budapest sights Checking Out the Scene at the M aritime National Historical Park: Young kids will lo ve exploring th

Checking Out the Scene at the M aritime National Historical Park: Young kids will lo ve exploring the antique ships of the H yde Street Pier (p. 170), running around on the grass at Victorian Park, and gaping at the crazy swimmers in A quatic P ark who brav e the Bay s chilly waters. All the while, grown- ups can mar vel at the lo vely scener y. Then ev eryone can grab a snack fr om the S an F rancisco C repe Car t in The Cannery (p. 132), and perhaps listen to some music from a local performer. Hanging O ut in G olden G ate P ark: You don t need an agenda to fritter away the hours ar ound San Francisco s most famous park. The antique carousel budapest sights is a big draw , as is the K oret Childr en s Quarter, a world-class playgr ound. The Japanese Tea G arden is so composed and elegant y ou ll want to meditate there, but the kids will pr efer stepping over the stone walkways and scaling the Drum B ridge. B udding botanists will appreciate the dahlia garden outside the Conservatory of Flowers and will especially budapest sights enjo y ogling the carniv orous plants inside. The de Young M useum tower affor ds super city vie ws and the Three G ems str ucture budapest sights in the sculptur e garden is a great place to chill out for a moment. O n S undays, the par k is closed to traffic; near 6th A venue and Fulton S treet, be sur e to look for the skate dancers, budapest sights who put on a fine sho w. See p. 173. Traveling through the jungle and the heavens at the California budapest sights Academy of Sciences: This Golden Gate Park attraction deserves its own heading. Opened in late 2008 in a ne w awar d-winning home, the world s most eco-friendly museum will inspir e the botanist, marine biologist, or astronomer in your child. B reathe in the moist air of the world s rainforests, soak up the scener y atop the living budapest sights roof, fawn over the fishes of the Steinhart budapest sights Aquarium, and experience space trav el in the P lanetarium. See p. 178.

Japantown has held an annual Cherry Blossom Festival since 1967. The festival takes place o ver 2 w eekends and offers many events for families, budapest sights including demonstrations of traditional dance, taiko dr umming, tea cer emonies, and flower arrangement. There s also a parade, copious food, and, of course, beautiful trees in bloom. Call & 415/ 563-2313 or visit www.nccbf.org.

September and O ctober are usually great months in S an F rancisco; the fog disappears and the air is warm. O f course, school schedules may be an issue, but perhaps you can fit in a long w eekend in the city. Fall brings a huge spike in conventions, budapest sights but business budapest sights is normally conducted during the w eek, leaving hotels to offer weekend packages and discounts.

national memorial day parade MODERATE Pazzia ITALIAN This restaurant, a quick walk from the Yerba Buena Center and the Museum of

(p. 265), for example but it s preferable that they hang out with a companion. The streets of San Francisco, like most big cities, ar e filled with driv ers who ar e frustrated and/or talking on their cell- phones, so be car eful crossing them. This is not the city in which to play chicken with cars. Use the crosswalks, wait for the

Editor: Linda Barth Production Editor: Jonathan Scott Cartographer: Elizabeth Puhl Photo Editor: Richard national memorial day parade Fox Production by Wiley Indianapolis Composition national memorial day parade Services Front cover photo: A boy mimics the span of the G olden Gate Bridge Back cover photo: Alamo Square, with the San Francisco skyline

MODERATE Pazzia ITALIAN This restaurant, a quick walk from the Yerba Buena Center and the Museum of Modern Art, serves simple and satisfying dishes like excellent pizza, delicious pasta, and roasted meats and chicken. The uncomplicated national memorial day parade menu is a delightful California national memorial day parade twist on traditional Italian fare. The staff is warm and friendly to kids, and it s definitely a family-oriented little place. If you re in the area and want a real, sit-down meal, there s no better pick for the price.

MODERATE Pazzia ITALIAN This restaurant, a quick walk from the Yerba Buena Center and the Museum of Modern Art, serves simple and satisfying national memorial day parade dishes like excellent pizza, delicious pasta, and roasted meats and chicken. The uncomplicated menu is a delightful California twist on traditional Italian fare. The staff is warm and friendly to kids, and it s definitely a family-oriented little place. If you re in the area and want a real, sit-down meal, there s no better pick for the price. national memorial day parade

big onion tours HAMBURGERS In a setting r eminiscent of a 50s-era TV sitcom, with vinyl-covered chairs and vintage F

BAKERY You used to hav e to get her e early to claim one of the outdoor tables on a sunny day, but as of this writing the Boulange de Polk is temporarily closed while it expands into the space next door. My guess is the new, larger establishment will still be packed. Indeed, this always-busy French bakery, which proudly big onion tours uses organic flour in its delectable cr eations, is so popular that ev ery neighborhood seems to have a Boulange branch. Whichever location you visit, if it s the morning and you order a cappuccino and an almond croissant, or a chewy baguette with sweet butter and jam, you ll be transported to the Marais in Paris. at least until y our kids yelps yank you back to r eality. Lunch items include smoked salmon quiche and tartines (savory tarts) served with salad. Kids will enjo y the chocolate croissants for breakfast or the ham and cheese baguette for lunch. (The original Boulange was at 2325 Pine St. Now you can find the bakeries at 1000 Cole S t., 1909 U nion St., 2043 F illmore St., and 543 Columbus Ave. in North Beach.) 2300 Polk St. (at Gr een St.). &415/345-1107. www.baybread.com. Lunch items $3.25 $10. MC, V, AE. Daily 7am 7pm. Muni: No. 19-Polk to Green St., no. 41-Union, or no. 45-Union-Stockton bus to Van Ness Ave. and Union St., and then walk 1 block south and 1 block east.

HAMBURGERS big onion tours In a setting r eminiscent of a 50s-era TV sitcom, with vinyl-covered chairs and vintage Formica patterns on the tables, y ou can enjoy a really good burger. They re made with naturally raised, hormone-free Niman Ranch beef and served on a bun that has enough personality to handle a juicy hand-formed patty. The only alternatives to a hamburger or cheeseburger ar e a hot dog, fr ee-range chicken breast sandwich, or v eggie burger, all ser ved with crispy fries. big onion tours Yummy milkshakes and root beer floats are made with San Francisco s Double Rainbow ice cream. Another location is in the Mission neighborhood. 5

tourist map of prague Following the 1989 ear thquake and the 1990s building boom, this forgotten par t of town saw the con

