Union Square ©SFCVB

Amidst so much activity and alluring shopping opportunities, it's easy to overlook some of Union Square's history. For instance, did you know that the Westin St. Francis was the first hotel in the city to offer beds with sheets? (Fortunately, the trend caught on.) Or that the parking garage underneath the recently renovated Union Square was the first underground parking facility in the country? As you stroll down Maiden Lane, admiring the posh elegance of its boutiques, imagine it lined with bordellos - that's what populated this two-block portion of the square during the Gold Rush era!

Union Square is a fabulous place to shop and dine. With the theater district just a few blocks away, its no wonder so many visitors make Union Square their home base while they're in town.