San Francisco, in northern California, is a city on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. It is considered the smallest “big city” in the United States forming an approximate seven-by-seven mile square and is one of the most densely populated cities in the country with over 850,000 current residents. The city is known for its hilly landscape, year-round cool temperatures, and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Traditional cable cars and colorful Victorian houses also decorate the city. Some of the many landmarks in San Francisco include the Financial District’s most distinctive skyscraper, the Transamerica Pyramid, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Coit Tower. San Francisco’s famed districts offer a variety of top-rated restaurants focused on seasonal, locally grown food and unique drinks, described by locals as an ideal city for “foodies.”
San Francisco’s most renowned local universities include the University of California San Francisco, San Francisco State University, San Francisco Art Institute, and the California Culinary Academy. Two of the nation’s top universities are also nearby, University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University.
The districts include C
astro, Chinatown, Cole Valley, Financial, Fisherman’s Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, Japantown, Lower Haight, Marina, Mission, Nob Hill, Noe Valley, North Beach, Pacific Heights, Panhandle, Potrero Hill, Presidio, Richmond, Russian Hill, Sea Cliff, Sixth Street, SOMA, Sunset, Union Square and Upper Market.