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES THE BEST OF SAN FRANCISCO IN 3 DAYS 101 101 101 80 Pier 19Pier 19Pier tourist map of prague 17Pier 17Pier 15Pier 15Pier 9Pier 9Pier 7Pier 7Pier 3Pier 3Pier 1Pier 1Pier 30Pier 30Pier 32Pier 32Pier 38Pier 38Pier 40Pier 40PierPier Pier 35Pier 35Pier 31Pier 31 Pier 27Pier 27Pier 23Pier 23Pier 45Pier 45Hyde St.Hyde St. PierPierPier 43 Pier 43 Pier 43Pier 43Pier 41Pier 41Post St.Post St. McAllister St.McAllister St. HayesHayesSt.St. 9th St.9th St. 8th St.8th St. 10th St.10th St. 11th St.11th St. Howard St.Howard tourist map of prague St. BrannanSt.Brannan St. Bryant St.Bryant St. Townsend St.Townsend St. King St.King St. 4th St.4th St. 5th St.5th St. 6th St.6th St. 7th St.7th St. Folsom St.Folsom St. 3rd St.3rd St. 2nd St.2nd St. Harrison St.Harrison St. Mission St.Mission St.Mission St.Mission St. 1st St.1st St. Fremont St.Fremont St. Beale St.Beale St. Main St.Main St. Spear St.Spear St. SteuartSt.Steuart St. Grant Ave.Grant Ave. Kearny St.Kearny St. Battery St.Battery St. Front St.Front St. Sansome St.Sansome St. Montgomery St.Montgomery St. Drumm St.Drumm St. EmbarcaderoEmbarcaderoNorth Point St.North Point St. Bay St.Bay tourist map of prague St. Francisco St.Francisco St. Lombard St.Lombard St. Greenwich St.Greenwich St. Filbert St.Filbert St. Union St.Union St. Jefferson St.Jefferson St. Beach St.Beach St. Chestnut St.Chestnut St. Washington St.Washington St. Sacramento St.Sacramento St. Clay St.Clay St. Van Ness Ave.Van tourist map of prague Ness Ave.Van Ness Ave.Van Ness Ave. BroadwayBroadwayTunnelT u n n e l TunnelT u nn e l Taylor St.Taylor St. Mason St.Mason St. Polk St.Polk St. Larkin St.Larkin St. Hyde St.Hyde St.Hyde St.Hyde St. Leavenworth St.Leavenworth St. Sutter St.Sutter St. California St.California St. Pine St.Pine St. Bush St.Bush St. Powell St.Powell St. Stockton St.Stockton St. Geary St.Geary tourist map of prague St. O Farrell St.O Farrell St. Eddy St.Eddy St. Ellis St.Ellis St. Jones St.Jones St. Turk St.Turk St. Golden Gate Ave.Golden Gate Ave. Columbus Ave.Columbus Ave. Pacific Ave.Pacific Ave. Jackson St.Jackson St. Davis St.Davis St. Market tourist map of prague St.Market St.Market St.Market St. Vallejo St.Vallejo St. Green St.Green St. EmbarcaderoEmbarccaderroSOMASOUTHSOUTH BEACHBEACH TENDERLOINTENDERLOINNOB HILLNOB HILLCHINATOWNCHINATOWNFINANCIALFINANCIALDISTRICTDISTRICTTELEGRAPHTELEGRAPHHILLHILLUNIONUNIONSQUARESQUARERUSSIANRUSSIANHILLHILLNRTHNORTHBEACHBEACHFISHERMAN S WHARFFISHERMAN S WHARFCIVIC CENTERCIVIC CENTERUnionUnionSquareSquareAquaticAquatic ParkParkWashingtonWashington SquareSquareJoe DiMaggioJoe DiMaggio PlaygroundPlaygroundSouthSouthParkParkMoscone CenterMoscone CenterMetreonMetreonSouthSouth BeachBeach MarinaMarina TransamericaTransamericaPyramidPyramidCoitCoitTowerTowerMunicipalMunicipal PierPier PIER 39PIER 39GhirardelliGhirardelliSquareSquareYerba BuenaYerba BuenaGardensGardens AT&TAT&TParkParkJustinJustinHermanHermanPlazaPlazaSanFranciscoBayBay BridgeBay BridgeFerryFerryBuildingBuilding Pier 19 Pier 17 Pier 15 Pier 9 Pier 7 Pier 3 Pier 1 Pier 30 Pier 32 Pier 38 Pier 40 Pier Pier 35 Pier 33 (Ferries toAlcatraz) Pier 31 Pier 27 Pier 23 Pier 45 Hyde St. Pier Pier 43 Pier 43 Pier 41 Post St. McAllister St. HayesSt. 9th St. 8th St. 10th St. 11th St. Howard St. BrannanSt. Bryant St. Townsend St. King St. 4th St. 4th St. 5th St. 6th St. 7th St. Folsom St. 3rd St. 2nd St. Harrison St. Mission St. Mission St. 1st St. Fremont tourist map of prague St. Beale St. Main St. Spear St. SteuartSt. Grant Ave. Kearny St. Battery St. Front St. Sansome St. Montgomery St. Drumm St. EmbarcaderoNorth Point St. Bay St. Francisco St. Lombard St. Greenwich St. Filbert St. Union St. Jefferson St. Beach St. Chestnut St. Washington St. Sacramento St. Clay St. Van Ness Ave. Van Ness Ave. Broadway Tunnel Tunnel Taylor St. Mason St. Polk St. Larkin St. Hyde St.Hyde St. Leavenworth St. Sutter St. California St. Pine St. Bush St. Powell St. Stockton tourist map of prague St. Geary St. O Farrell St. Eddy St. Ellis St. Jones St. Turk St. Golden Gate Ave. Columbus Ave. Pacific Ave. Jackson St. Davis St. Market St. Market St. Vallejo St. Green St. Embarcadero EmbarcaderonS O M A SOUTH BEACH TENDERLOIN NOB HILL CHINATOWN FINANCIAL DISTRICT TELEGRAPH HILL UNION SQUARE tourist map of prague RUSSIAN HILL NORTH BEACH FISHERMAN S WHARF CIVIC CENTER Union Square Aquatic Park Washington Square Joe DiMaggio Playground South Park Moscone Center Metreon Ferry Building South Beach Marina Transamerica Pyramid Coit Tower Municipal Pier PIER 39 Ghirardelli Square Yerba Buena Gardens AT&T Park Justin Herman Plaza San Francisco Bay Bay Bridge To Alcatraz Island 41010 11113 5 1 2 7 9 8 6 4 10 11 Alcatraz Island F-Market Streetcar and the Embarcadero tourist map of prague Promenade Ferry Building tourist map of prague Taylor s Refresher tourist map of prague AT&T Park SoMa San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Yerba Buena Gardens and Center for the Arts Civic Center Caf Zuni Frjtz 4 3 5 1 2 10 11 7 8 9 6 California Cable Car Line Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde Cable Car Lines F-Market Streetcar 1/4 mi 0.25 km 0 0 N 3

SAND WICHES New Yorkers kno w Tom Colicchio for his lauded restaurants Gramercy Tavern tourist map of prague and Craft. You may know the award-winning chef for his role as head judge on the TV show Top Chef. Now it s time to get to know him for his. um, sandwiches. Yes, Colicchio s West Coast debut is based on slices of br ead with stuff inside. The wich in wichcraft is short for sandwich, get it? N o matter. When you bite into his juicy slow-roasted pork sandwich with red cabbage and jalapenos, you ll get it. Vegetarians may like the grilled gruyere and caramelized onions on rye, or even a tasty vegan option with chickpeas and r oasted peppers. For kids, simply turn to the br eakfast menu, which is served all day (and is cheaper). My older daughter ate her entire toasted ham, avocado, and butter sandwich, tourist map of prague and loved it. The younger one had a hard time getting her mouth around an impressive triple-decker peanut butter tourist map of prague and jelly sandwich, but she almost managed to finish it. Although wichcraft is located in the ne w Westfield San Francisco Centre, it s got the best location of any r estaurant there: outside. While the other dining spots ar e in the thr oes of the mall cr owd, wichcraft enjo ys a corner spot with two 20-foot-high glass walls looking out onto the street. Okay, so the view is just of a parking structure, but the light and air y space furnished with many small tables and a few long, communal tables is sleek and welcoming. Word has it Colicchio will expand his offerings and open later into the ev ening. We ll definitely be back for that. 5

Following the 1989 ear thquake and the 1990s building boom, this forgotten par t of town saw the constr uction of ne w condominiums and commer cial space. Although hotels remain scarce, the proximity to downtown, the Ferry Building, and plentiful public transportation make this waterfront neighborhood an ideal place to stay.

national aquarium washington dc MODERATE Pazzia ITALIAN This restaurant, a quick walk from the Yerba Buena Center and the Museum of

