San Francisco

San Francisco

San Francisco is known for its hilly landscape and fog by the locals, as well as a cultural hub with a thriving food and music scene. San Francisco is also a major center for technology and innovation, with companies such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter headquartered in the nearby Silicon Valley region.

Brief history

San Francisco, known for its iconic landmarks and vibrant culture, has a rich history dating back to the time of its discovery by the Spanish in the late 1700s. Later, in 1821, Mexico took over California (Alta California) after gaining independence from Spain. In 1846, the United States defeated Mexico in a war, and California became a territory of the US.

However, it was the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada in 1848 that would transform San Francisco and make it an important city in American history. In 1849, the California Gold Rush began, and San Francisco quickly became the center of it all. Thousands of people, mostly men from all over the world, flocked to the city to seek their fortune in the goldfields.

The Bay Area was an ideal location for their ships to disembark and bring in goods for commerce. If you owned a ship, you could dock in San Francisco Bay and own the area where the ship was docked. The US government gave these incentives so that people did not leave with the gold. As a result, people started building on top of their ships, creating makeshift buildings just above the sea and above their boats. This is why the buildings in the bay area have been buried beneath them historical boats. Check here the map of buried ships in San Francisco (including Niantic, shown below).

As the gold rush continued, many boat crews realized they could make more money by mining for gold themselves and leaving their boats behind. This caused ships to lack workers, and the practice of kidnapping young men, known as Shanghai, became widespread in San Francisco. The city became notorious for this, and many saloons and bars along the waterfront were known to participate in this practice.

Niantic Building in San Francisco

The software developing company Niantic is named after the Niantic ship that arrived in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. 

Things to do in San Francisco

Here are the top things to do in San Francisco:

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic landmark that is a must-see for anyone visiting San Francisco. You can walk or bike across the bridge, or simply admire the view from one of the various viewpoints. Interestingly, the bridge is painted in a distinctive orange color that is more visible in the fog, which San Francisco is known for.

During our visit, we biked across the bridge and it was an amazing experience (see more details below).

Fisherman's Wharf

This popular tourist destination offers a variety of attractions, including seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and street performers. You can also see sea lions at Pier 39. 

When we visited, we had tacos for lunch in Cholita Linda and they were delicious, see their menu here.

Lombard street

Visit the Lombard street, the "crookedest street in the world."

Chinatown

San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest in North America and offers a variety of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions.

Cable cards

San Francisco's iconic cable cars are a fun and unique way to get around the city. 

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island was used as a military prison in the late 1800s and then as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963, housing some of America's most notorious criminals. It is now a National Historic Landmark and popular tourist destination in San Francisco, you can take a ferry from the city to visit it. You can also enjoy the scenic views of San Francisco Bay from the island.

Other things to do are:

Barbary coast trail

The Barbary Coast Trail is a historic walking trail in San Francisco, California. The trail covers a distance of 6km (3.8 miles) and takes visitors through the city's historic neighborhoods, including the Financial District, Chinatown, North Beach, and Russian Hill. The trail is marked with bronze medallions embedded in the sidewalk (shown in the picture), making it easy to follow.

 Along the way, you can see historic landmarks and buildings, such as the Transamerica Pyramid, Old St. Mary's Cathedral, and the former headquarters of the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as several museums and cultural institutions, including the Wells Fargo History Museum and the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum. 

The trail provides a unique way to explore San Francisco's rich history and diverse neighborhoods on foot.

This rooftop park at the top of the Salesforce Tower is one of the largest privately-owned public open spaces in San Francisco.

POPOs

Privately owned public open spaces (POPOS) are public spaces in San Francisco that are owned and maintained by private developers but are accessible to the public. 


POPOS were created as a result of a city law (1% Art Program) that requires all projects involving new buildings or the addition of > 25,000 square feet (23,000 square metres) in the Downtown and nearby neighbourhoods to provide public art or open space equal to at least 1% of the total construction cost. 


 These spaces can take the form of plazas, gardens, or terraces and must be open to the public during specified hours. POPOS provide additional public green space in the city and contribute to the city's urban landscape by providing small parks and outdoor seating areas in areas where public open space may be limited.


Here is a list of POPOs in San Francisco.

Biking in San Francisco

I highly recommend renting a bike to explore San Francisco, as it is a great way to see the city. However, keep in mind that San Francisco is known for its hilly terrain, so if you're not up for a challenging ride, consider renting an electric bike.


We began our bike ride around Golden Gate Park on a lively Sunday in summer. This massive park offers a variety of attractions, including gardens, museums, and a Japanese tea garden. On Sunday morning, it was filled with people enjoying various group activities and games. From there, we headed towards the western beach of San Francisco and continued biking through the park towards the Golden Gate Bridge. However, we had to be cautious in some areas where bikes were not allowed due to the absence of a path and the presence of stairs. 


Despite the strong winds, biking through the bridge was a pleasant experience and we even stopped to take some pictures. Once we reached the other side, we turned left and made our way up a hill that offered a panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Afterward, we rode to the charming town of Sausalito where we grabbed a bite to eat before catching the ferry back to San Francisco.

Passing by the beach, we reached another smaller beach in our way towards the Golden Gate. 

View from the Ferry going back to San Franscisco