The Golden Gate. Cable cars. Chinatown. Alcatraz Island. Haight-Ashbury. World-class restaurants. Pacific sunsets on Highway 1. A cutting-edge arts scene. Since there's something in San Francisco for everyone, it's no surprise the city is called "Everybody's Favorite City." It's one of the most photographed cities in the world - the dramatic landscapes of San Francisco and the Bay Area inspire the artist in all of us. Speaking of the arts, there are more arts organizations in San Francisco than any other city in America. The city's diverse population of more than 700,000 means you'll find fellow students and new friends from all walks of life, not to mention from around the world.

The energy in San Francisco is contagious. Numerous surveys rank San Francisco as the most wired city in the world, thanks to its high concentration of computer-savvy citizens and businesses. The Bay Area and nearby Silicon Valley are home to leading new media companies such as Pixar, ILM and Sega, and a host of leading graphic design, advertising and creative firms. A who's who of technology companies call the Bay Area home, including Apple, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Oracle, and Sun Microsystems. If you're looking for traditional companies, the Bay Area has that, too. It's the home of companies such as Chevron, Levi-Strauss, Safeway, BankAmerica, and Wells Fargo.

The diversity in the San Francisco Bay Area's landscape matches the diversity of its people. From the rolling hills and mountains in nearby wine country to dramatic vistas overlooking the Pacific, there are plenty of options for hiking, biking and other outdoor activities. Or, explore the neighborhoods and hills within the city - you never know who you'll meet! Asian, Hispanic, Japanese, and Italian neighborhoods are practically within walking distance, no matter where you live. Cable cars click and clack up and down steep hills. Old architecture still stands next to new skyscrapers. Breathtaking vistas are everywhere. The city revels in its past, but remains cutting-edge when it comes to culture, theater and music.

Whether you live here or are coming from another state or country, you will find that San Francisco is a thriving metropolis that keeps the creative spirit alive. For a sampling of some of San Francisco's diverse attractions, visit www.destinationsf.com.