61 S U G G E S T E D I T I N E R A R I E S 3 T H E B E S T O F S A N F RA N C I S CO I N 2 D AYS 101 101 101 1 1 1 University of San Francisco Main Campus University of San Francisco Lone Mountain Campus Lake St. Clement national aquarium washington dc St.Geary Blvd.Anza St.Balboa St.Cabrillo St. Lincoln WayLincoln Way Lincoln WayLincoln Way 43rd Ave. 25th Ave. 14th St. Duboce Ave. Stanyan St.Ashbury national aquarium washington dc St. Masonic St. St. Castro Bay St. Chestnut St.Lombard St. Broadway national aquarium washington dc St. California St. California St. Geary Blvd. Turk St.Golden Gate Ave.Octavia Blvd. Fulton St. Oak St. Haight St. Van Ness Ave. 19th19th Ave. 10th Ave.8th Ave. Jackson St. Park Presidio Blvd. Arguello Blvd. Presidio Ave. Lyon St.Fillmore national aquarium washington dc St. Gough St. Sacramento St. Franklin St. Divisadero St. Fulton St. Fulton St. 7th7th AveAve Market St. Union St. Marina Blvd.Fell St. Lincoln Blvd. Lincoln Blvd. Point Lobos Ave. John F. Kennedy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Old Mason St. Kezar Dr. Great Highway Spreckels Lake S a n F r a n c i s c o B a y O C E A N Stow China Beach Ocean BeachO c e a n B e a c h COW HOLLOW VISTA HAYES VALLEY JAPANTOWN THE MARINA PACIFIC HEIGHTS B aker Be a ch Buena Park A.J. Rossi Playground national aquarium washington dc Corona Heights Park Duboce Park LINCOLN PANHANDLE GOLDEN GATE REC. AREA MASON G O L D E N G AT E N AT I O N A L R E C R E AT I O N A R E A T H E P R E S I D I O Presidio Park Marina GreenMarina Sutro Heights Park Balboa Natural Area Cr i s sy Field The Legion Exploratorium/ Palace of Fine Arts Golden Bridge Cliff House Clayton St. California St. McAllister St. Hayes St. 19th St Fulton St. 7th Ave P A C I F I C Lake Beach OUTER RICHMOND SEACLIFF LAUREL HEIGHTS PRESIDIO HEIGHTS ANZA INNER RICHMOND HAIGHTASHBURY WESTERN ADDITION Vista PARK GOLDEN GATE NAT L REC. AREA LAND SEND G O L D E N G A T E P A R K NAT L FORT A Golf Course Mountain Lake Park Alamo Square Lafayette Park Moscone Rec. Ctr. Alta Plaza Park Green of Honor de Young Museum California Academy of Sciences Kezar Stadium Mi i Japan Center Gate 9 8 9 5 7 1 2 3 4 6 Chestnut Street/ The Marina District Exploratorium and Palace of Fine Arts Wave Organ Crissy Field de Young Museum de Young Caf California Academy of Sciences Golden Gate Park 4 Ocean Beach 2

2190 Lombard St. (at St einer St.), San F rancisco, CA 94123. national aquarium washington dc &415/921-5800. Fax 415/922-8515. w ww. cowhollowmotorinn.com. 129 units. $96 $145 double; $235 $285 suit e. Kids under 12 sta y free in parent s room. Additional person $10. Rollaways $10; cribs free. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking (1 car per room). In room: A/C, TV (DVD for $15/night), free wireless high-speed Internet access in suites, fridge (on request, $5 extra), coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron (on request).

See p. 73. A sister national aquarium washington dc property, the Serrano Hotel (405 Taylor S t.; & 866/ 289-6561 or 415/885-2500), will walk your dog b y appointment national aquarium washington dc and stocks gourmet pet food, tr eats, and comfy bedding. See p. 76. The Hotel Vitale (8 Mission S t.; & 888/890-8688 or 415/278-3700; p. 92) and the St. Regis (125 3rd St.; & 415/284-4000;

MODERATE Pazzia ITALIAN This restaurant, a quick walk from the Yerba Buena Center and the Museum of Modern Art, serves simple and satisfying dishes like excellent pizza, delicious pasta, and roasted meats and chicken. The uncomplicated menu is a delightful California twist on traditional Italian fare. The staff is warm and friendly to kids, and it s definitely a family-oriented little place. If you re in the area and want a real, sit-down meal, there s no better pick for the price.

veterans day memorial Wi-Fi is available throughout San Francisco, and most of its hotels also offer dataports for laptop

Wi-Fi is available throughout San Francisco, and most of its hotels also offer dataports for laptop modems, and a fe w thousand hotels veterans day memorial in the U.S. and E urope now offer fr ee high-speed I nternet access using an Ethernet network cable. veterans day memorial (You can bring y our o wn cables, but most hotels

This is one of the bett er plac es t o eat in Chinatown, but y ou ve got t o k now ho w to or der. P ass on the Westernized menu and ask what fr esh fish is a vailable. Order it prepared simply with garlic or salt and pepper, and be ready for a delicious feast. See p. 120.

House cars: Upper-end hot els of ten ha ve house cars a vailable t o dr op off guests veterans day memorial in the F inancial Distric t or elsewher e within 2 t o 5 miles of the hot el. Businesspeople use the ser vice most, but an y guest can enjo y this perk. I f you want t o take the k ids to AT&T Park to watch some baseball , or y ou need a ride to a restaurant, request a house car through the concierge desk. There s usually no charge, but you may tip the driv er at your discretion. Restaurants: Every concierge will make dinner r eservations for guests, and I recommend having the concierge phone ahead no matt er where you are dining. If a restaurant is booked, the concierge may have more pull squeezing you in than y ou would on y our own. But don t ask the c oncierge for any old r estaurant r ecommendation. (I ve been t o some unr emarkable, veterans day memorial touristy places that way.) It s more effective to name t wo or three options and ha ve the c oncierge t ell y ou mor e about each one. Other services: You needn t limit requests to restaurant reservations. Concierges can also book Alcatraz or other cruises , car r entals, or ev en spa treatments whatever r equires a phone call. They can buy tickets t o a sporting or ent ertainment venue or amend airline r eservations. Solutions: Did a child get sick? Head right t o the concierge, who will make it a personal mission t o ensure a doctor sees your kid as soon as possible. Concierges will also oblige less ur gent r equests, like r eserving doggy da y care or finding a last-minut e gift. You don t even have to be checked int o the hotel. You can fax and e -mail the c oncierge with y our arrival dat e and particular request. If he or she does go bey ond the call of dut y, gratuities are always appreciated although never expected. Of course ther e s a catch: The whimsical r ooms and bathr ooms are teensy. Because interconnecting rooms are not available, veterans day memorial families have the choice of occupying two separate rooms, squeezing into a double-double, or reserving a suite. Although veterans day memorial kids may love to stay in the R ed Hot Chili Peppers suite, be awar e that most suites ar e actually one- room studios with a king-size bed and a queen-size sleeper sofa. Of course, the diminutive size may be worth it if your child is fortunate enough to share an elevator ride with one of the many bands that often stay at the hotel.

