The city of San Francisco may be known for its famous fog, iconic Golden Gate Bridge, and numerous cultural attractions, but there are a few quirks that differentiate it from many of the United States’ biggest cities. With its plentiful green spaces, innovative progress, and culinary delights, San Francisco really stands apart from the crowd.
At Incredible Adventures, we’ve been touring this city and beyond with our San Francisco Tours. We’re also based in the Golden City, so we know it like the back of our hand. If you’re wondering what distinguishes San Francisco from other large US cities, we’re here to tell you!
In this blog, we break down all of the unique aspects of San Francisco you may not know about. If you have any questions about our tours, feel free to contact us.
San Francisco — A Green City
While New York City’s Central Park may get more attention as one of the world’s most iconic urban parks, San Francisco has far more greenery to offer. Central Park is 340 hectares in size, but Golden Gate Park is a whopping 412 hectares in size! This oasis in the city has everything from the San Francisco Botanical Garden, a paddock of bison, and a number of tranquil lakes.
You’ll find this expansive park buzzing with locals going running, roller skating, or cycling. Golden Gate Park is not merely an attraction for tourists visiting the city’s museums or landmarks — it’s a quintessential part of life in the city.
Another defining feature of San Francisco is its close proximity to pristine natural environments. The city is just a short drive away from the beautiful Muir Woods, which you can visit as part of our Muir Woods and Sausalito Half Day Tour.
The Hilliest City in the US
One thing that really makes San Francisco stand out is just how hilly it is. In fact, it’s often considered the hilliest city in the US, and the second hilliest city in the world, just behind La Paz.
While there’s no exact number, it’s estimated that San Francisco is built on between 50 and 70 hills, making for a truly distinctive urban landscape.
Some of the most prominent hills in the city are Mount Davidson, Mount Sutro, and the Twin Peaks, which all tower at over 900 meters. Along the city streets, you can admire how San Francisco was built to adapt to the hilly terrain. The most famous example is Lombard Street, known as the “Crookedest Street in the World”. This street has eight hairpin bends to accommodate the steepness of the hill.
However, the steepest street in San Francisco is Bradford Street in Bernal Height, which has an incredible grade of 41% at its steepest point! This is just another of the unique reasons why San Francisco is Worth Visiting. You can find more with our blog!
Going Car-Free in San Francisco
One of San Francisco’s major appeals is how easy it is to live in the city without a car. In 2019, Bloomberg used their metro car-free index to determine that San Francisco is the best large metro to live carless. Thanks to its walkability, bike lanes, and public transportation system, San Francisco is a cut-above other US cities. There are also continuous efforts to free up streets of cars, such as in Golden Gate Park where the JFK Drive has gone vehicle-free, allowing pedestrians to stroll in peace and enjoy public installations.
The Best US City for Coffee
Out of all the cities in the US, San Francisco frequently comes out on top for its coffee culture. Apartment Guide estimates that San Francisco is the best city in the US for coffee, with the most number of coffee shops per capita and per square mile — meaning you won’t have to go far to find your next cuppa! Bolstering these claims, WalletHub also ranks San Francisco as the best coffee city in America, having the most affordable coffee shops, coffee houses and cafés rated 4.5+ stars per capita.
The Birthplace of Silicon Valley
Of course, there’s no mention of San Francisco without Silicon Valley coming to mind. Ever since the tech hub established itself in the Bay Area, San Francisco has become synonymous with innovation. Big names like IBM, Apple, Google, and Meta have all set themselves up in Silicon Valley, effectively changing the world as we know it with their pioneering products.
You can see this intriguing destination for yourself with our Silicon Valley Tech Tour, which gives you access to the Googleplex, Computer History Museum, and the Apple Visitor’s Centre.
Home to the Oldest Chinatown
While Chinatowns are ubiquitous in the US, San Francisco is home to the oldest Chinatown in the whole of North America. Established in the 1850s, it’s since become one of the largest Chinese enclaves outside of Asia. Visiting Chinatown in San Francisco is a must, especially to try the cuisine. One particularly notable thing you can do in Chinatown is tour the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. The fortune cookie we know today was said to have been first served in San Francisco, and you can discover how it’s made at the factory which has been open since the 1960s.
Explore San Francisco’s Quirks with Incredible Adventures
Ready to explore a side of San Francisco you haven’t before? Incredible Adventures is here to welcome you on your journey! Whether you want to experience iconic attractions on one of our classic tours or uncover hidden gems off the beaten path on a San Francisco Custom Tour, we can arrange an excursion you’ll never forget. If you have any questions about our tours, don’t hesitate to contact us.
