San Francisco

San Francisco is home to a little bit of everything; cool summers, steep rolling hills, cultural diversity, and the best jewelry stores. All this together has made this metropolitan city one of the most eminent cities in the United States. It is the leading financial and cultural centre of Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area and is among the top 50 major international tourist destinations.

The land of fog and fabulousness, the Bay Area will never disappoint. For the shopping addict, there are plenty of jewelry stores in San Francisco selling diamond engagement, wedding rings, and other jewelry. Whether its contemporary pieces or vintage jewelry, the city has something to suit every need, occasion, and personality. With some of the biggest names in jewelry in San Francisco, rest assured you will find what you need. Online jewelry stores too are a good idea.

There’s plenty to do in San Francisco, and if you feel like being a part of history, take a ride on the cable car. The cable car system was established in 1873 and is the last manually operated cable car system in the world. The cable cars operate along two routes from downtown near Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf and California Street.

Make the most of what The Bay City has to offer with a walk over the Golden Gate Bridge. Ever since it was thrown open in 1973, the bridge continues to attract a steady number of visitors who walk the 1.7 mile span daily. The Golden Gate Bridge is also said to be one of the most photographed structures in the world. One could also experience the magnificence of the bay with a sunset cruise against the backdrop of the bridge.

At the Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 is the main attraction here. The carousel, the carnival-like attractions, shops, restaurants, and of course the famous sea lions draw thousands of tourists daily. The sea lions which are San Francisco’s famous mascots took over a section of the pier in 1989 and have seen been making public appearances, canoodling, scratching their backs, belching and playfully shoving one another of the docks. Don’t let the name fool you. The North Beach isn’t really a beach. It is a neighborhood of romantic European-style cafes along the side walk, restaurants, and shops located near Washington Square along Columbus and Grant avenues. Another landmark worth visiting is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. The Coit Tower atop the Telegraph Hill makes a splendid vantage point for photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. Inside the tower, check out the floor to ceiling murals painted with scenes from San Francisco in the 1930s.

Dining in San Francisco is an attraction in itself. The city has some of the best restaurants in America. Dine at Frances for an authentic take on California cuisine with their Baked Cherrystone Clams and Bacon Beignets. The Mission District also puts its spin on Korean food through the famous Namu Gaji, run by the trio of Lee brothers. From the Bibimbap to the Korean Fried Chicken, the balanced flavours and fresh ingredients are easily noticeable.

Do not miss Chinatown at Grant Avenue and Bush Street. Located along the oldest street in San Francisco, this city within a city is an assortment of exotic shops, restaurants, food markets, temples and small museums. Visitors are also known to have purchased ancient potions from herb shops. While here, enjoy a dimsum lunch complete with a fortune cookie.

The nightlife in San Francisco is a versatile mix with something for everyone. From the hottest clubs to laid back lounges, the city’s nightlife is an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, swing, and even oldies. The city is famous for the Mai Tai- a quintessential tiki cocktail. Though there are several versions of it, the best can be had at Longtitude, Forbidden Island, and Smuggler’s Cove.

An important part of San Francisco is the cultural experience it has to offer. The city is home to internationally recognized symphony, opera and ballet companies. Visit the Asian Art Museum, the de Young Museum, Legion of Honor, and The San Francisco Musuem of Modern Art for a taste of the finest in classical and contemporary arts. The California Academy of Sciences is located in San Francisco which is the only centre in the world with an aquarium, planetarium, museum of natural history and a four-story rainforest all under one roof.

If this wasn’t enough, San Francisco has also given the world’s some of the biggest brands like Levi Strauss & Co., Gap Inc., Salesforce.com, Dropbox, Reddit, Square,Inc., Airbnb, Pintrest, Twitter, Uber, Mozilla, Wikimedia Foundation and Craigslist. Truly living up to its nickname The Paris of the West.