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It's probably best for RV drivers to avoid San Francisco, park outside the city. Much like Manhattan, little good can come from bringing a large RV into the city. If you have a small vehicle, drive that around to discover these 10 interesting facts about San Francisco.
1. Historic Chinatown: San Francisco is home to the oldest Chinatown in North America. Established in 1848, it is a vibrant cultural hub, with restaurants, temples, and small businesses that evoke the rich history and traditions of the Chinese-American community.
2. Origins of Jeans: The birthplace of blue jeans is in San Francisco. Levi Strauss, a German immigrant, invented the iconic denim pants in 1873 for the city's gold miners who needed durable workwear.
3. Fog City: San Francisco is famously known as the 'Fog City'. The fog in San Francisco is so famous it even has a name, 'Karl', and its own Twitter account. The city's unique geography and Pacific currents contribute to its foggy weather.
4. Golden Gate Bridge: The iconic Golden Gate Bridge was once the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1937. Painted in the unique shade of 'International Orange', it's become synonymous with the city.
5. Cable Cars: San Francisco is one of the few places in the world where manually operated cable cars still exist. Operational since 1873, these cable cars are a significant tourist attraction and a symbol of the city.
6. Tech Hub: San Francisco is the birthplace of numerous tech start-ups, including Twitter and Uber. It's also home to Silicon Valley, the world's leading hub for high-tech innovation and development.
7. The Great 1906 Earthquake: One of the most significant moments in San Francisco's history is the 1906 earthquake. The earthquake and subsequent fires caused extensive damage and reshaped the city's landscape.
8. Culinary Capital: San Francisco has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S. It's also the birthplace of the globally popular Mission-style burrito.
9. Golden Gate Park: Golden Gate Park, larger than New York's Central Park, is a major urban oasis filled with gardens, museums, and has a herd of bison living within its boundaries.
10. Alcatraz Island: The city is home to Alcatraz Island, once a federal prison holding notorious criminals like Al Capone.