CALIFORNIA, EUREKA...
I HAVE FOUND IT!
BY CLAY
LARROY
A vacation can soothe the soul and leave you
renewed, refreshed, and invigorated. Whether you are just now starting to plan
your next vacation, or are merely looking for travel ideas and suggestions, read all the articles about travel.
So take away some of the stress of making travel plans, and get started
thinking about the fun and relaxing times you will soon be having on your next
trip! When you are ready to plan an exciting vacation contact me!
San Francisco, "The
City by the Bay"
San Francisco History
Since its early
days as a small settlement surrounding a small Spanish fishing village named
Yerba Buena (Good Herb), San Francisco has endured numerous ups and downs - all
of which have helped shape the modern city. Its origins lie with the Native
Americans, who had cultivated the area before being kicked out by the Spanish
in 1769.
Mission Dolores
and Yerba Buena quickly grew and were joined by military fort, the Presidio of
San Francisco. In 1846, California was claimed by the United States and the
next year, the city became San Francisco.
The Gold Rush of
1848 inspired a huge amount of migration from the west but also from the east.
The mix of ethnicities and the lack of laws made for a chaotic civic
atmosphere, with militias and mobs ruling the town. For the next decade, the
city's growing immigrant population outstripped infrastructure, and epidemics
were commonplace.
By the 1860s,
the city had become more civilized. The cable cars arrived, as did the Golden
Gate Park, while a bohemian population of writers thrived. Dubbed the ‘Paris of
the West', the city flourished until 1900 when an outbreak of plague decimated
the population.
More misfortune
followed, with a devastating earthquake hitting in 1906, destroying 80% of the
city and causing around 3,000 fatalities. A new San Francisco grew from its
ashes and in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was completed.
In the 1950s,
the Beat movement built on the city's love of literature and it became a magnet
for hippies, young rebels and bohemians. Counter-culture flowered in the Haight
Ashbury neighborhood culminating in the famous 1967 Summer of Love. It was here
that the gay community fought for and found a home in Castro and Polk Street.
Rapid growth in
the 1970s was followed, after a brief pause in the 1980s, by the dotcom boom of
the 1990s. When it crashed, the city was left reeling. Today, San Francisco has
regained its lost ground and is now the West Coast's financial and technology
capital.
Did you know?
- Isadora Duncan, the ‘Mother of Modern Dance,' was born in San Francisco in 1877.
- The United Nations Charter was drafted in a San Francisco hotel in 1945.
- Joshua Abraham Norton declared himself Emperor of America in the city in September 1859.
- Isadora Duncan, the ‘Mother of Modern Dance,' was born in San Francisco in 1877.
- The United Nations Charter was drafted in a San Francisco hotel in 1945.
- Joshua Abraham Norton declared himself Emperor of America in the city in September 1859.
Things to do in San Francisco
Activities
Mountain
hiking
As with hiking,
mountain biking is a perfect pursuit in the Bay Area. You can mountain bike
across one of the world's greatest sights if you deign to cross the Golden Gate
Bridge, and the well-documented trails between Marin and San Mateo County take
in acres and miles of terrain that is a steep and rugged as you want it to be.
The trails are usually backed up with facilities at recreational parks.
Scuba
diving
If you're hoping to loll around under water nosing up to tropical
fish, then think again. The waters here are colder, not that that doesn't mean
a rewarding diving experience. You just have to work a little harder for it.
Most divers in the know head out to Monterey, where the most established and
exciting dive spots are, but you can find tours heading out of the Bay Area.
It's probably worth the two hour drive, though. Check out SF Scuba Schools (www.sfscubaschools.com)
for more info.
Golfing
Even though the
local San Francisco climate doesn't exactly match the Californian ideal,
golfing is still a popular pursuit and there are some excellent public courses.
The six public courses in the city are owned by the Park and Recreation
Department but for the best array, make an early start and head to Monterey.
Pebble beach is a particularly affordable option and the Bay Area does have
more facilities than Southern California.
Hiking
The city surroundings are the perfect backdrop for trekking, with
the temperature that doesn't bake you and a wealth of forests, woodlands and
hills. If you like coastal scenery and an easy introduction, try the Batteries
to Bluffs trail along the Presidio. For beautiful fauna and astounding Bay Area
views as well as the Sierra Nevada, head for Mount Diablo's Grand Loop, and
don't be too afraid of the name. Check out Everytrail Trekking (www.everytrail.com/best/hiking-san-francisco-california)
for more info.
Spectator
sports
As with any
American city, loyalties run deep when it comes to the sports teams. There are
two NFL teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders. It's the same
affair with baseball, with both the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland
Athletics in the major leagues. For basketball, watch the Golden State Warriors
and completing the set, the local hockey team is the San Jose Sharks. Choose
wisely and find your home sports bar.
REFERENCE SITES:
San Francisco is one of my
favorite cities in the world.
Rosalynn Carter
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