San Francisco: the home of hills and valleys, of dreamers and trailblazers, of hippies and hipsters. From the gold rush to the Golden Gate, the City by the Bay has always basked in the glow of its colourful and celebrated history and world-renowned landmarks. But for those who live and love on this compact seven-mile by seven-mile metropolis, San Francisco is a treasure trove of unusual neighbourhood sights and places that sparkle with the allure of hidden pleasures and local lore. Discover a stairway that transports you from the depths of the ocean to the heights of outer space; take a spin class amidst the grand elegance of a repurposed 1920s movie palace; or slide down a century-old sundial that sits at the centre of what was once California's first racetrack for cars. This is the real San Francisco. Strung together, the 111 experiences gathered here tell the B-side story of the city once romantically known as the Paris of the West. AUTHOR: Floriana Peterson is an interior designer who arrived in San Francisco on a one-way ticket in 1986. A Christmas present became a new life. She takes her inspiration from the city's eclectic style, it's joie de vivre, its never ending capacity to reinvent itself, and its many high-minded artists. SELLING POINTS: . Features interesting and unusual places not found in traditional travel guides . Part of the international 111 Places/111 Shops series with over 150 titles and 1 million copies in print worldwide 111 colour