San Francisco's abundance of museums, outdoor activities and culturally diverse neighborhoods combined with a yearlong temperate climate make the city the ideal destination for group meetings and large conventions. Its no wonder tourism has become San Francisco's largest revenue generator - the city isn't too far from being perfectly well-rounded. San Francisco has previously shown strength in four travel industry sectors: commercial, meeting and group, and leisure. In the early 1980s, many large corporations left San Francisco because high-operating costs threatened profitability.
Economic tendencies shifted toward e-commerce in the 1990s, with the city becoming the front runner in the "dot.com" boom. Consequently, the city's commercial industry rallied. This regained prosperity made San Francisco an attractive place to hold conventions and large group meetings. The commercial buzz has been a saving grace for a city that has seen so much fluctuation in the last two decades. Visitors to the Bay area generate over $6.7 billon yearly for San Francisco's economy, and that exponential growth doesn't appear to be trend.
 Time permitting, your group will get the best grasp of contemporary San Francisco by visiting as many of the city's neighborhoods as possible. Alamo square, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Mission District and Pacific Heights should not be overlooked, nor should Nob Hill, Richmond District or Sacramento Street. The city's progressive nature is underscored when the food, arts and culture of these places come together to form such an admirable whole, and there's certainly no danger of your group being at a loss for entertainment.
History
Originally established as a Catholic mission for the conversion of Native Americans around 1775, San Francisco's history is dotted with events that have drastically changed its growth and significance in the West coast landscape.
- California grows as the discovery of gold in 1848 drives people westward. As a result of this growth institutions are established and in 1850 the California Legislature created the original counties, including San Francisco (18 Feb).
- The Great Earthquake struck on April 18, 1906, at 5:12 a.m. It's magnitude was 8.25 on the Richter scale, and it lasted 49 seconds. The Great Fire that followed caused more damage than the earthquake, destroying about 28,000 buildings. About 3,000 were thought to have died that day while 225,000 were left homeless.
- The opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge in 1936 and 1937, respectively, made the city more accessible, and its population grew faster in the 1940s due to its importance as a military base in World War II. Urban planning projects in the 1950s further transformed the city, tearing down and redeveloping many neighborhoods and introducing major freeways.
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 In the 1960s, San Francisco became the focal point of the counterculture revolution. Communal living became commonplace, and the intersection of Haight and Ashbury was the movement's epicenter. It was then that San Francisco became a haven for many young people seeking peaceful living and mutual understanding, and this national migration pushed San Francisco's population diversification to where it is today.
Fast Facts:
Population: 791,684
Weather (Average Low to High):
Spring: 49o-65o
Summer: 54o-72o
Fall: 52o-70o
Winter: 43o-57o
Winter: 43o-57o
Precipitation:
Avg. January Precipitation: 4.45 in.
Avg. April Precipitation: 1.18 in.
Avg. July Precipitation: .03 in.
Avg. September Precipitation: .2 in.
Land Area:
37 square miles
29.4 miles of shoreline
Elevation - Sea level to 938ft.
Time Zone: Pacific (-08:00 GMT)
Top Attractions:
 Fisherman's Wharf (link www.fishermanswharf.org) - Known for its historic waterfront, delicious seafood, spectacular sights and unique shopping, Fisherman's Wharf offers an array of activities for groups large and small. Fisherman's Wharf offers great views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and the cityscape.
Cable Car Ride(link www.sfcablecar.com) - Three cable car routes are in operation, and it helps to know their respective destinations. At Powell and Market streets, there is a cable car turntable which serves as the beginning stop for two lines, the Powell-Mason and Powell- Hyde lines. The Powell-Mason line begins at the Powell/ Market turntable, and the line runs from there up and over Nob Hill and down to Bay Street at Fisherman's Wharf. The Powell-Hyde line also begins at the Powell Market turntable and runs over Nob and Russian hills before ending at Aquatic Park near Ghirardelli Square.
Golden Gate Bridge(link www.goldengatebridge.org) - Linking San Francisco with Marin County, the Golden Gate Bridge is a 1.7 mile-long suspension bridge that can be crossed by car, bicycle or on foot.
