About San Francisco

From the steep, rolling hills to the world-famous Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco is bursting with unmistakable landmarks and attractions. Just ask the countless annual visitors and long-time residents – San Francisco is a world-famous city, and for good reason. Often considered the cultural and commercial hub of northern California, San Francisco is known for its diverse cuisine, as well as being the home of Silicon Valley, the epicenter for the tech industry (and a big reason for moving to San Francisco.)

With so many iconic sights and landmarks, there is no shortage of things to do in San Francisco. Below are some of our favorites that new residents are sure to love:

• Take in the bustling atmosphere at Fisherman’s Wharf, where world-famous seafood, street performers, and shopping await.
• Explore Mission District, a neighborhood known for eclectic shopping, street art, tasty food, and many other “hip,” cultural offerings.
• Learn a thing or two at one of San Francisco’s 50-plus museums and art galleries, starting with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
• Explore the streets of Chinatown, an iconic cultural neighborhood featuring endless dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities.
• Walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge, which is perhaps San Francisco’s most iconic and most photographed destination.
• Pick up something new and unique at Union Square, downtown San Francisco’s biggest and most dynamic shopping area.

Naturally, a city boasting so much history has its fair share quirks and interesting facts. Before you arrive, you might as well learn what you can about your new home with these interesting facts:

• Although founded in 1776, San Francisco truly began to thrive in large part due to the California Gold Rush of 1849. This is also where the football team the San Francisco 49ers got their nickname.
• Another unintended effect of the California Gold Rush was the invention of the blue jeans, invented in San Francisco by Levi Strauss and Jaboc Davis, to provide local miners with more durable pants.
• San Francisco’s iconic cable cars are the last remaining manually operated cable cars in the entire world. They’ve been in operation since the 19th century.
• San Francisco is home to the largest Japantown and the second-largest Chinatown in the United States, both are fantastic neighborhoods for travelers and residents to explore.
• The Golden Gate Bridge wasn’t supposed to be orange at all! Architect Irving F. Morrow thought the orange primer that the steel arrived in was more distinct than the planned black and gold.