San Francisco It is one of those cities that many people want to travel to. Not all the protagonism of the United States is taken by New York, something that is not surprising considering that this Californian city has a good number of attractions that attract tourists from all over the world.
In this article I am not going to focus on what you can do there, but I am going to share a series of curiosities that will probably awaken your desire to pack your bags to feel like another Californian. Shall we start?
Why San Francisco?
The city is called San Francisco in honor of San Francisco de Asis, something that is not surprising if we consider that we are talking about a mission-settlement created by the Franciscans in the 18th century. Of course, it also became known as Yerba Buena, since there were numerous peppermint plantations there.
The Golden Gate is not always free
There is no more recognizable building in San Francisco than the Golden Gate, which is surely the most famous bridge on the planet. It is a huge suspension bridge (more than 1,200 meters long) painted in red that cannot be crossed for free at night, since a toll of 8 dollars for anyone who wants to use it. That is something that does not happen if you go on foot or by bike.
The alluring San Francisco cable car
It is not the most modern means of transport in the world, but in San Francisco there is no tourist who misses the opportunity to get on the cable car, which is like a kind of monument in motion that allows you to explore the city effortlessly.
Prepare for the slopes
Strolling around San Francisco may not be as pleasant as one can imagine because of the hills. It is a city settled on more than 50 hills and that makes the option of the tram stronger.
The most curvy street in the world
The curiosities do not end here, since the city has the privilege of having the most curvy street in the world, which is called Lombard Street and it has eight curves that couldn't be more sinuous. Also, between the highest point and the lowest point there are 400 meters away, which confirms that San Francisco is a city with many slopes.
Its Chinatown is huge
Suffice it to say that there is the largest Chinatown located outside Asia to get an idea of the oriental experience that you can live in the Chinatown from San Francisco. It is the oldest Chinatown in the United States and accommodates more than 100,000 people.
A movie prison
Everyone knows that Alcatraz prison is not just any prison. It is on a rocky island and is one of the safest in the world. In fact, strong currents and sharks that they roam the area make escaping from there even more difficult. Of course, in the movies it has been greatly exaggerated, since they are small sharks that are not seen so easily along the coast.
You should know that the prison is no longer a prison in use. Where criminals as popular as Al Capone were held, today a museum has been installed that you can go to if you get on a boat from Fisherman's Wharf.
Seals sunbathing
It sounds like a lie, but in San Francisco you can also see seals sunbathing without having to go to the zoo. Just approach the Fisherman’s Wharf Pier 39 to contemplate his exhibitionism. In addition, you can take advantage of the visit to taste the best fish in the area.
A getaway to Silicon Valley
More incentives? A few kilometers from the city, in Palo Alto, is Silicon Valley, a place where some of the world's most powerful technology companies have grown, such as HP, Intel, Google or Facebook.
Top 10 Facts About San Francisco (May 2024)
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