Golden Gate Park(link www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/neighborhoods/ggpark.shtml)- Comprised of 19 separate ecosystems in 7 distinct watersheds and is home to 1,273 plant and animal species.
Ferry Building Marketplace (link www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com)- The Ferry Building Marketplace is located along the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street. It is the center of a transit hub that connects all of San Francisco's neighborhoods and the surrounding bay communities.
For more San Francisco attractions click here
Adventure Activities
 Regardless of your definition of adventure, San Francisco probably has something to keep you entertained for hours. Extreme thrill-seekers can enjoy skydiving, windsurfing and mountain biking, while others can relax on the deck of a chartered sailboat or fish from the deck of a skiff. Also, don't forget the three professional sports team that call San Francisco home.
Bay City Bike, Bicycle Rentals and Tours - Fisherman's Wharf (link www.baycitybike.com)Bike the Bay Trail over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito or Tiburon, return by ferry. Bike to Golden Gate Park. Group discounts available. Open daily 8am.
 City Kayak (link www.citykayak.com/) - Explore San Francisco Bay on a kayak. Trips to Bay Bridge, downtown skyline, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge are scheduled. 10am-9pm. $40-$80.
Vuelo Libre (link www.eparaglide.com) - Offering paragliding tandem flights and adventure trips; experience flight in its purest form all around California and camp with equipment, meals and transportation provided. Tandem flight $150 during daylight hours.
San Francisco Forty-Niners - Santa Clara County (link www.sf49ers.com) - The 49ers of the National Football Conference play their home games at Monster Park. Express bus service available from downtown. Call 673-MUNI for information on game days. Regular season September to December. Sunday at 1 pm. Limited number of tickets for single games available through Ticketmaster $64.
San Francisco Giants - Mission Bay (link www.sfgiants.com) - AT&T Park is home to the San Francisco Giants. Located on the city's scenic waterfront, the ballpark is a short walk from downtown San Francisco and Moscone Center and is accessible by every means of public transit.
San Jose Sharks - San Jose/Silicon Valley (link www.sj-sharks.com) - The Arena is conveniently reached via Caltrain from Fourth and Townsend streets terminal in San Francisco. Arena is five-minute walk from San Jose station. The normal season runs September to April. Most games begin at 7:30 pm. Admission prices range from $19 to $112.
Arts and Culture
San Francisco is one of the most creative and stimulating cities in the world.. Home to many world renowned-cultural institutions, it also is home to many lesser known organizations that are equally exciting. Artistic expression can be found all over town in the city's museums, architecture, and local shops.
Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco (link www.famsf.org/fam/about/index.asp) - Comprising the de Young in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, this is the largest public arts institution in the City of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in the United States.
Steinhart Aquarium (link www.calacademy.org/aquarium) - View poison dart frogs, box turtles, sea horses, and clown fish in jewel tanks. Get an up-close look at sturgeon, giant sea bass, alligator snapping turtles, gars, and moray eels. Get close and personal with sea stars and hermit crabs at the Discovery Tide Pool. Enjoy the penguins as they preen on land and swim underwater.
San Francisco Symphony (link
www.sfsymphony.org/templates/home) - The San Francisco Symphony is one of the country's leading symphonic orchestras. Founded in 1911, the SFS performs over 250 concerts each year and can be heard through its radio broadcasts on more than 225 radio stations.
For more information on Arts and Cultural activities in San Fran, click here.
Golf Courses
With mild temperatures and consistently moist conditions, the land surrounding San Francisco appropriately accommodates several golf courses. Amateurs and masters alike can have their fill of golfing while staying in or around the Bay area. There are six municipal golf courses located at five parks within San Francisco's city limits. Recently, however, various issues with the courses' management and the resultant loss of profitability have encouraged visitors to look North of San Francisco for better options. Here are of the dozen or so courses offering a quality round of golf at a convenient distance from downtown San Francisco.
