Welcome to San Francisco - "The City by the Bay"

Home to humans since 3000 BC and commercially settled by the Spanish in 1776, the "Bay Area", as it is called by locals, has an amazingly colorful history.

Fueled by the California Gold Rush in 1848, the city exploded from 1800 residents to 25,000 nearly overnight. U.S. statehood quickly followed along with a brigade of U.S. troops who built a fort at a location that would later host the Golden Gate Bridge along with another on Alcatraz Island.

San Francisco business moguls are credited with igniting the transcontinental railroad boom, and several of the country's major commercial banks sprang up to accommodate the money generated by gold prospectors and merchants. San Francisco became home to the nation's first commercial cable 1873. It still functions today.

San Francisco flourished thanks to rail and sea trade and by the 1900's it was home to many influential people. The city was totally destroyed at 5:12 AM on April 18, 1906 by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake that leveled almost every building. Rupturing gas lines ignited fires destroying most remaining structures. Thousands were killed. A massive effort was expended on rebuilding the destruction and San Francisco rose from its ashes stronger and even more vibrant.

San Francisco's Sites and Sounds

You cannot visit the City by the Bay without being overwhelmed by the historical sites attesting to the strength and ingenuity of the City's inhabitants.

Little Italy, China Town, Japan Town and the Hispanic Mission District underscore the fact that San Francisco is a cultural melting pot reflecting the nationalities of people who mined its gold, ran its businesses and built its bridges and railroads. Good food, unique shopping and the hustle and bustle of people living their daily lives await anyone who visits these unique "cities within the city."

The Presidio of San Francisco, once a Spanish fort, is now operated by the U.S. National Park Service as has been awarded the designation of a National Historic Landmark District by the U.S. Congress.

Steeped in history, it was built by the Spanish in 1776 and seized by the U.S. Army in 1846. It once served as headquarters for many famous Army commands and was the strategic headquarters for Army Generals including William Tecumseh Sherman and John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing. The beauty of the grounds and surrounding gardens, combined with its unique architecture, make the Presidio a definite must see on your visit to San Francisco.

Of course, no visit to San Francisco is complete without a tour of the infamous Alcatraz. Its transition from military fort to Federal prison saw it become home to America's most hardened and dangerous criminals. They say that "no one has ever escaped from Alcatraz," and once you see its imposing walls and experience a boat ride on the rough shark-filled waters leading to "the rock", it's easy to understand why.

Older than America itself, and as modern as tomorrow, San Francisco is a cannot-be-missed stop when visiting California.

Real Estate Market

In recent years we have seen a tremendous decline in the value of homes and other investment properties, but most of us are unsure of what caused it, or what the implications of the decline of the US housing market mean for the future of the real estate market or for the economy in general.

First let us explain what happened. In the early 2000s there was a real estate bubble. This means that real estate values began to steadily climb, and climb higher than the real value of property, and the market could no longer afford to sustain the increase in value, based on income levels and price/rent ratios. The problem is that experts can only see bubbles in retrospect. This bubble reached its peak in 2005 and then the housing market hit a plateau. In 2006 the value started going down and the devaluation has steadily increased since.

How does the Downturn of the Real Estate Market Affect Other Areas of the U.S Economy?
Real Estate accounts for 10% of the total US economy, so if there is a decline in real estate sales, there is also a decline in businesses that are linked to the real estate market, like that of construction jobs, inspection jobs, mortgage lending, maintenance, etc.

A Decline in real estate sales also means that eventually there will be a decline in real estate prices on a nationwide basis. You might think that this will not affect you, since you were not planning on selling your house, but what if you should need a home equity loan? What if you have an emergency, a medical condition and need the equity you have in your home for some reason? You certainly won't have as much available, if any with a decline in the value of real estate.

A Decline on Consumption
When overall real estate value declines, and real estate sales decline there are fewer jobs, less money and less spendable income in many areas, at least in job related fields that depend in part on the real estate field. This means there is a large portion of the US population that has a smaller portion of spendable income, and studies indicate that 70% of the U.S. economy is based on personal consumption. So when the consumer is not spending income, then this will affect other areas of the U.S. economy, like sales of luxury items (cars), clothing, etc, and create more of a downward turn within the economy. This will create more unemployment, less income, and less spending, and more problems.

The Future of the Real Estate Market in the U.S.
Many people have not realized just what a disaster the downward turn in the real estate market can actually be. But Finance analysts say that it may take the real estate market ten years to come back from this. In fact some real estate market analysts believe that home values may even go down again by as much as 8%.

Home owners are optimistic, they believe the home market will be back on it's feet in a couple of years but real estate analysts say that belief is totally unfounded. The hit the real estate market took is just as bad as that of the financial market in the 90's, and it took a number of years to come back from that downturn, and the same will happen here.

People are just not seeing how many foreclosures there were and what the downturn in the economy can cause. This time people will not be able to get out of credit card debt with the equity in their home, because there is no equity in their home.

Family Fun at San Francisco's Pier 39

No summer in San Francisco is complete without at least one trip to the local favorite Pier 39. Bustling with activity throughout the entire year, there's no excuse for not taking the family to visit one of the over 100 shops, restaurants, or incredible attractions situated along the shores of one of the country's most beautiful bays!

