San Francisco

The gateway to fashion in the heart of the city

San Francisco’s historic Union Square is the country’s third-largest shopping area and FIDM San Francisco is right in the thick of it.  Westfield Shopping Plaza, with its gorgeous Juicy Couture Boutique, is a pulsing representation of the city’s hyperactive retail community, and a Barney’s New York will live directly across from FIDM by Fall 2007.  Fashion and product titans William-Sonoma, Gap Inc, and Levi’s are all headquartered in Northern California, evidence of the booming Fashion, Interior Design, Merchandising, and Manufacturing industries in this part of the state.

In & Around San Francisco

Non-Stop Shopping

It's no secret that some of the world's most famous fashionistas live in California, and even those who aren't residents find California to be among the premiere shopping destinations. From cheap 'n' chic fashion trends to designer duds hot off the runway, and everything in between, California offers amazing retail therapy to make even the most discriminating shopaholic's dreams come true. With so many wonderful places to shop, it would be impossible to list them all, but here are some suggestions.

San Francisco offers:

• The new Westfield San Francisco mall with over 400 stylish shops.
• Hayes Valley District on Hayes Street where you'll find chic and affordable clothes and gifts.
• Grant Avenue in North Beach for amazing fashion finds.

Culture

No matter where you are, there's never a dull moment in the Golden State. With its plentiful cultural and art museums, galleries, theaters, and performance art venues, California's got it going on - whether you're listening to a Tibetan Tantric Choir in San Diego, comparing Picasso and Pollock in Orange County, seeing the latest Broadway play in Los Angeles, or celebrating the Chinese New Year in San Francisco.

San Francisco offers:

• The Exploratorium, a hands-on museum of science, art, and human perception.
• The largest Chinatown outside of Asia.
• The San Francisco Ballet, the San Francisco Opera, or another of San Francisco's performing arts venues.

The Great Outdoors

Whether surfing or skiing, hang-gliding or hiking, camping or canoeing, Californians are known to take advantage of the beautiful weather by getting their gear and heading outdoors. With over 1.3 million acres of terrain that's suitable for a variety of outdoor activities, California has something to offer every outdoor enthusiast.

San Francisco offers:

• The San Francisco Bay, including Angel Island, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Golden Gate Park for bicycling and rollerblading.
• The world-famous Fisherman's Wharf, where you can walk from pier to pier.