The Paris Of The West
San Francisco is a one of a kind city. To be sure, there is no denying the well-designed beauty of the city. It is -- has been since it was founded the same year as the United States -- a viable destination for settlers seeking something new. It was initially little more than a Spanish missionary stop along the West Coast missionary trail, until the Gold Rush of 1848 galvanized its reputation as the "Paris of the West."
With the massive influx of forty-niners and the businesses catering to them, San Francisco became a desired destination for Pacific-based immigrants, especially from China and Japan. Even to this day, the city is home to one of the most significant Asian populations in the nation. This is a testament to several factors that make the city so appealing, chief among them the temperate climate.
While the worldwide appeal of the city is wrapped around such attractions as the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and the perennial fog, for residents and Bay Area locals, there are a secondary set of destinations that are far more appealing. Perhaps the most popular is Union Square. This sumptuous square is home to every major retailer in the United States and Europe. For San Franciscans, it is their Times Square.
Whether it's business or pleasure, it would behoove you to reserve a room in a Union Square hotel. This will place you strategically in the heart of the city, with easy access to North Beach, the Bay Bridge, and only a MUNI bus ride from Golden Gate Park. Though there are a number of hotels and motels on the peninsula, none of them boast the location and ease of access as those located in and around Union Square.
Often, people come to San Francisco for the sites. Some of them, as a matter of course, are compelled to stay. To be sure, there is something appealing here in this "Paris of the West." Whether it is the quaint Victorian homes, or beautifully designed boulevards, the city manages to place itself in such a way as to make venturing to Berkeley, Oakland, Sausalito, or San Jose as simple as hopping on the local metro, known to all as the BART.