Fun-Filled Attractions on Pier 39
Start your day with an amazing Turbo Ride adventure. The kids will never stop talking about Dino Island II, the Haunted Mine Ride, and the Extreme Log ride - each presented in 3D and 4D for your enjoyment. Choose one, or try all three - it's up to you.

The San Francisco Carousel is another Pier favorite. Each piece of the carousel was made in Italy and features a hand painted depiction of a well-known San Francisco attraction. The carousel has horses, tubs, swings, and rockers - perfect for all ages.

Looking for an adrenaline rush? The Frequent Flyers are a safe combination of bungee jumping and trampoline fun. The bungee cords limit you to 20 feet and give you the flexibility to try some of the flips you might not have tried on the trampoline at home!

The Riptide Arcade is one of the largest in the city. Your tokens will gain you access to dozens of video games, the shooting gallery, and so much more! The arcade features attractions for every age group.

Water lovers will certainly enjoy an experience with City Kayak. The company offers trips around San Francisco designed for both beginners and advanced kayakers. Tours leave each morning and evening, with special events scattered throughout the year. Experienced kayakers should consider signing up for the breathtaking Fireworks Kayak Trip on the 4th of July!

Perhaps you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground. Find yourself a comfortable seat to watch the Street Performers at the Alpine Spring Water Center Stage. Each day there are at least 8 FREE shows featuring some of the most talented magicians, comedians, and entertainers in the area.

Aquatic Adventures with the Blue & Gold Fleet
The Blue and Gold Fleet is a cruise company providing amazing adventures throughout the San Francisco Bay area. The Bay Cruise Adventure entails a one-hour cruise around the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and a number of other historic sites.

Those interested in war history will enjoy the Angel Island tour. The island was an important part of America's history during both the Civil and Cold wars, serving as a base for the military and immigration. Angel Island is now considered to be part of the California State Park system and is open for all to explore and enjoy.

The World Famous Pier 39 Sea Lions
The sea lions at Pier 39 aren't trapped in cages or pools as one might expect. These friendly creatures found Pier 39 on their own, back in 1990. The San Francisco bay is full of fresh herring, which attract the sea lions to its shores each year. Anywhere from 300-900 of these amazing flippered creatures visit every winter and quite a few remain throughout the entire year!

Unique Themed Restaurants
You'll need to eat after your day of adventures on the Pier. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant and Market is a truly amazing choice, especially for those who loved the movie Forrest Gump! The restaurant is filled with movie memorabilia to keep you occupied while you wait for your mouth-watering sandwiches or delectable seafood entrees.

Visit the Wipeout Bar and Grill for a relaxing casual adult atmosphere. The bar includes both indoor and outdoor dining venues, delicious casual menu choices, and a full bar complete with flat screen televisions to ensure you don't miss any of your favorite sporting events.

You'll be amazed at how much there is to do at San Francisco's Pier 39. You won't be able to fit it all in over the course of one day, so make sure you plan extra time for your trip to the remarkable bay area!

San Francisco: A Diverse Travel Destination

San Francisco, California has one of the most diverse cultures in the United States. The fourth most populous city in California, and 14th most populous in the country, offers a unique little piece of Americana. San Francisco is a crowded city. Between the city and the surrounding area, the last estimated population was over 7 million people.

San Francisco is located south of the Golden Gate and east of the Pacific Ocean. If you journey down to the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, the city of San Francisco will be waiting for you. San Francisco is a very popular international tourist destination. The area is known for its steep rolling hills, famous landmarks and Victorian and modern architecture. In San Francisco you can visit the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, Coit Tower, China Town and Fisherman's Wharf.

One of the most visited tourist attractions is Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz Island, is sometimes best known by its pop culture nickname, The Rock. Alcatraz is a small island in the middle of San Francisco's cold water bay. The island first served as a light house before being transformed into a military fortification. Later it would become the home of a military prison and finally as one of the most famous federal prison's in American history. The Rock, overtime, would house some of the most famous criminals of the 20th century, like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. The prison closed in 1963 boasting to not have allowed an successful escape in its 29 years of operation. In addition to its famous inmates, Alcatraz was made famous by the motion picture, Escape from Alcatraz, starring Clint Eastwood. Alcatraz became a national recreation area in 1972 and has since received land marking designations. No visit to San Francisco is complete, without a tour of Alcatraz, The Rock.

Movies have also been made of the chilly summer fog which covers the lower waterfront. The vast, diverse population of San Francisco is no more evident than in Chinatown. Chinatown was also reflected in a movie of the same name starring Jack Nicholson. The vast Asian population has long established its roots in Chinatown. For a taste of the rich history that is Asia, Chinatown is a must on any tourists schedule of events.

San Francisco is a diverse portrait of America. From the Gay movement to the cosmopolitan lifestyle that blankets its shores, the city reflects much of independent and free speaking Americana. San Francisco is not out to be, just any average American city. The area offers so much more than just its unique personality and famous landmarks. The city is enriched by 500 years of breath taking history, which is found and appreciated in sobering detail, all over the San Francisco Valley. If you are considering a destination in America to visit, it would benefit you greatly, to move San Francisco to the top of your list. With all the city and surrounding area's have to offer, San Francisco is definitely an American Portrait.