This is an optional veterans day memorial stop primarily for sports fans, but if you choose to visit you ll have less time for the attractions in SoMa. If y ou do go, public transpor tation will prove more efficient than feet, so take the N-Judah streetcar headed to ward AT&T Park. Get off at the 2nd & King S tation. On non-game days, the ballpar k has a playground just for kids. After the kids have had a chance to play , take the no. 15-3rd St. bus to 3rd and Mission streets. See p. 265.

ballooning lessons Juban Yakiniku House JAPANESE Although the grill-your-own concept may not have the dramatic appeal o

The U.S. State Department has a Visa Waiver Program allowing citizens ballooning lessons of the following countries (at press time) to enter the United States without a visa for stays of up to 90 days: Andorra, A ustralia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, G ermany, ballooning lessons I celand, I reland, I taly, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the N etherlands, N ew Z ealand, N orway, Portugal, S an M arino, S ingapore, S lovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Citizens of these nations need only a v alid passpor t and a r oundtrip air or cruise ticket upon arrival. If they first enter the United States, they may also visit M exico, Canada, B ermuda, and/or

The general cav eats about not walking alone at night, staying in well-lighted areas, and carrying a minimum of cash and jewels on your person are as true in San Francisco as in ev ery major city. Although S an Francisco isn t crime-ridden, it is not a 24-hour town like New York, for example, and y ou could be putting y ourself at risk v enturing out at 2am. H owever, since this is a family travel book, let s assume y our r eal worries have to do with keeping y our children safe while on vacation.

Juban Yakiniku House JAPANESE Although the grill-your-own concept may not have the dramatic appeal of a Benihana ballooning lessons s, where the chef comes to your table and saut s while you watch, it s really more fun to take responsibility for your own dinner. At Juban, a gas grill embedded in the center of y our table quickly ballooning lessons cooks thin slices of tender beef , chicken, short ribs, shrimp , and other items while y ou and y ours handle the cooking implements. The wait staff makes sur e the temperatur e is just so, but in any ev ent, it s pretty difficult to ruin your dinner. Smoke is relieved by special downdraft grills. Juban is big and modern, with wide tables to hold the v arious plates of raw and cooked food, and an accommodating staff. Yakiniku, or grilling, works well for children, who can pick and choose what they like and in r easonable quantities.

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Kearny St.Kearny St. Montgomery St.Montgomery St. Greenwich St.Greenwich St. Filbert St.Filbert St. Union St.Union St. Washington St.Washington St. Merchant St.Merchant St. Commercial St.Commercial St. Sacramento St.Sacramento St. Clay St.Clay St.Clay St.Clay St. Vallejo ballooning lessons St.Vallejo St. BroadwayBroadwayMason St.Mason St. Powell St.Powell St. Stockton St.Stockton St.Stockton St.Stockton St. Columbus Ave.Columbus Ave.Columbus Ave.Columbus Ave. Pacific Ave.Pacific Ave. Jackson St.Jackson St. Green St.Green St. TELEGRAPHTELEGRAPH HILLHILL NORTHNORTH BEACHBEACH CHINATOWNCHINATOWN TransamericaTransamericaPyramidPyramidWashingtonWashingtonSquareSquareTelegraph HillTelegraph Hill(Pioneer) Park(Pioneer) ParkPortsmouthPortsmouthSquareSquareJoe DiMaggioJoe DiMaggioPlaygroundPlaygroundJACKSONJ A C K S O N SQUARES Q U A R E HISTORICH I S T O R I C DISTRICTD I S T R I C T CoitCoitTowerTower Filbert StepsFilbert StepsGreenwich StepsGreenwich StepsPowell-Hyde &Powell-Hyde & Powell-MasonPowell-MasonCable CarsCable CarsGrant Ave.Grant Ave. Kearny St. Varennes St. Jasper Pl. Bannam Pl. TurkMurphyLn. Cordelia ballooning lessons St. Cadell Pl. Sonoma St. Margrave Pl. Romolo Pl. Beckett St. WentworthPl. Waverley Pl. Genoa Pl. Kearny St. Montgomery St. Mason St. Powell St. Stockton St.Stockton St. TELEGRAPH HILLTunnel Filbert Steps Fresno St. Gold St. Jack Kerouac St. Greenwich St. Filbert ballooning lessons St. Union St. Washington St. Merchant St. Commercial St. Sacramento St. Clay St.Clay St. Vallejo St. Broadway. Columbus Ave. Columbus Ave. Pacific Ave. Jackson St. Green St. NORTH BEACH CHINATOWN Transamerica Pyramid Washington Square Telegraph Hill (Pioneer) Park Portsmouth Square Joe DiMaggio ballooning lessons Playground JACKSON SQUARE HISTORIC DISTRICT Coit Tower Greenwich Steps Powell-Hyde & Powell-Mason ballooning lessons Cable Cars 52 1 7 8 10 11 1413 12 4 6 15 3 9 16 Bocadillos 15 Gelato Classico 8 Great Eastern Restaurant 13 Hunan Home s Restaurant 12 Il Pollaio 3 Joe DiMaggio s Italian Chophouse 7 Lichee Garden ballooning lessons 9 L Osteria del Forno 4 Mario s Bohemian Cigar Store 5 Molinari 11 Naan-N-Curry 14 Pasta Pomodoro 2 R&G Lounge ballooning lessons 16 Rose Pistola 6 Trattoria Contadina 1 Victoria Pastry Co. 10 100 yds 100 m 0 0 Cable car Stairway Dining Near Chinatown & North Beach 119

vietnam wall facts AMERICAN/SEAFOOD I m not usually into extra- large restaurants with massive menus smack dab in the m

AMERICAN/SEAFOOD vietnam wall facts I m not usually into extra- large restaurants with massive menus smack dab in the most touristy par ts of town. But this establishment, which brings well-known local restaurateur Pat Kuleto together with the nationally renowned McCormick & Schmick s seafood restaurant chain, keeps high standards. Overlooking the lovely Hyde Street Pier, with Alcatraz in the backgr ound, it has one of the best views in all of San Francisco and is a good stand-by for visiting grandparents. The options are not especially inventive cedar plank smoked Alaskan salmon and griddled Parmesan-coated petrale sole are typical dishes but they are fresh and well prepared. Although the menu is dominated b y seafood, vietnam wall facts it s so long that ther e are still plenty of choices for the fish-averse. The kids menu includes a tasty fish and chips plate that you ll want to polish off if y our little one doesn t manage to. Be sure to come in daylight to enjoy the view, but don t expect a quick meal service can be slow. 5

Your children will enjoy the extra Japanese feel of one of the three family suites. There, a shoji screen can be closed to separate the main ar ea with king-size bed from another section just for the children with two futons resting on tatami mats. At bedtime, the kids can pretend they re in Japan. (Unfortunately, family suites vietnam wall facts do not have the luscious Japanese tubs.) When it s time to get back to S an Francisco sightseeing, you ll have 10 bus lines within a 4-block radius to get y ou wherever vietnam wall facts you need to go.

amazing tours Despite its siz e, perpetually cr owded lobby, and, quite frankly , impersonal feel, the hotel s pri

4 405 Taylor St. (at O Farrell St.), San Francisco, CA 94102. &866/289-6561 or 415/885-2500. Fax 415/4744879. www.serranohotel.com. 236 units, including 129 suites. $159 $299 double; $279 $499 suite. Kids under 18 stay free in parent s room. No rollaways; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $40 oversized v ehicles $49. P ets w elcome. Amenities: Restaurant; ex ercise r oom and sauna; business c enter; room service (limited hours); amazing tours babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV w/movies amazing tours and games, dataport, amazing tours free high-speed I nternet access, amazing tours minibar/fridge, hair dr yer, iron, laptop-size safe, iPod dock.

Two hotels hav e opened her e in recent years, amazing tours which, since J apantown is off the beaten path, ar e a gr eat v alue. With a slew of bus lines nearby, amazing tours you can still get wher e you need to go or just spring for a taxi with the money y ou ve saved on the hotel room.