Half Moon Bay Golf Links (link www.halfmoonbaygolf.com) - Half Moon Bay Golf Links features two award-winning 18-hole championship golf courses overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a high-profile golf shop, Caddy's ocean view bar and grill, and the recently opened Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay. The resort is able to accommodate groups of any size, from private instructional clinics to major golf events up to 288 players.
StoneTree Golf Club (link www.stonetreegolf.com) - StoneTree's northern Marin location is situated between the estates of Ross and Belvedere and the prized of Sonoma and Napa Valleys. This 7,000-yard, 18-hole championship course plays throughout oak-forested hills and valleys and across meadowlands containing lakes and natural wetlands.
The Chardonnay Golf Club (link www.chardonnaygolfclub.com) - With 27-holes of championship golf to challenge players of all skill levels, our Lakes, Meadows and Vineyards Courses represent the premier golf destination in the bay area. All three 9-hole courses meander through 130 acres of Chardonnay and Merlot Vineyards and feature numerous lakes and creek crossing, a wide variety of native flora and fauna.
Cuisine
San Francisco is home to hundreds of excellent restaurants. Of course seafood is a staple of many local eateries due to San Francisco's geography, including the local favorite, Dungeness crab. But as San Francisco is widely regarded as a cultural melting pot, the cuisine of the city represents that diversity with food from all over. Polynesian and Moroccan restaurants are just two exotic food options, while traditional steakhouses exist to satisfy more conservative appetites. The restaurant scene in San Francisco is always changing, new restaurants open frequently. Here's a few favorites.
A16 - Marina District (Italian) (link www.a16sf.com) - Transports the cuisine of Campania and the wood fire of Naples to San Francisco's Marina neighborhood. The wine bar features 40 selections by the glass, and more than 350 varieties by the bottle. L W-F 11:30am-2:30pm, D Su-Th 5-10pm, F, Sa until 11pm.
Crab House at Pier 39 - Fisherman's Wharf(Seafood) (link www.crabhouse39.com) - This Pier restaurant has found instant popularity among tourists and locals. The views, cozy bar and fireplace make this seafood restaurant a must. Specialties include Dungeness crab (two plus pounds) iron-skillet roasted in a secret garlic sauce, crab enchilada, roasted mussels and crab lasagna. Daily 11 am-11 pm.
Kokkari-Jackson Square (Greek) (link www.kokkari.com) - Kokkari features Mediterranean food with a Greek influence. Menu selections include fresh fish and game signature dishes from the charcoal grill. Valet parking for dinner only. Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2:30pm, dinner Monday-Thursday 5:30-10, Friday until 11pm, Saturday 5-11pm, closed Sunday.
For even more great places to eat, click here.
Wine & Beer
The rich soils outside San Francisco provide the ideal setting for grape growers to set up shop. If you're a student of wine making, or even if you just like having a glass with dinner, be sure to take a daytrip to any of these Sonoma and Napa county cellars to see why wine has put this area of California on the map. Also, be sure to visit downtown's San Francisco's Anchor Brewing Company, the city's claim to fame in the world of hand-crafted beers.
Anchor Brewing Company (link www.anchorbrewing.com) - The classic of American brewing tradition since 1896 is virtually handmade, with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. Group tours available. M-F 5am-5pm. Reservations required for tour; M-F at 1pm.
Korbel Champagne Cellars (link www.korbel.com) - Korbel's tradition of fine champagne dates back to the 1800s. For the garden enthusiast or history buff, Korbel offers an enjoyable tour recounting the fascinating origins of this 123-year-old property. Winery and gourmet deli open daily. Tours daily 10 am-3:45 pm, May 1-September 30; 10 am-3 pm daily, October 1-April 30. Technical garden tours 11 am, 1 and 3 pm Tuesday-Sunday, May 1-September 30. Tastings 9 am-4:30 pm daily.
Ravenswood Winery (link www.ravenswoodwinery.com) - Celebrate Zinfomania at Ravenswood, home of No Wimpy Wines. Our new Vineyard Designate tasting bar offers samples of the best Zinfandels in the world. Daily 10am-5pm. Tours daily at 10:30am.
