Discover
Vacation Gold
on San Francisco Bay
by Jerry W. Bird
Did
you know that the United Nations got its start in
San Francisco? That's just one of the little known
facts about this fascinating city, which is near
the top of my all time favorite places list. That
goes for both vacation getaways and business
travel. In fact, most of my working trips and
various video or public relations projects have
been such a blast, each one seems like a vacation.
An affluent, world-class city and financial center,
San Francisco attracts visitors from all over, who
each year leave behind around $2 billion in revenue
- and for good reason.
I've strolled its streets
and climbed its hills in every type of weather,
which to me is seldom a factor, since it's so easy
to get around. What's
more, if you've read many of my travel items on
Adventure Rails, you'll know that
streetcars
are my most beloved form of conveyance. In my
world, the Bay City is "Street Car Heaven, " where
all good trolleys go. As for scenic vistas and
interesting, historic architecture, Rev. Billy
Graham put it this way,"The Bay Area is so
beautiful, I hesitate to preach about heaven while
I'm here."
Last time I worked on a
Travel-Leisure section involving Northern
California, we covered the area like a blanket,
mainly by car, our own and the occasional rental
vehicle, and there was always something new and
exciting around every bend in the road. The city is
alive and vibrant, from Fisherman's Wharf,
Chinatown and Alcatraz Island, to Russian Hill, the
Golden Gate and dozens more great venues. I've
asked several others in our editorial team to give
their impressions of San Francisco, so between us
we expect some great moments and ideas to share
with you. At
San Francisco, you're in the center of everything,
from the Napa and Silicon Valleys to the historic
Sacramento River Delta.
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