squareof San Francisco, at the Cow Palace, located several
" Golden Gate Bridgeyards south of San Francisco, in Daly City. The city is
" Lombard Streetalso home to some famous golf courses, including the
" Pier 39Harding Park Golf Course and the courses of the
" The CanneryOlympic Club.
" Yerba Buena Center for the Arts / Yerba BuenaHotels & Accommodation
GardensLuxury Hotels
Museums & Art GalleriesSan Francisco has elegant and grand hotels in its
Notable San Francisco Museums includepossession. Westin St. Francis, Westin Saint Francis,
" The Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA),Palace Hotel, Argent Hotel, Mark Hopkins
" The Palace of the Legion of Honor,Intercontinental, Hilton, Fairmont, W San Francisco, Pan
" The M. H. de Young Memorial Museum,Pacific, Park Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Renaissance Parc
" The Asian Art Museum.55, Ritz Carlton - are some of these big names.
Other museums includeAll famous luxury hotels like Hilton, Hyatt, Palace Hotel,
" The International Museum of Women,etc. have their branch in Fisherman Wharf.
" The Museum of the African Diaspora,Budget Hotels
" The Contemporary Jewish Museum,If the visit to San Francisco is in a particularly busy
" The Museum of Craft & Folk Art,season and booking in prominent hotels are over,
" The Mexican Museum.here's a list of moderate to very inexpensive
In terms of performing arts, San Francisco boastsalternatives - Alisa Hotel, Edward II Inn & Suites, Hotel
" The San Francisco Symphony,Beresford Arms, King George Hotel, The Marina Inn,
" The San Francisco OperaThe San Remo Hotel.
" The San Francisco Ballet.Tours and Sightseeing
San Francisco's Ballet and Opera are some of theSan Francisco has different type of organized tours
oldest continuing performing arts companies in thethey differ in the contents as well as the transport
United States.system. Tours are available by Bus, Boat, BART (Bay
ShoppingArea Rapid Transit) or on foot. The San Francisco
Like its population, San Francisco's shopping is bothVisitor Information Center, at Powell and Market
worldly and intimate. Every persuasion, style, era, andstreets, distributes free route maps. Blue & Gold Fleet
fetish is represented, not in big, tacky shopping malls,and Red & White Fleet are two boat tours available.
but in hundreds of quaint, dramatically differentAnd Gray Line Bus tour is the San Francisco's largest
boutiques scattered throughout the city. San Franciscobus tour operator. The self-guided Private SUV tour,
has many shopping areas, but the following places are49-mile drive is one easy way to grasp the beauty of
where one will find most of the actions:San Francisco and its extraordinary location. Beginning
" Union Square & Environsin the city, it follows a rough circle around the bay and
" Chinatownpasses virtually all the best-known sights, from
" Union StreetChinatown to the Golden Gate Bridge, Ocean Beach,
" Chestnut StreetSeal Rocks, Golden Gate Park, and Twin Peaks.
" Fillmore Street