Rugged Elegance San Francisco Aerial Map - circa 2004

What American cities are the best for sightseeing? Which cities have the most stylish, or the most attractive people? Where do most newlyweds want to go on their honeymoon? Which cities attracts shoppers and restaurant-goers? Is there any city that makes the Top Ten list in the majority of categories? Yes! According to a survey released this week by the America Online Travel Channel together with Travel + Leisure Magazine, San Francisco and New York are the coast-to-coast top-ranked destination cities of choice.

America Online and Travel & Leisure ranked 25 U.S. cities. Each were ranked based on the following categories:

Holidays and Seasons
Sightseeing
Activities
People
Romance
Getting Around
Quality of Life

Two sets of people were surveyed: residents and tourists. Approximately 500,000 people voted, in the online survey, on cities they lived in or to which they had traveled.

Among visitors, the top overall score went to New York, followed by San Francisco, Chicago, Honolulu and Miami.

Holidays and Seasons - 5th by visitors, 13th by residents
Sightseeing - 7th by visitors, 6th by residents
Activities - 2nd by visitors, 3rd by residents
People - 8th by visitors, 7th by residents
Romance - 3rd by both visitors and residents
Getting Around - 3rd by visitors, 4th by residents
Quality of Life - 15th by visitors, 16th by residents

Holidays & Seasons Category

San Francisco is the 2nd most popular place to spend Valentine's Day. Honolulu is ranked #1. The City by the Bay is the fourth most popular place to visit during the summer, according to San Francisco locals. San Diego, Seattle and Portland were #1, 2 and 3, respectively.

For those interested in traveling to San Francisco this Summer, Rugged Elegance founders will be renting their four bedroom home from July 15 - August 15.

For details, go to: sf.ruggedelegance.com/chezkingfredel

Activities Category

New York was ranked first for both shopping and cultural events, followed by Chicago and San Francisco, respectively.

For dining out, respondents gave New Orleans the top ranking, ahead of San Francisco and New York.

For a taste of New Orleans in San Francisco, try South of Market's Town Hall.

From January - March, 2004, Town Hall was the most accessed RuggedElegance.com establishment profile among select hotels, restaurants, entertainment houses, shops, services and available real estate in the city.

People Category

In the People category, San Francisco was ranked 2nd in stylishness by the America Online and Travel + Leisure audience.

Among those cities with the most stylish people, New York ranked first, ahead of San Francisco and Las Vegas.

The top city for "attractive people" was San Diego, followed by Honolulu and San Francisco.

Romance Category

The top city for honeymoons, according to the survey, was Honolulu, followed by San Juan, Puerto Rico and San Francisco.

Quality of Life Category

San Francisco ranked #1 by visitors for its attractiveness. Residents ranked the city's attractiveness #3.

Only On The Web

Both visitors and residents ranked San Francisco #1 for its interesting neighborhoods and #2 for its parks.

To get a clear appreciation of the unique characteristics of San Francisco's Cow Hollow, Hayes Valley & The Civic Center, Jackson Square, Noe Valley, North Beach, Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, Russian Hill, The Financial District, The Marina, The Theatre District, and Union Square, go to SF.RuggedElegance.com.

Or click on one of the neighborhood names above to go to their Rugged Elegance Homepage which will lead to profiles of select hotels, restaurants, entertainment houses, shops and services. These pages will take you to the top neighborhoods in San Francisco, as well as the Hidden Treasures in the city.

The Rugged Elegance Companion...Your Guide to Places of Taste

For a unique collection of San Francisco city guides - neighborhood-by-neighborhood - go to: The Rugged Elegance Companion...Your Guide to Places of Taste.

To review how San Francisco ranked across-the-board in each category of the America Online and Travel + Leisure Magazine survey, go to: TravelandLeisure.com.

Asking $1,495,000

2502 Leavenworth, San Francisco

Presented by Leslie de Bretteville, 415.929.1500

EXCELLENT LOCATION
VIEWS
DECKS AND GARDEN
LIVING/DINING RM W/FRPLC
REMODELED KITCHEN
FOUR BEDROOMS
THREE BATHROOMS

This is a charming Russian Hill Victorian house within walking distance to shops and restaurants, with architectural elegance, high ceilings, and hardwood floors. The main floor has a living/dining room with fireplace and skylights, a remodeled kitchen with views, a bedroom and bathroom. The first floor has a spacious master bedroom, two other bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is a panoramic roof deck, a beautiful garden, a cellar for wine, and other storage. Sellers have permits approved for a garage and third level.