The city of Los Angeles was founded in 1781 and got its name from the Spanish language. Los Angeles, which translates to "the angels," is the short name for the city's original name, "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles," which translates to "The Town of our Lady the Queen of Angels." San Francisco's original name is also of Spanish origin. Upon discovering the San Francisco area, the Spanish named the area "Yerba Buena," which means "good herb" and refers to the mint that grew in the area.
Los Angeles is situated in southern California. It is the largest city in the state and, with a population of about 4 million residents, is the second largest U.S. populated city. The Santa Monica Mountains divides the northern San Fernando Valley from the southern Los Angeles Basin. The 50-mile Los Angeles River runs the through the city's 469 square miles. Situated in the northern part of California, between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco is just under seven hours north of Los Angeles. At 46 square miles, San Francisco is California's fourth largest city and houses about 744,000 residents, according to the U.S. 2006 Census.
The Golden Gate Bridge, a suspension bridge that joins San Francisco and Marin County, is a must-see for visitors, and the 1,000-acre Golden Gate Park is a marvel, with lakes, gardens and pathways. Fisherman's Wharf, which overlooks the Golden Gate and the San Francisco Bay area, is also a popular destination, and visitors can expect fresh seafood at the nearby restaurants. Running along the southern U.S. coast, L.A hosts millions of visitors to its 80 miles of public beach area. Los Angeles attractions include Disneyland Resort, California Adventure and Universal Studios, all of which offer a variety of activities including physical and virtual rides, live shows, music performances and special effects experiences. The city is also home to Dodger Stadium.
The two cities offer totally dissimilar climates. Forecasts for Los Angeles usually state clear skies and sunshine, while San Francisco forecasters typically advise that you take along a coat. Los Angeles' coolest month is January when low temperatures are in the high 60s. August is the city's warmest month, and temperatures typically top off in the mid 80s Fahrenheit. Conversely, San Francisco typically offers a windy and chilly climate. In San Francisco, average highs rarely top 71 degrees and lows are typically in the mid 50s.
