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Tours & Attractions
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| San Francisco - Facts |
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Geography
Surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay,
San Francisco's compact 46 square miles (125 sq. km.) crowd the tip of
the San Francisco Peninsula.
Population
"The City" has a population of 723,959; nevertheless it looms
large in the imagination as the hub of the greater Bay Area. The nation's
fifth largest metropolitan region registers a population of 6 million
and hosts over 16 million visitors, conventioneers and business travelers
each year.
Weather
San Francisco is blessed with a temperate marine climate and enjoys
mild weather year-round. Temperatures seldom rise above 70°F (21°C)
or fall below 40°F (5°C). Morning and evening fogs roll in during
the summer months, but rarely persist. Visitors are most comfortable with
a light jacket or coat handy, or in a suit. An all-weather coat will take
the chill off cool evenings. Lightweight summer clothes are seldom practical
in San Francisco.
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| The Bay |
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San Francisco Bay, a 500-square-mile cleft in the California coastline,
has a split personality. It is both a major center for water-borne commerce
and a delightful excuse to just go play.
From the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada, 16 California rivers flow
into San Francisco Bay. A steady stream of container ships, freighters
and cruisers docked at more than 40 deepwater piers attest to its role
as a major shipping lane. But it is the fun side of the bay, that lures
mariners about and aboard, to skirt the Golden Gate Bridge where ebb tide
meets west wind or happily paddle single kayaks in Richardson Bay. Scheduled
ferry service, sightseeing and dining cruises offer another opportunity
to ply the bay. However, for those who don't trust their sea legs, landside
pursuits on the edge of the water can be just as engaging.
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| History |
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The following are some of the major milestones in San Francisco's history:
In 1579, Sir Francis Drake landed a few miles north of the Golden Gate,
but apparently the fog shrouded the area to the south, preventing him
from discovering the Bay or claiming the surrounding territory.
About 200 years later, Don Juan Manuel Ayala established a mission and
a town in San Francisco.
Even by 1846, San Francisco remained a small town, with only about 800
inhabitants. The number one occupation at that time was raising livestock.
It was not until 1849, a year after gold was discovered at Sutter's mill,
that the town boomed, as 40,000 gold prospectors flooded the area. The
gold rush peaked in 1852.
In 1906, the San Francisco earthquake and fire occurs, killing 452 people
and destroying 28,000 buildings.
In 1920, the first transcontinental airmail route is established between
New York City and San Francisco.
In 1969, 78 Native Americans seize Alcatraz Island, demanding it be made
into a cultural center; 19 months later they leave.
On October 17, 1989, San Francisco suffered the Loma Prieta earthquake,
the second most powerful in U.S. history, measuring 7.1 on the Richter
scale, which killed 67 people, left 48,000 people homeless, and resulted
in $10 billion of property damage.
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| Beaches |
For many visitors, Ocean Beach on the westernmost edge of The City is the
first stop on the itinerary. The Pacific Ocean is always an exhilarating
sight, especially for first-timers. The expansive windows of the Cliff House,
erected in 1909, are a popular lookout. Just offshore are the abrupt outlines
of Seal Rocks. They are usually inhabited by shore birds and a colony of
stellar sea lions. Bring binoculars for a close-up. On a clear day the Farallon
Islands some 30 miles distant are also visible. Swimming, it should be noted,
is not allowed here. There are two other sandy pockets on The City's northern
edge. China Beach at 28th Avenue and Sea Cliff, is one of the few swimming
beaches in The City. Lifeguards on duty during the summer watch this cove.
At Baker Beach, off 25th Avenue, swimming is dangerous, but the views of
the Golden Gate are alluring for hikers, fishermen and picnickers.
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