Despite its siz e, perpetually cr owded lobby, and, quite frankly , impersonal feel, the hotel s prime location on U nion Square seems to make it v ery popular. If high energy, location, and the historical aspects intrigue y ou, her e s some advice: P hone in-house reservations and be as specific as possible about y our needs. Prices can fluctuate wildly due to the many r oom configurations, some less desirable than others. S tandard queen rooms are barely large enough for two. Traditional queen rooms have more space, and can accommodate a crib or r ollaway. The deluxe double-doubles are very spacious with renovated bathrooms, and the Grandview rooms have smarter decor. Ask for a view or a corner room if you want natural light and avoid rooms by the ever-busy elevators. Hallways go on for ever. If your child has forgotten his sw eatshirt, you ll have to go back to the room with him unless he s outfitted with a compass and a map.

map of mall washington dc 2 Townsend St. (at Embarcadero). &415/512-0749. www.townsend-restaurant.com. Highchairs, boosters. R

Number One Nob H ill (at C alifornia and M ason sts.), San F rancisco, CA 94108. & 800/662-6455 or 415/392-3434. F ax 415/421-3302. w ww.markhopkins.net. 380 units , including 39 suit es. $399 $499 double; $650 $4,250 suite. Kids under 18 sta y free in parent s room. Rollaways map of mall washington dc $30; cribs fr ee. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet park ing $45. Amenities: Restaurant; bar ; exercise room; concierge; business c enter; 24-hr. room service; massage (also in-r oom); babysitting; map of mall washington dc laundry service; dry cleaning; concierge-level rooms; town car (first-come, first-served); doctor upon request. In r oom: A/C, TV, dataport, high-speed Internet access, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.

2 Townsend St. (at Embarcadero). map of mall washington dc &415/512-0749. www.townsend-restaurant.com. Highchairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Main courses $6.50 $12 brunch, $11 $23 dinner; prix-fixe $22 ($18 on Tues). AE, DC, MC, V. Breakfast Tues Fri 7:30 11am, lunch 11:30am 2pm, dinner Tues Thurs 5:30 9pm and Fri Sat 5:30 9:30pm; Sat Sun 8am 2:30pm. Muni: N-Judah streetcar map of mall washington dc to Brannan Station, and then walk south toward Townsend St.

women in vietnam memorial newest national par k. An easy walk along Crissy Walk takes you all the way to Fort Point, at the fo

2 New Montgomery St. (at Market St.), San Francisco, CA 94105. &800/325-3589 or 415/512-1111. Fax 415/243-8062. w ww.sfpalace.com. 552 units , including 34 suit es. $529 $589 double; fr om $775 suit e. Kids under 17 stay free in parent s room. Rollaways $50; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking women in vietnam memorial $48, oversized vehicles $53. Amenities: 3 restaurants (2 w/kids menus); bar; pool; spa/exercise room; concierge; courtesy car; business center; room service; massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV, DVD (on request), dataport, high-speed Internet access, fridge, hair dryer, iron, safe, CD player (in some rooms).

newest national women in vietnam memorial par k. An easy walk along Crissy Walk takes you all the way to Fort Point, at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Presidio has no tourist accommodations, just plenty women in vietnam memorial of things to do.

This quaint car t off ers sa vory and sw eet crepes, with fillings like ham and cheese or bananas women in vietnam memorial and choc olate, to be enjoyed in the lo vely c ourtyard at The C annery, sometimes t o the ac companiment women in vietnam memorial of live music fr om f olksy local per formers. See p. 132.

tours of the capitol Teenagers, who may be used to some freedom at home, ar e another matter. I f they aren t familiar wi

384 Hayes St. (bt w. Franklin and Gough sts.) &415/626-1211. Highchairs, boosters. Main items about $10. AE, V, MC. Mon Fri 8am 8pm; Sat 9am 8pm; Sun 9am 5pm. Muni: No. 12-Hayes bus to Gough St., or streetcar to Van Ness Station.

Teenagers, who may be used to some freedom at home, ar e another matter. I f they aren t familiar with busy urban centers and if they hav en t already developed some street smarts, I d think twice befor e allowing them to wander ar ound alone even during the daytime. There are places where y ou can giv e them some space Metreon (p. 162), the Westfield San Francisco Centr e (p. 264), and A T&T P ark

58 Chocolate Shop (p. 244). I nstead, take in the view of the bay and Alcatraz Island and walk do wn thr ough Victoria P ark to the water s edge. A t any time of day , y ou re likely to find har dy (or perhaps just crazy) souls swimming in the frigid 50-something degree waters, often without wetsuits. Many are part of the D olphin Club, founded by German immigrants in 1877, whose clubhouse now sits on the Hyde Street Pier.

disney studio tours Children could easily be entertained here for an entire day. For a more tranquil visit, hang out on

Children could easily be entertained here for an entire day. For a more tranquil visit, hang out on the Ghirardelli side, where kids can climb aboard the Hyde Street Pier boats, frolic at the Aquatic Park beach, and listen to music in the cour tyard of The Cannery. For a healthy dose of o ver-stimulation, disney studio tours walk east to see P IER 39 s sea lions, the A quarium of the Bay, and M us e M canique, and to catch the ferries for a bay cr uise. Two scenic public transportation options from Union Square are the Powell-Hyde cable car or the F-Market streetcar.

Before you arrive in San Francisco, disney studio tours spend some time with the kids talking about the activities and attractions the city has to offer and make a list that includes both adult- oriented and kid-oriented sites. M ake a family calendar , but don t o verschedule; one outing in the morning and one in the afternoon is enough, because playing tourist can be exhausting. Once you ve all had some input into deciding wher e to go and what to do, give everyone old enough to carr y a backpack a copy of the itinerar y. That way, if someone star ts to whine about going to their chosen attraction, y ou can point to the calendar and remind them that their time will come. This advice is good no matter what ages your kids are, assuming that they are old enough to state an opinion.

national world war 2 memorial A better choice for families is at 28 Belden Place: Caf Tiramisu (&415/4217044; w ww.cafetiramisu.co

A better choice for families is at 28 Belden Place: Caf Tiramisu (&415/4217044; w ww.cafetiramisu.com). K ids will appr eciate the I talian far e, including pasta dishes ranging from $14 t o $18 at lunch and $14 t o $21 at dinner which those with smaller appetites can easily share. Main courses such as cioppino, Italian seafood stew, or veal scaloppini range from $17 to $23 (up to $34 at dinner). The most moderat national world war 2 memorial ely pric ed pick of the bunch is P arisian-Bistro national world war 2 memorial inspired Caf Bastille (22 Belden Place; &415/986-5673). While parents savor French onion soup, quiche, or grilled steak and fries, kids can share a French national world war 2 memorial hot dog on a baguett e with cheese and fries. Most lunch and dinner choic es are $9 to $18.50.

