To the initiated, it comes as no surprise that San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world. Its physical setting is stunning, with its fabled hills and a mild climate punctuated by both fog and sunshine. The city and its environs offer endless possibilities for entertainement: You can enjoy some of the finest Asian food in the country, experience the pride of one of the largest gay and lesbian communities in the world, and visit ethnic neighborhoods from Italian to Latino.

Originally a Gold Rush boom town, San Francisco has survived two major earthquakes and fires and, more recently, an AIDS crisis in the 1980s and a recession in the 1990s. Despite its challenges, the City by the Bay has flourished, due in part to the waves of newcomers who arrive from all over the country and from all corners of the globe. The city has one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the United States. No wonder San Francisco has emerged as the thriving center of business and culture on the West Coast.

And there's no denying the charm and sense of adventure the city has acquired along the way. Be sure to visit the city's famous attractions: the cable cars, the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard Street (dubbed "the crookedest street in the world"), the famous Painted Ladies (Victorian homes) lining Alamo Square, the chic boutiques and theaters of Union Square, and the Golden Gate Bridge with its scenic backdrop of the Marin Headlands. Also make time for a few more off-beat pleasures: Sample flavorful pasta in North Beach, shop in the trendy Haight-Ashbury District, stroll through Chinatown, or take in a flick at the historic Castro Theater. Whatever your tastes, this is the city sure to satisfy them all.