A famous American Playwright, Tennessee Williams once said, "America has only three cities: San Francisco, New York, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.” Indeed, S.F. is not your typical American city. A burgeoning city since the start of the Gold Rush in 1849 (the reason behind naming their football team the 49'ers ), coupled by a second boom in the tech industry and dotcoms of the 90's, S.F. has reached it's apex as one of the costliest city to live in, and yet it is also the highest rated American city on Mercer's World Livability Index - ranking at #34, with Honoulu coming in at #37.
The city is known for it's many hills. It takes some skill to negotiate the roads; especially when trying to parallel park on a severe incline. Many movies filmed in the city cannot escape the popular scene of a car chase flying down the streets over the many steep ups and downs city wide. One such famous street is called Lombard Street, located on Russian Hill. This one is a set of eight tight hairpin turns, which attracts many curious onlookers and tourists.
Thankfully, not all the hills surrounding S.F. is over built with multi million dollar homes. One such hill is Mt. Davidson, where locals come to to seek solace away from the madding crowd. This is the highest point in all of S.F. and it is named after George Davidson, a member of Sierra Club. There are some controversies surrounding the huge cross erected on the top. In fact, the original wooden cross was burned down by an arsonist in the 1930's. Some opposed its size and therefore its visible presence; especially since it carries a religious connotation. Today, the 103 foot concrete cross is owned by the Armenian American Organizations of Northern California.
Due to shortage in land, most of the shorelines around S.F. city now sits on landfills. Treasure Island was made from dredged material from the surrounding bay during the construction of the Bay Bridge. It will certainly be a test of S.F. city's engineering skills if that which have been built can indeed withstand an earthquake; if one were to strike in this vicinity. In general, there is a 70% likelihood of a major earthquake in this area; the last one being in 1989.
To get a better sense of the hills surrounding the city, is to take a hike or drive up to the top of Twin Peaks. Unless it is one of those common foggy days in S.F., one will get a 360 degree view of the city. This includes the compact view of tall buildings that makeup its downtown district.
Personally, I find the best way of getting to know the city is by walking around the many neighborhoods; like Nob Hill, Haight-Ashbury, Marina District, or the Presidio among others. Each neighborhood is distinct from each other; sporting unique features that creates its own unique identity.
Another alternative other than walking is driving the 49-mile Scenic Drive, a designated road tour highlighting the city's major attractions and scenic beauty. One of my personal favorite stretch starts around the Presidio, past Golden Gate Bridge, around the sea cliffs of Land's End, and into the Golden Gate Park.
If all this walking and driving leaves you still feeling underwhelmed, head across the Golden Gate Bridge to Tiburon; a small quaint town in Marin County with a population of less than 10,000. Situated on a thin peninsula, it is a sanctuary for birds and animals. Get out and stretch your legs walking the Old St. Hillary's Trail in the Tiburon Uplands Preserve.
Alternatively, instead of driving across, take the walk or cycle across the bridge for a different experience. A trip to S.F. is never complete if one doesn't cross this brightly painted steel in red vermilion.
A major metropolis and a gateway to America's pacific coast, S.F. packs a big punch for an urban grid of only 7 by 7 miles. With its pricey housing market and land in high demand, S.F. has its own share of problems. The crowding out of tenants from gentrification by the recent dot com booms have left many out on the streets. Monthly rental for spaces as large as a walk-in closet goes for about $1,600 per month. Is there a breaking point? Nevertheless, it's a city I keep coming back to for more. I can eat 3 meals a day, 365 days a year, with each meal from a different restaurant serving different types of food. My appetite might be exhaustible but certainly not when it comes to the diversity of cuisines that can be found in this city.
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