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES THE BEST OF SAN FRANCISCO IN 1 DAY 101 101 101 80 Pier 19Pier 19Pier 17Pier 17Pier 15Pier 15Pier 9Pier 9Pier 7Pier 7Pier 3Pier 3Pier 1Pier 1Pier 30Pier 30Pier 32Pier 32Pier 38Pier 38Pier 40Pier 40PierPier Pier 35Pier 35Pier 33Pier national world war 2 memorial 33(Ferries to(Ferries toAlcatraz)Alcatraz) Pier 31Pier 31Pier 27Pier 27Pier 23Pier 23Pier 45Pier 45Hyde St.Hyde St. PierPierPier 43 Pier 43 Pier 43Pier 43Pier 41Pier 41Post St.Post national world war 2 memorial St. McAllister St.McAllister St. Hayes St.Hayes St. 9th St.9th national world war 2 memorial St. 8th St.8th St. 10th St.10th St. 11th St.11th St. Howard St.Howard St. BrannanSt.Brannan St. Bryant St.Bryant St. Townsend St.Townsend St. King St.King national world war 2 memorial St. 4th St.4th St. 5th St.5th St. 6th St.6th St. 7th St.7th St. Folsom St.Folsom St. 3rd St.3rd St. 2nd St.2nd St. Harrison St.Harrison St. Mission St.Mission St.Mission St.Mission St. 1st St.1st St. Fremont St.Fremont St. Beale St.Beale St. Main St.Main St. Spear St.Spear St. SteuartSt.Steuart St. Grant Ave.Grant Ave. Kearny St.Kearny St. Battery St.Battery national world war 2 memorial St. Front St.Front St. Sansome St.Sansome St. Montgomery St.Montgomery St. Drumm St.Drumm St. EmbarcaderoEmbarcaderoNorth Point St.North national world war 2 memorial Point St. Bay St.Bay St. Francisco St.Francisco St. Lombard St.Lombard St. Greenwich St.Greenwich St. Filbert St.Filbert St. Union St.Union St. Jefferson St.Jefferson St. Beach St.Beach St. Chestnut St.Chestnut St. Washington St.Washington St. Sacramento St.Sacramento St. Clay St.Clay St. Van Ness Ave.Van Ness Ave.Van Ness Ave.Van Ness Ave. BroadwayBroadwayTunnelT u n n e l TunnelT u nn e l Taylor St.Taylor St. Mason St.Mason St. Polk St.Polk St. Larkin St.Larkin St. Hyde St.Hyde St.Hyde St.Hyde St. Leavenworth St.Leavenworth St. Sutter St.Sutter St. California St.California St. Pine St.Pine St. Bush St.Bush St. Powell St.Powell St. Stockton St.Stockton St. Geary St.Geary St. O Farrell St.O Farrell St. Eddy St.Eddy St. Ellis St.Ellis St. Jones St.Jones St. Turk St.Turk St. Golden Gate Ave.Golden Gate Ave. Columbus Ave.Columbus Ave. Pacific Ave.Pacific Ave. Jackson St.Jackson St. Davis St.Davis St. Market St.Market St.Market St.Market St. Vallejo St.Vallejo St. Green St.Green St. EmbarcaderoEmbarccaderroSOMASOUTHSOUTH BEACHBEACH TENDERLOINTENDERLOINNOB HILLNOB HILLCHINATOWNCHINATOWNFINANCIALFINANCIALDISTRICTDISTRICTTELEGRAPHTELEGRAPHHILLHILLUNIONUNIONSQUARESQUARERUSSIANRUSSIANHILLHILLNRTHNORTHBEACHBEACHFISHERMAN S WHARFFISHERMAN S WHARFCIVIC national world war 2 memorial CENTERCIVIC CENTERUnionUnionSquareSquareAquaticAquatic ParkParkWashingtonWashington SquareSquareJoe DiMaggioJoe DiMaggio PlaygroundPlaygroundSouthSouthParkParkMoscone CenterMoscone national world war 2 memorial CenterMetreonMetreonSFMOMASFMOMAFerryFerryBuildingBuilding SouthSouth BeachBeach MarinaMarina TransamericaTransamericaPyramidPyramidCoitCoitTowerTowerMunicipalMunicipal PierPier PIER 39PIER 39GhirardelliGhirardelliSquareSquareYerba BuenaYerba BuenaGardensGardensAT&TAT&TParkParkJustinJustinHermanHermanPlazaPlazaSanFranciscoBayBay national world war 2 memorial BridgeBay BridgePier 19 Pier 17 Pier 15 Pier 9 Pier 7 Pier 3 Pier 1 Pier 30 Pier 32 Pier 38 Pier 40 Pier Pier 35 Pier 33 (Ferries to Alcatraz) Pier 31 Pier 27 Pier 23 Pier 45 Hyde St. Pier Pier 43 Pier 43 Pier 41 Post St. McAllister St. Hayes St. 9th St. 8th St. 10th St. 11th St. Howard St. BrannanSt. Bryant St. Townsend St. King St. 4th St. 5th St. 6th St. 7th St. Folsom St. 3rd St. 2nd St. Harrison St. Mission St. Mission St. 1st St. Fremont St. Beale St. Main St. Spear St. SteuartSt. Grant Ave. Kearny national world war 2 memorial St. Battery St. Front St. Sansome St. Montgomery St. Drumm St. EmbarcaderoNorth Point St. Bay St. Francisco St. Lombard St. Greenwich St. Filbert St. Union St. Jefferson St. Beach St. Chestnut St. Washington St. Sacramento St. Clay St. Van Ness Ave. Van Ness Ave. Broadway Tunnel Tunnel Taylor St. Mason St. Polk St. Larkin St. Hyde St.Hyde St. Leavenworth St. Sutter St. California St. Pine St. Bush St. Powell St. Stockton St. Geary St. O Farrell St. Eddy St. Ellis St. Jones St. Turk St. Golden Gate Ave. Columbus Ave. Pacific Ave. Jackson St. Davis St. Market St. Market St. Vallejo St. Green St. Embarcadero EmbarcaderonS O M A SOUTH BEACH TENDERLOIN NOB HILL CHINATOWN FINANCIAL DISTRICT TELEGRAPH HILL UNION SQUARE RUSSIAN HILL NORTH BEACH FISHERMAN S WHARF CIVIC CENTER Union Square Aquatic Park Washington Square Joe DiMaggio Playground South Park Moscone Center Metreon SFMOMA Ferry Building South Beach Marina Transamerica Pyramid Coit Tower Municipal Pier PIER 39 Ghirardelli Square Yerba Buena Gardens AT&T Park Justin Herman Plaza San Francisco Bay Bay Bridge 2 3 4 1 5 8 9 11 76 12 10 Union Square/Market Street/ Powell-Hyde Cable Car Line San Francisco Cable Cars (and Cable Car Museum) Lombard Street Victoria Park, Ghirardelli Square, and Aquatic Park Hyde Street Pier San Francisco Crepe Cart Fisherman s Wharf Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower Washington Square and North Beach Gelato Classico Chinatown R&G Lounge 2 3 4 1 5 8 9 11 7 6 12 10 California Cable Car Line Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde Cable Car Lines 1/4 mi 0.25 km 0 0 N 3

The city s 790,000-plus residents include ethnicities from every corner of the globe. Enclaves of African-American, Chinese, El Salvadoran, Brazilian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, M iddle Eastern, R ussian, and Vietnamese r esidents, among others, make it possible for locals and visitors alike to experience a world of cultur es within 47 squar e miles. San Francisco s cosmopolitan roots can be traced to the gold rush. Before then the sleepy to wn of Yerba B uena settled b y the S panish in 1776, claimed b y M exico in 1822, and declared part of the U.S. (and r enamed San Francisco) in 1848 was little more than a military outpost, a port, and some ranchland. That all changed national world war 2 memorial when newspaper publisher Sam Brannan took it upon himself in 1849 to publicize the discovery of gold in the American River, 130 miles east.

abyss overlook mule ride If you re staying in a hotel, ther e s a good chance y ou ll be near the P owell-Hyde cable car line

It s even more difficult for kids to make their ears pop during takeoff and landing than it is for adults. The Eustachian tube is especially narrow in children, and the passage is even tighter when mucous membranes are swollen. This can make ascent and descent especially painful even dangerous for a child with congested sinuses. If your little one is suffering from a cold or the flu, it s best to keep him grounded until he recuperates, if that s an option. If you simply must travel with your child as scheduled, give him an oral child s decongestant an hour before ascent and descent or administer a spray decongestant before and during takeoff and landing.

