San Francisco Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in San Francisco

San Francisco is a unique city, much loved by visitors, who return frequently to take in the myriad pleasures of the 'city by the bay' With more than 3,500 restaurants and drinking establishments and an estimated 30,000-plus hotel rooms, visitors are in tourist paradise.

Arguable the most attractive of American cities and regularly voted the best city in the USA, San Francisco is adored because of its colourful history, dramatic setting and its laissez-faire atmosphere, a quality missing from synthetic Los Angeles.

San Francisco began life as a feisty frontier town, and little has changed in 150 years. The city only occupies 47 hilly square miles of California, but it captivates the world.

It is a regular trendsetter in everything alternative, from flower-power to 'free love' and gay liberation; it prides itself on being individualistic, down-to-earth and cultured.

The appeal of San Fran is widespread. The beaches, cliffs, storm-tossed seas and the swoop of Golden Gate Bridge continue to draw tourists.

San Francisco remains America's most liberal city, where sex workshops count for college credit.

Freewheeling and funky, it's the birthplace of blue jeans, mountain bikes and topless waitresses.

Yet the city isn't all whimsy - the United Nations, Visa, Access and Bank of America also have their roots by the Bay.

It's a unique city, much loved by visitors, who return frequently to take in the myriad pleasures of the 'city by the bay'.

Popular attractions include:

Historic Cable Car Ride - No visit to San Francisco would be complete without a ride on San Francisco's most notable form of transportation.

Golden Gate Bay Cruise - What better way to experience the city by the bay than to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge, past Sausalito and around Alcatraz.

SBC Park Tour - Tour "Baseball's Perfect Address" with views of downtown and the Bay. This behind-the-scenes tour takes you to places only the players and coaches go.

Exploratorium - Founded by noted physicist and educator Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, the Exploratorium is a collage of over 650 science, art, and human perception exhibits.

Chabot Space Center and Planetarium - The entire universe if yours to experience in the Chabot's planetarium and observatory, and through their exhibits and MegaDome Theater.

Zeum - The Zeum celebrates the techie side of San Francisco with hands-on art and technology exhibits for the whole family.

Mexican Museum - Founded in 1975, the Mexican Museum voices the complexity and richness of Latino art throughout the Americas.

Chinese Heritage Museum - The museum of the Chinese Historical Society celebrates the artistic, literary and cultural contributions of Chinese Americans.

Museo ItaloAmericano - Established in 1978, the Museo ItaloAmericano is the only museum in the US devoted exclusively to Italian and Italian-American art and culture.

SS Jeremiah O'Brien - A visit to SS Jeremiah O'Brien is a historic journey on a WWII vessel, the only ship from the Normandy invasion to return for the 50th year anniversary.

USS Hornet - Step aboard the legendary aircraft carrier that participated in both World War II and the Apollo 11 manned space mission.

Bacchus and Venus Wine Tasting Room - Sample wines from ten of California's finest wineries at the Bacchus and Venus tasting room, located in the heart of Sausalito just across the bay.

Clos Pegase Winery - This unique winery exists at the intersection of fine wine and fine art. Visit their beautifully adorned tasting room for a truly enjoyable
experience.

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Population: 295.734.100
Languages: English 82%, Spanish 11% (2000)
Currency: US dollar
Currency code: USD
Local Times:
U.S.A. - District of Columbia - Washington DC

U.S.A. - Florida - Orlando

U.S.A. - California - San Francisco

U.S.A. - New York - New York

U.S.A. - Nevada - Las Vegas

Country Dialling Code: +1
Voltage: 120V 60Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 parallel flat prongs

2 Parallel flat prongs with an earth connector

The USA is home to several of the world's most exciting cities, some truly mind-blowing landscapes, a strong sense of regionalism, a trenchant mythology, more history than the country gives itself credit for and, arguably, some of the most approachable natives in the world.

America was 'discovered' by Columbus in 1492 and for 500 years people have travelled here seeking a better life in the 'land of opportunity'. The land was fought over by colonial powers for centuries and finally won its independence from Britain in 1783. Despite the near annihilation of the Native American population, one of the bloodiest civil wars the world had seen, and racism (Native Americans were not granted citizenship until 1924 and racial segregation was the norm until as late as the 1950s), the American people have succeeded in forging one of the worlds most united, democratic and tolerant nations, a fascinating melting-pot of cultures, and the undisputed military and economic heavyweight of the world.

The country is made up of 48 contiguous states of the continental USA, plus the huge state of Alaska, northwest of Canada, and the volcanic islands of Hawaii, 2,000 miles (3,219km) out into the Pacific. There are also the US territories, which include Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Midway Islands and US Virgin Islands. Tourism is focused mainly in the great cities such as New York and Washington, as well as sunshine states such as Florida, California and Hawaii. However the mind-blowing landscapes, found in the wealth of magnificent National Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Adirondacks, as well as spectacular sights like the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains, are what make the USA so unique. With all this on their doorstep, it's easy to understand why a significant proportion of Americans have never bothered getting a passport.

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