San Francisco

For a city originally spurred by the Gold Rush, San Francisco continues to offer rich varieties of life and a wealth of opportunities. Perched on a peninsula, the city hugs the San Francisco Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. The Bay area combines internationally renowned arts, exquisite shopping, natural beauty and the technology leadership of Silicon Valley. And with consistently mild temperatures that rarely exceed 80 or sink below 40, the area's entertainment scene is always in season.

City Snapshot. The City of San Francisco has a population of about 744,000 people, and the entire Bay Area is home to about 6.7 million. The city is known worldwide for its steep streets and cable cars.

Places to Live. San Francisco and Oakland (across the Bay) offer welcoming neighborhoods, parks and recreational facilities. Residential suburbs, like Santa Rosa and Palo Alto, offer all the joys of a California ambience just a short drive away. Transportation is also made easy by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system.

Places to Relax. Explore a wide diversity of cultures and cuisines including Chinatown, Japantown or the traditional Italian North Beach (just to name a few). Catch the waves at area beaches. Or lose yourself in the redwoods and sequoias at Muir Woods National Monument, just a few miles north of the city.

Major Attractions. Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, the Palace of Fine Arts and Exploratorium, Fisherman's Warf and Pier 39, Hyde Street Pier, Ghirardelli Square, the arts community of Sausalito, Union Square (anchored by Macy's West flagship store), Telegraph Hill, Alcatraz, the Cable Car Museum.

Pro Sports. Giants and Athletics (baseball), 49ers and Raiders (football), Warriors (basketball), Sharks (hockey).

Places to Get Away. With a drive of about two hours or less, you can be in some of the most scenic locales in the country. Go north to spend a day in the wine countries of Napa Valley and Sonoma. Head south along California's Coastal Highway 1 - arguably the most picturesque highway anywhere - to enjoy Monterey, the famous 17-mile drive and Carmel.

More Info. To learn more about life in the San Francisco Bay Area, go to www.bayinsider.com or www.digitalcity.com/sanfrancisco