puerto santa maria Even the seediest neigh borhoods are pretty safe in broad daylight, but they, and parks, should be s

Union Street A neighborhood shopping street loaded with tradition, Union Street is noted for its sidewalk caf s, antiques shops, bookstores, and designer boutiques, housed in converted Victorian charmers. The street is at the heart of the Cow Hollow neighborhood, whose name invokes its antecedent as a dairy pasture (see p51). d Map E2

American Takeover Impending war with Mexico in the 1840s inspired US leaders to arouse the interest of Bay Area settlers in joining the Union. In 1846, a party of Yankees in Sonoma declared California s independence from Mexico, christening it the Bear Flag Republic. Shortly after, Commodore John Sloat claimed California as US territory.

Even the seediest neigh borhoods are pretty safe in broad daylight, but they, and parks, should be sidestepped at night, when muggings are most likely. That said, there are very few areas that are really perilous within the city, and virtually puerto santa maria none in areas that a tourist is likely to frequent.