There are many reasons why San Francisco continuously rates as one of the
most liveable cities in the USA.For starters, its residents retain a relationship between materialism and money on the one hand and
cutting-edge thought and
progressive politics on the other.
This dualism is played out in all facets of society: from eating, drinking and socialising, to art and design, music and culture, landscape and architecture. The reward for unleashing this
creative and freethinking beast on everyday activity is a
dynamic lifestyle on par with New York and streets
ahead of most other cities in the country.
San Francisco is fortuitously positioned between the ocean and
Sierra Nevada mountains to the east and west and redwood forests and the California desert to the north and south. On its doorstep, the
Bay, which fits neatly between the
Golden Gate Bridge and the
Bay Bridge, is not only tantalisingly beautiful, it’s home to 14 small islands, including
Alcatraz. Not far away, the
glorious vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma wine regions ensure weekend escapes are part of the San Francisco experience.
The city has a
mild year-round climate but it should not be confused with hot and sunny Southern California. When the fog and cold sets in, as it often does, locals head indoors, to jazz venues, cosy restaurants, wine bars and old-school breweries to talk life, love, politics and people.
Though steadfast in its bright future, the city’s past is always remembered with a collective nod. Since its early days as Yerba Buena (Good Herb), a
Spanish fishing village, it has seen peace and happiness, and depression and misery in equal parts. Both have helped shape the city’s personality.
The
Gold Rush of 1849 inspired a migration from the west but also from the east - the humble beginnings of Chinatown and Japantown. In 1906, a devastating
earthquake hit. From its ashes, development saw horse-drawn streetcars replaced with
cable cars. In 1937 the completed Golden Gate Bridge provided a postcard-perfect city icon.
In the 1950s, the bohemian
Beat movement fostered the city’s love of the literature. The counter culture flowered in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood during the 1967 Summer of Love and the
gay community fought for and found a home in Castro and Polk Street.
The city saw rapid growth in dotcom industries and has now recovered from downturns. Today it is the
financial capital of the West Coast.
Tolerance for all ways of life is perhaps what buoys the city most today, and what inevitably makes it an
unforgettable destination for people from all walks of life.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related San Francisco Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related California Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
California Airport Guides:
|
California City Guides:
|
| California Attraction Guides: |
|
|
|
|
