Rising in pale tiers from shining San Francisco Bay, this extraordinary city issues a siren’s call to visitors, inviting them to sample its charms, marvel at its architecture, scale its steep streets, explore its familiar and hidden places, and absorb its one-of-a-kind character.  It’s a city rich with possibility, abounding in diversity, and irresistibly beautiful.

Curiously enough, the Bay received little attention from Europeans before the latter half of the 18th century and was first sighted from land after having been passed over by ships navigating the coast.  The Spanish took initial stock of the site, establishing both a fort (the Presidio) and a mission named Yerba Buena (“good herb”).

In the mid 19th century, America took control of the settlement and renamed it “San Francisco” after the mission’s original namesake, St. Francis of Assisi.  As fate would have it, gold rush fever swept through the region somewhat simultaneously, and sleepy San Francisco leapt to prosperity as a supply center and port.  From that point on, both population and business took off, giving rise to one of California’s – and the nation’s – largest cities.

In 1906, progress came to a terrible halt when a high-magnitude earthquake struck, causing devastating fires and widespread destruction.  Despite the loss of life and property, San Francisco rebounded quickly, even hosting the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915 amid newly created structures and infrastructures.

Now, a century later, the City by the Bay has weathered cultural and ethnic tensions, the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, and even the rise and fall of the dot-com industry.  As strong and seductive as ever it was, San Francisco attracts business and tourism with ease, scarcely a difficult prospect given the city’s skill at balancing attractions for the masses and opportunities for the wealthy.  The shopping mecca of Union Square, in fact, illustrates the city’s range, coupling luxury hotels with a public square and plying folks with both Neiman Marcus and Levi Strauss.

Through everything, past and present, the city’s inclusive spirit and forward drive have shone like beacons, announcing a desire to offer equality to citizens, to celebrate the region’s rich heritage, and to make the most of its residents’ own talents and ideas.  It’s here, for instance, that early settlers and soldiers transformed barren sand dunes into parks and woodlands, that dedicated shipbuilding provided America an edge during World War II, and that the Summer of Love found reason for peace and hope for the future.

It’s hardly surprising, then, that San Francisco consistently ranks as one of the nation’s favorite destinations.  Not only does it claim a fascinating history, but a temperate year-round climate, landmark sights, fabulous restaurants and a welcoming atmosphere completely sell the compact, energetic city.  Venturing around the Bay also lets folks experience distinctive towns, partake of outdoor pursuits, and explore the beauty of the Wine Country.  So whether it’s a home base for suburban jaunts or a destination in and of itself, San Francisco proves magnetic in its appeal, effusive in its embrace, and insatiable in its appetite for abundant pleasure and extravagant promise.