If you're heading for San Francisco via Route 101 you can abandon your car after crossing the amazing Golden Gate Bridge. One of the world's longest bridges, it spans 1.7 miles into the famous city. After that, the best way to see San Francisco is by the iconic cable cars, which connect all parts of this exciting city.
And there is no doubt that San Francisco, America's thirteenth largest city, is full of excitement. With its roots in the American Gold Rush of 1848, San Francisco was entirely rebuilt following an earthquake in 1908. It became the centre of the hippie movement in the sixties, and has been one of the USA's most popular tourist destinations ever since.
It is a large, hilly city and the crooked streets are amazing to walk up and down in order to soak up the essence of this remarkable place. A hugely multicultural city, it has an old and thriving Chinatown and Japantown and an ever growing Mexican influence.
The Golden Gate Recreational Area attracts thirteen million visitors annually to its parks and beaches. It houses the Conservatory of Flowers; botanical gardens; Japanese Tea Garden, and Alcatraz, once an infamous prison, now a peaceful nature sanctuary.
For culture buffs, there are museums, theatres, art galleries, and numerous music venues to soak up the city's rich cultural heritage. With all this on offer, it is hardly surprising that San Francisco has gained the title of the Paris of the West.