If you re staying in a hotel, ther e s a good chance y ou ll be near the P owell-Hyde cable car line. ( That said, if y ou re staying abyss overlook mule ride in Fisherman s Wharf, you may prefer to start this tour at stop no. 3 below and then fit in time for U nion Square after visiting Chinatown.) Your first stop , the cable car turnaround at the corner of M arket and Powell streets, is the hear t of San Francisco s shopping scene. G iven the ev er-present queue for the cable car , you ll want to get there early, which may mean y ou ll be out before the stores open. Even so, you ll enjoy people-watching, from local worker bees starting abyss overlook mule ride their day to other early-rising tourists to street performers getting ready to perform to the occasional odd bird carrying a sign lamenting the coming doomsday. It s certainly a lively spot to start your excursion. See p. 159.

key tours international reviews Two hotels hav e opened her e in recent years, which, since J apantown is off the beaten path, ar e

Two hotels hav e opened her e in recent years, which, since J apantown is off the beaten key tours international reviews path, ar e a gr eat v alue. With a slew of bus lines nearby, you can still get wher e you need to go or just spring for a taxi with the money y ou ve saved on the hotel room.

Through all the travel, the Bay Area had always been my spiritual home, if not my real one. Now San Francisco is my family key tours international reviews s true residence, key tours international reviews one that w elcomed us from the moment we arrived. It helps that the city is used to taking in people fr om all over the globe. Most of the San Franciscans we know seem to have started life somewhere key tours international reviews else, although we re always impressed when we meet someone who actually grew up here. The city is so rich with histor y, culture, and little-kno wn secrets that it s a tr eat to pick the brains of a lifelong r esident. I t s been especially ex citing to begin writing guidebooks about San Francisco, giving me a terrific ex cuse to look a little deeper and learn a little key tours international reviews more about the wonderful offerings here.

If you re lucky enough to have a third day in San Francisco, then start it by heading back to Fisherman s Wharf for a tour of iconic Alcatraz Island. You ll also explore some of the most altered neighborhoods in the city, former industrial areas that now house a growing share of the city s cultural and culinar y highlights. Along the way , you ll find plenty of time for the kids to stretch their legs and run around.

vietnam war veterans memorial Like the revamped Embarcadero, this section of town has undergone its own transformation since the e

Fleet W eek, the second w eekend of October, honors the armed for ces and usually brings the B lue Angels to our skies. Plenty of other astonishing aerial acrobatics, the kind that elicit gasps from the cr owd, ar e also on display. PIER 39 presents music and additional fleet week activities. Victoria Park is a prime vie wing ar ea, with food stands and a big screen set up for ultra close-up shots. F or a detailed listing of ev ents, call &650/599-5057 or see www.fleet week.us.

2576 Lombard St. (bt w. Broderick and Divisadero sts.), San Francisco, CA 94123. &800/346-6118 or 415/921-9406. Fax 415/921-0364. w ww.marinamotel.com. vietnam war veterans memorial 39 units. $95 $155 double; $119 $219 suit e. Kitchens vietnam war veterans memorial available for stays of 5 nights or mor e ($10 extra). vietnam war veterans memorial Additional person $10. Rollaways vietnam war veterans memorial and cribs $10. AE, DISC, MC, V. Free parking. Dogs welcome in some rooms ($10 per night). In room: TV, free wireless Internet access, fridge, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.

Like the revamped Embarcadero, this section of town has undergone its own transformation since the early 1990s. O nce an industrial wasteland, S oMa is no w home to many top museums and galleries. The recently opened Contemporar y J ewish Museum (p. 179) is the ne west addition; others include vietnam war veterans memorial the Museum of the African Diaspora (p. 180), the Car toon Ar t Museum (p. 179), and the SFMOMA, noted below. Moreover, the Yerba Buena Center, with its waterfalls, lawn, and playgrounds, provides a pleasant respite.

village tours and travel the Caribbean islands and r eturn to the United S tates without a visa. F urther information is av a

the Caribbean islands and r eturn to the United S tates without a visa. F urther information is av ailable fr om any U.S. embassy or consulate. Canadian citiz ens may enter the United States without visas; they need only proof of residence.

See p. 73. A sister property, the Serrano Hotel (405 Taylor S t.; & 866/ 289-6561 or 415/885-2500), will walk your dog b y appointment and stocks gourmet pet food, tr eats, and comfy bedding. See p. 76. The Hotel Vitale (8 Mission S t.; & 888/890-8688 or 415/278-3700; p. 92) and the St. Regis (125 3rd St.; & 415/284-4000; village tours and travel

471 Jeff erson St. (at H yde St.). & 415/771-2222. www.bluemermaidsf.com. K ids menu , highchairs , boosters. Reservations accepted. village tours and travel Main courses $9 $25; kids menu $6.95. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun Thurs 7am 9pm; Fri Sat 7am 10pm. Muni: Powell-Hyde cable car to Beach St., and then walk 1 block nor th.

Although few obvious children s attractions exist in what is first and foremost a shopping paradise, village tours and travel Union Square is the psychological heart of the city and may be used as a launching pad for other ex cursions. Kids may find the cr owds, clanging cable cars, and big buildings exciting. Moreover, Union Square itself now hosts entertainment, both ad hoc and planned. I n the winter months, the plaza s enormous Christmas tr ee and M acy s holiday decorations are especially festive. Specifically, kid-friendly activities here include riding the glass elevator at the Westin St. Francis Hotel, greeting the beefeater-clad doorman at the Sir Francis Drake, and visiting the Disney Store. Teens may enjoy checking out the Levi s and Diesel stores, among other shops.

tour of the capitol building 1416 Powell St. (btw. Broadway and Vallejo sts.). &415/397-2290. http://licheegarden.citysearch.com.

Taylor s R efresher tour of the capitol building (1 F erry B ldg.; & 866/328-3663) comes in a close second, with burgers made fr om all- natural, local beef , topped with a tasty secret sauce and garnished with lettuce and tomatoes fresh from the Farmer s Market. See p. 125.

Fisherman s Wharf is on the water, of course, and that often means fog, or at least a cool breeze. So bring sweaters. If you plan to take the ferry to Alcatraz, bring jackets as well. Schedule rest/play periods to help avoid meltdowns and consider packing tour of the capitol building snacks the food in this area can be crummy and expensive.

1416 Powell St. (btw. Broadway and Vallejo sts.). &415/397-2290. http://licheegarden.citysearch.com. Highchairs. Reservations recommended. Main courses $5.50 $20. MC, V. Daily 11am 9:15pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton or no. 45-Union-Stockton bus to Broadway. tour of the capitol building

The Haight-Ashbury S treet F air features tie-dy e galor e, food, enter tainment, and the color ful pr esence of neighborhood characters. A dmission is free. Call & 415/863-3489 or visit www.haightashburystreetfair.org.

city taste tours Companies that have offices downtown include Avis, 675 Post St. ( & 415/8855011; www.avis.com); Budg

64 2 F-Market Streetcar city taste tours & the Embarcadero Promenade After Alcatraz, hop on the F-Market streetcar headed to ward M arket S treet. The F-Market line uses r efurbished str eetcars from around the world, so you might find yourself on a turn-of-the-centur y tr olley from Kansas City or an antique str eetcar from Milan. The picturesque streetcars are part of the o verall upgrade to this section of to wn, which was fueled b y the 1989 earthquake that destroyed the unattractive elevated fr eeway that once obscur ed the water s edge. The ne w pr omenade no w bordering the waterfront all the way from Fisherman s Wharf to A T&T P ark is a delightful place to str oll or cy cle, with 13-foot-tall metal pylons and br onze plaques embedded in the promenade sidewalk and imprinted with photographs, drawings, poetry, and historical facts about the waterfront.

