SAN FRANCISCO, California

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The most European of the American cities, San Francisco is really a must see.

The connection to the sea, the conflicts between the straight streets and the hilly place, the several and different quarters, the bay, Alcatraz, everything has something in common with our American references and memories built by movies. Not to be missed!

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when in wine country, Calistoga is not a bad place to stay. They have hot natural spring pools at Calistoga resort and Spa. I enjoy them after I come back from the wine tasting. The next day you n your mate can relax in a mud bath spa treatment.

Though Mission Dolores and the Presidio were founded by the Spanish in 1776, actual settlement of the area by Europeans began in the 1830s.

After the discovery of gold in 1848, thousands of prospectors poured through town on their way to the California gold fields. The young city expanded rapidly, only to burn down, erupt with crime, and then emerged at the end of the 19th century as the largest and most influential American city west of the Mississippi. The city also rebuilt quickly after the 1906 earthquake and fire.

San Francisco is a hard city to not fall in love with. With an astonishing physical setting and a jumble of architectural styles from an assortment of eras, the former California Gold Rush capital captivates like few others. Surrounded on three sides by glorious water, this peninsular hill-laden marvel would be a candidate for National Park status if they'd never built a city here in the first place. In fact, much of what surrounds the man-made structures is part of the National Park system. Spacey modern skyscrapers and turn of the century relics intermingle effortlessly, salted generously with Victorian and Edwardian homes to add color. Ethnicity is at the forefront with the nation's most colorful Chinatown, a sprawling Hispanic neighborhood, and a taste of Italy right in the city center. So, you know there's food to be eaten in them there hills. But what you notice as you wander up and down the forty-five degree inclines, aside from a confluence of spectacular views, is the utter silence of this gem of a town. There are no honking horns and people seem to speak in whispers. Perhaps they're trying to keep a secret about the place they live in. Can you blame them? Because when cities dream, they dream they're San Francisco.

The San Francisco Bay Area is the region around the bay and centred on San Francisco. The greater Bay Area has over 7 million people and from about 1849 until after 1920 was by far the biggest population centre in the state. It is itself very diverse with many different cities, micros-climates, and things to see. It has much history, especially in San Francisco.

I may be biased, but if I could recommend only one City to visit in California it would be San Francisco. In the City, you will encounter pleasing views, wonderful architecture, interesting history, excellent food, and close proximity to other great areas. Some of the San Francisco's popular attractions include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf. However, opportunities exist to dig much deeper into what this City has to offer. The City by the Bay is as diverse in its attractions as it is in its people.

San Francisco is an extremely interesting city. I spent four days there at the end of my North American travels. The city has an incredibly photogenic setting and is full of beautiful buildings and intriguing neighbourhoods. It needn't cost you a bundle to stay there either, with accommodation for back-packers and those with a budget in mind! See my San Francisco page for more information about this beautiful and engaging city.

The most 'European' city on the Pacific, they say of San Francisco, but its pretty unique in itself. The Bay Area is perhaps the most progressive part of the US (mr Bush is not particularly welcome here, for one thing), and it was San Francisco that embodied the so-called Summer of Love in 1967. Tony Bennett apparently left his heart here (possibly replaced with a modern pacemaker), so if you find it let him know (or sell it on ebay). San Francisco is small, much smaller than the sprawls of other major US cities, being compacted onto a tiny peninsula that stops abruptly at the Golden Gate. But it is hilly, very very hilly, and though it's a great city for walking atound, you might want to bring some comfy shoes, or take advantage of the old wooden cable-cars (seen here).

Oh, one more thing: don't call it 'Frisco', or 'San Fran'. Locals know it as 'San Francisco', or simply 'The City'.

See the Ferry Building in San Francisco. It was built in 1896 after the Cathedral tower in Seville, Spain. Before the bridges were built, it was the gateway to San Francisco for ferries carrying passengers from all over the bay.
The Ferry Building was renovated in 2003. The renovation took 4 years to complete. Now you can stroll inside the building and enjoy the shops and restaurants. You can buy a lunch and eat outside on the deck if you like. You'll have a great view of the Bay Bridge.

Check out this website for the history and list of restaurants inside the Ferry building.
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/

San Francisco is California's (and America's) best city. It has a beautiful setting and a ton of sights, including Chinatown and the famous Golden Gate Bridge. There are inevitably also tourist traps, like Fisherman's Wharf. Walking around Chinatown is fun, as is viewing the Golden Gate Bridge.