Viansa Winery and Italian Marketplace (link www.viansa.com) - Italian-styled hilltop winery offering guests self-guided tours of the underground vaulted barrel aging cellar, wine and food tasting in the Marketplace Tasting Room and gourmet picnic lunches made in the winery kitchen. Open 10 am-5 pm daily.
Shopping
The Cannery at Del Monte Square (link www.thecannery.com)
30 shops and restaurants, the Argonaut Hotel, the Maritime Museum, an open-air Farmers Market and Parisian style antiques market.
Ghirardelli Square (link
www.ghirardellisq.com)
Home to some of the finest views, galleries, boutiques, culinary treats and special events that San Francisco has to offer.
PIER 39 (link www.pier39.com)
A festival marketplace with more than 110 stores, 13 Bay view restaurants, and a variety attractions including, our world-renowned sea lions, street performers and live daily entertainment.
Union Square (link www.unionsquareshop.com)
Bounded by Market, Kearny, Bush and Taylor Streets, this 32-block area is home to approximately 6 million square feet of the city's finest retail space.. In addition, Union Square boasts many restaurants, live theatre and a concentration of fine art galleries, salons and day spas. Union Square is the City's most popular visitor shopping destination with one of the highest concentrations of luxury retail shopping in the world, and all in an open air setting. Most stores are open until 8 p.m. , and some even later.
Union Street Association, Inc. (link www.unionstreetsf.com) - Union Street in historic Cow Hollow is San Francisco's most popular neighborhood shopping district and the place to see and be seen. With more than 250 distinctive shops, galleries and boutiques, as well as many fine restaurants and street cafes, you will definitely want to steer your group toward Union Street during their stay in San Francisco.
www.unionstreetsf.com.
Getting There
With a total of 43 national and international airlines serving San Francisco International daily, you should have no trouble making your way to the city, barring flight delays, stiff headwinds, lost luggage, or a combination of the three.
For day-trippers and motorcoach groups, here are some useful mileage numbers from some major cities in the region:
47 miles from San Jose
88 miles from Sacramento
218 miles from Reno, Nevada
385 miles from Los Angeles
Non-stop flight times from major airports:
Seattle - 1 hr. 55 min.
Denver - 2 hr. 27 min.
San Diego - 1 hr. 21 min.
Las Vegas - 1 hr. 24 min.
Chicago -4 hr. 17 min.
New York -6 hr. 9 min.
Boston - 6 hr. 16 min.
Atlanta - 4hr 53 min.
Miami - 6 hr. 1 min.
Dallas - 3 hr. 41 min. .
Nearly 2700 domestic flights and 450 international flights service San Francisco International Airport weekly, so catching a flight to the Bay Area should be a breeze for folks in all parts of the globe. All major domestic airlines service SFO, including American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Northwest, United and US Airways. Visit www.flysfo.com for a complete list of flight service providers.
Room Service
San Francisco has 32,719 hotel rooms
Seasons are a major factor in hotel availability. Occupancy during the summer months of July, August, and September is the highest, while the crowds tend to lessen in the winter months of November, December, and January.
For useful hotel occupancy and pricing information, visit www.sfcvb.org/media/downloads/research/indicators.pdf.
San Francisco has no shortage of hotels but finding a deal takes a lot more than pointing your finger on a map and picking the closest one. Click here to find the best rates for your group. (www.grouptravel.hotelplanner.com)
For individual hotels, click here.
Here to There:
BART(link www.bart.gov)The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system now connects with SFO. The SFO BART Station is located in the International Terminal with direct links (one level above) to all terminals via the SFO AirTrain. Travelers can take the BART line from downtown San Francisco to the SFO International Terminal in just 29 minutes for under $5.00. Also, connections to Peninsula/Silicon Valley/San Jose communities will be available via the SFO BART-Millbrae Station inter-modal station with same platform connections to the Caltrain system.
NOTE: The city of San Francisco has certain motorcoach regulations, parking and loading options that may help eliminate any transportation issues your group might have. Contact the CVB for details.
If you don't know much about San Francisco or want to join up with a great local tour, click here for a list of receptive operators in the area.
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