San Francisco California

San Francisco, California is also known as "The City by the Bay". The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the fourteenth most populous city in the U.S., with an estimated populated of 744,041 as of 2006. The city is most well known for its chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture, and its peninsular location.

Famous landmarks include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, Coit Tower and Chinatown. Fisherman's Wharf is also a must-see for tourists and a favorite place for residents.

The city is also infamous for the major earthquake on the morning of April 19, 1906 that ruptured gas lines and ignited fires that destroyed over three-quarters if the city. More than 200,000 people were left homeless and settled into temporary tent villages in Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, on the beaches, or elsewhere. When it was time to rebuild, the destroyed mansions of Nob Hill became grand hotels, City Hall rose again and the city celebrated is rebirth in 1915 at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

The San Andreas and Hayward Faults are responsible for much earthquake activity, although neither passes directly through the city itself.

San Francisco's peninsular geography makes the city unique. San Francisco, California is located on the west coast of the U.S. at the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. It includes significant stretches of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. Several islands are also part of the city including, Alcatraz, Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island. The uninhabited Farallon Islands are also included in the city and are 27 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean.

San Francisco is famous for hills, with more than 50 just within the city limits. Some of these illustrious hills include Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, Potrero Hill and Telegraph Hill. Mount Sutro is the site of Sutro Tower, a large red and white television transmission tower. Twin Peaks is a pair of hills resting at one of the highest points in the city and is a popular spot for tour groups. The city's tallest hill, Mount Davidson, is 925 feet high and is capped with a 103 feet tall cross.

Entire neighborhoods such as Marina and Hunters Point and sections of Embarcadero sit on areas of landfill because the city has outgrown its natural limits. Treasure Island was constructed from material dredged from the bay as well as material resulting from tunneling through Yerba Island during the building of the Bay Bridge.

The historic center of San Francisco is home to the Financial District, with Union Square, the principal shopping and hotel district nearby.

Union Square is home to some of the finest department stores including Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's. Nordstrom's is just off the square on Market. Fine designers such as Christian Dior, Gucci, Kate Spade, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren and Versace can be found at Union Square. Other popular clothing stores are Banana Republic, Bebe, Diesel USA, Guess?, Gap, Victoria's Secret, Levi's Flagship Store, Urban Outfitters, Nine West, Cole-Haan, Johnston & Murphy, Loehman's and DSW. Jewelry stores at Union Square include Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Cartier, Swatch and Simayof.

The city is a gracious host to tourist, offering charming bed and breakfasts as well as hotels. Bed and breakfasts in the city include The Inn San Francisco, Red Victorian B&B, Chateau Tivoli, Victorian Inn On the Park, Archbishop's Mansion, Albion House Inn, Bocks B&B, Golden Gate Hotel, Hayes Valley In, Jackson Court, The Mansions and more. Area hotels include Nob Hill Motor Inn, Comfort Inn by the Bay, Castle Inn Motel, Heritage Marina Hotel, Carriage Inn, Hotel Britton and Hotel Americania. Luxury hotel suites are widely available at Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Palace Hotel, Argent Hotel, Hilton, Hotel Vitale, Pan Pacific, Grand Hyatt, Prescott, Sir Francis Drake, Galleria Park, Stanford Court, The Omni Hotel, Hotel Monaco, El Drisco, Hotel Griffon, Hotel Nikko and Huntington, to name a few.

The San Francisco night life has something that appeals to everyone with its many clubs and bars including 1751 Social Club, Velvet Lounge, Brunos, The End Up, The Fillmore, Caf