As with many coastal California communities, the history of the Pacifica area dates back to the Costanoan Native Americans. Later, during the Spanish period of the 18th century, Don Gaspar de Portola led the first expedition into Alta California. In 1769 he and his group were the first to discover the Pacifica area. By the Mexican period a permanent settlement had been established, and the area has been occupied to this day.

Pacifica's modern history began in 1957, when the current city was named and incorporated. Because a great deal of the land within the city limits was donated by the National Parks Service, Pacifica has remained largely unchanged to this day. The city is known for its stunning, island-like atmosphere and pristine, legally protected natural environment.

For such a small town, Pacifica is a trove of cultural and recreational opportunities. It is home to art galleries and museums such as the International Village Gallery and Sanchez Art Center. There is a local theater group, the non-profit Pacifica Spindrift Players. Other cultural organizations include the Pacifica Poetry Forum, Pacifica Cultural Arts Center and the Pacifica Cultural Arts Commission.

Sports and recreation opportunities include horseback riding, tennis, golf, fishing and surfing. Local outdoors opportunities abound as well, including the San Pedro Valley County Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Gulf of the Farallones, the Sanchez Adobe House and more. Each year during September, the city hosts the Pacific Coast Fog Fest - appropriately enough, since the town is known as the "Fog Capital of California." This week-long celebration of food, fun, and activities is a way for residents and visitors to say goodbye to summer.

The opportunities for Pacifica residents don't end there, of course, what with San Francisco fewer than 15 minutes away. Some of the city's more famous attractions include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Asian Art Museum, the Mexican Museum, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The science and natural history museums vary greatly in topics, but include the Exploratorium, a museum dedicated to educating children in the sciences; the Musee Mecanique, which celebrates machinery in all its forms; and the San Francisco Maritime National History Park. If live animals are your thing, San Francisco is also home to the Aquarium of the Bay, the Steinhart Aquarium and the well-regarded San Francisco Zoo.

San Francisco also boasts a number of world-class professional sports teams. The perennial post-season baseball team, the San Francisco Giants, now play in a new, state-of-the-art ballpark. The 49'ers, one of the NFL's winningest teams, also make their home in the City by the Bay. Across the bay in Oakland, sports fans will find another baseball team, the Oakland Athletics; another football team, the Oakland Raiders; and the local basketball team, the Golden State Warriors. A short drive to the south in San Jose is the Bay Area hockey team, the Sharks.