12: San Francisco is a spectacular, fun city on the central coast of California

16: about 350 miles from L.A..

19: It's bursting with a youthful energy that will guarantee

21: you have an amazing and unforgettable adventure.

36: On the northern end of the San Francisco peninsula,

38: the city invites you to explore hip neighborhoods, elegant buildings,

41: beautiful parks and gardens, and enjoy a liberal, relaxed atmosphere.

45: And there's no end of things to see.

49: Union Square, in the heart of downtown, is San Francisco's finest shopping region.

54: The neighborhood is famous for wide streets,

56: clanging cable cars and some amazing shopping.

59: And don't forget about the Square itself, which is a great place to sit back,

64: relax and do some serious people-watching.

72: Just a few minutes north, San Francisco's Chinatown is 8 blocks of bustling activity

76: with storefronts and alleyways selling all manner of strange and exotic goods.

81: One of the largest Chinese communities in the US, San Francisco's Chinatown

85: is filled with exotic sights and sounds and a little bit of eastern mystique.

94: Less than a mile to the east, the Embarcadero is a busy waterfront roadway

98: that runs right around the port area,

100: with some of San Francisco's most famous landmarks,

103: including Market Street, the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco Ferry Building.

113: Fisherman's Wharf is at the northern end of the Embarcadero

115: and has a great assortment of shops, bars and restaurants, and is right on the bay.

120: Here you can grab a relaxed meal and a cool drink

122: and be entertained by colorful street performers,

125: or just enjoy the views along the waterfront.

128: A short stroll away is Pier 39 which has some of the best views of San Francisco Bay,

134: and a resident sea lion community that has been basking in the sun at the Pier

138: for more than 20 years.

142: The island fortress of Alcatraz sits ominously in the bay

146: and is now a popular attraction, with tours departing from Fisherman's Wharf

150: several times a day.

153: Up until 1963, The Rock was home to America's hardest prisoners

157: but where there was once only concrete, steel and barbed wire,

161: there are now gardens and wildflowers.

163: If you listen carefully, the eerie passages and cramped cells still echo

168: with footsteps from the past.

172: Not far from downtown is the Haight-Ashbury district where Victorian-styled buildings

180: echo with memories of the hippy days of the 60s.

183: There are still many pockets of counterculture where the Summer of Love lives on,

187: and cafés, smoke shops and music stores still sell peace and love.

194: Halfway between Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge is the Palace of Fine Arts.

198: A survivor from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Expo, and built in the Beaux-Arts style,

204: it's covered in greenery and surrounded by a peaceful lagoon.

207: It's a perfect place for a quiet afternoon stroll.

212: At more than a thousand acres, Golden Gate Park stretches almost halfway across

216: the peninsula and contains the Conservatory of Flowers

219: and the tranquil Japanese Tea Garden.

223: The park is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors,

226: or just relax and recharge in some peaceful surroundings.

240: The Golden Gate Bridge sits majestically over the mouth of the bay,

242: and invites millions of visitors to the city each year.

246: Almost 2 miles long and 750 feet high,

249: the Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco to the nearby Marin Headlands.

253: The pedestrian walkway spanning the length of the bridge is a superb way

257: to see sweeping views across the bay and out over the Pacific Ocean.

268: Baker Beach is located just to the west of the Golden Gate Bridge

271: and has spectacular views across the mouth of the bay to the distant Marin Headlands.

276: It enjoys a reputation as San Francisco's best sandy beach,

279: but the views alone are worth the trip.

285: Just north of San Francisco in Marin County,

288: the ancient redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument tower up to 260 feet high

293: with some dating back almost 800 years.

297: Local rangers can provide guided tours along pathways that loop through the forest,

301: or visitors can enjoy the hush sounds of nature

303: and explore one of America's natural treasures at their own pace.

315: On the eastern side of Marin County is the charming bayside hamlet of Sausalito.

320: In its early days it was a small artist colony,

323: but now it's a relaxed bayside community filled with cafés and art galleries.

328: A short stroll down any street will bring you

330: to some of the most beautiful views across the bay.

333: And over there, in the distance,

336: beckoning like a siren's song is dazzling San Francisco -

340: tempting you back for another taste.

342: A temptation you'll find hard to resist?