Although this Eastern-influenced hotel caters largely to corporate travelers, it holds one of the fe w, and one of the most spacious, indoor swimming pools in the city. The pool is connected to the N ikko s health club, but the staff insists that guests tend to exercise in the early morning and evening, which means the rest of the day children can splash around freely. The pool is located in an expansive glass-roofed atrium, which also houses ex ercise equipment and J apanese hot tubs, so y ou can wor k out or enjoy a soak while y ou keep on ey e on the kids. A full-ser vice spa is set to open in 2009. Decor is tastefully understated, and rooms get a lot of natural city taste tours sunlight. With a pullout sofa and guest washr oom, the N ikko s junior suites ar e quite family-friendly. E ven standard double-double rooms are large and have entryways that give the impression of more space. Views start above the 10th floor. Rooms on the three executive-level Nikko Floors also have vanities and more spacious bathrooms, and the Nikko Lounge offers board games and Internet access, so your teenagers can still IM their pals at home. The Nikko welcomes all pets. (Just be sure to inform the hotel if y ou plan to leave a Great Dane in y our r oom for the day , so they can aler t the housekeeping city taste tours staff!) The white marble lobby is stark, but kids will enjoy the indoor fountain, which has become a multi- currency wishing well. The hotel houses an on-site Starbucks and Anzu restaurant, which specializes in sushi and steak, but has a childr en s menu as well.

Companies that have offices downtown include Avis, 675 Post St. ( & 415/8855011; city taste tours www.avis.com); city taste tours Budget, 5 E mbarcadero Ctr. ( & 415/433-3717; www. budget.com); Enterprise, 222 M ason St. (&415/837-1700; www.enterprise.com); Hertz, 325 Mason St. (&415/771-2200; www.hertz.com); and Thrifty, 350 O Farrell St. (&415/788-8111; www.thrifty.com).

Then it happened. San Francisco harkened again. My husband s work brought us here, where our second daughter was born a fe w months later. Five years after that, our son was born. And here we are: eight years, and three kids, later we are a certified San Francisco family going to every birthday party venue in town; trekking out to the beach in summer, bundled up in jeans and jackets against the fog; loading up the kids bikes in the car on w eekends city taste tours to take them some where flat to ride; buying our organic gr eens at the Farmer s Market; and considering steamed pork buns, shrimp dumplings, and stuffed crab claws (in other words, dim sum) a fine meal for breakfast.

classic petra tour As for the aw e-inspiring food, the man behind the master y is awar d-winning chef Hubert Keller, a

The hotel s overall feel is intimate, funky, and friendly, and the colorful lobby is very inviting. Ozumo is a great Japanese classic petra tour restaurant off the lobby, but it s not really a family- friendly destination. In fact, and herein lies the rub, the hotel itself was designed mor e for couples and business classic petra tour trav elers, as it has no double-double r ooms. You can r eserve a twin-bedded room for the kiddies, but you ll be sleeping elsewhere because the maximum occupancy her e is two, unless y ou splurge on the two-bedr oom suite. That basically makes it suitable for couples toting a bab y or families with kids old enough to sleep in their own non-interconnected guest room. But the great waterfront location, excellent rates, and full use of the YMCA next door (including its O lympic-sized classic petra tour pool, fitness center, and ev en a bab ysitting classic petra tour facility) make the H arbor Cour t wor th looking into. Check the website for packages and weekend specials.

September and O ctober are usually great months in S an F rancisco; the fog disappears and the air is warm. O f course, school schedules may be an issue, but perhaps you can fit in a long w eekend in the city. Fall brings a huge spike in conventions, but business classic petra tour is normally conducted during the w eek, leaving hotels to offer weekend packages and discounts.

61 S U G G E S T E D I T I N E R A R I E S 3 T H E B E S T O F S A N F RA N C I S CO I N 2 D AYS 101 101 101 1 1 1 University of San Francisco Main Campus University of San Francisco Lone Mountain Campus Lake St. Clement St.Geary Blvd.Anza St.Balboa St.Cabrillo St. Lincoln WayLincoln classic petra tour Way Lincoln WayLincoln Way 43rd Ave. 25th Ave. 14th St. Duboce Ave. Stanyan St.Ashbury St. Masonic St. St. Castro Bay St. Chestnut St.Lombard St. Broadway St. California St. California St. Geary Blvd. Turk St.Golden Gate Ave.Octavia Blvd. Fulton St. Oak St. Haight St. Van Ness Ave. 19th19th Ave. 10th Ave.8th Ave. Jackson St. Park Presidio Blvd. Arguello Blvd. Presidio Ave. Lyon St.Fillmore St. Gough St. Sacramento St. Franklin St. Divisadero St. Fulton St. Fulton St. 7th7th AveAve classic petra tour Market St. Union St. Marina Blvd.Fell St. Lincoln Blvd. Lincoln Blvd. Point Lobos Ave. John F. Kennedy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Old Mason St. Kezar Dr. Great Highway Spreckels Lake S a n F r a n c i s c o B a y O C E A N Stow China Beach Ocean BeachO c e a n B e a c h COW HOLLOW VISTA HAYES VALLEY JAPANTOWN THE MARINA PACIFIC HEIGHTS B aker Be a ch Buena Park A.J. Rossi Playground Corona Heights Park Duboce Park LINCOLN PANHANDLE GOLDEN GATE REC. AREA MASON G O L D E N G AT E N AT I O N A L R E C R E AT I O N A R E A T H E P R E S I D I O Presidio Park Marina GreenMarina Sutro Heights Park Balboa Natural Area Cr i s sy Field The Legion classic petra tour Exploratorium/ Palace of Fine Arts Golden Bridge Cliff House Clayton St. California St. McAllister St. Hayes St. 19th St Fulton St. 7th Ave P A C I F I C Lake Beach OUTER RICHMOND SEACLIFF LAUREL HEIGHTS PRESIDIO HEIGHTS ANZA INNER RICHMOND HAIGHTASHBURY WESTERN ADDITION Vista PARK GOLDEN GATE NAT L REC. AREA LAND SEND G O L D E N G A T E P A R K NAT L FORT A Golf Course Mountain Lake Park Alamo Square Lafayette Park Moscone Rec. Ctr. Alta Plaza Park Green of Honor de Young Museum California Academy of Sciences Kezar Stadium Mi i Japan Center classic petra tour Gate 9 8 9 5 7 1 2 3 4 6 Chestnut classic petra tour Street/ The Marina District classic petra tour Exploratorium and Palace of Fine Arts Wave Organ Crissy Field de Young Museum de Young Caf California Academy of Sciences classic petra tour Golden Gate Park 4 Ocean Beach 2

As for the aw e-inspiring food, the man behind the master y is awar d-winning classic petra tour chef Hubert Keller, a native of the Alsace region of France now recognized as one of the best chefs in the world (and he has ser ved as a judge on TV s Top Chef). Keller classic petra tour s kitchen is firmly classic petra tour rooted in classic F rench cooking, but includes some playful classic petra tour touches inspir classic petra tour ed by his new country, such as tr uffle-infused popcorn and an amazing mini foie gras hamburger. Choose from a menu of three, four, or five courses and expect to be blown away by such offerings as sear ed Moroccan spiced sea scallops with pomegranate jus, cauliflower flan, and O setra caviar or v eal tournedos scented with foamy lobster bisque and veal essence. A v egetarian tasting menu, with options such as tr uffled white bean soup with green garlic fondue and wild mushrooms, is also available. The desserts and cheese selection are obscenely delicious, and the wine list includes sev eral hundred selections. (Although I ve noted this isn t a place for kids, I did once spot two pr e-teen boys dining with their parents; they were well behaved and seemed to enjoy the experience.) classic petra tour

crime and punishment museum washington dc 415 Brannan St. (at 3rd St.). &415/369-0007. www.kohsamuiandthemonkey.com. Highchairs, boosters. Res

1075 California St. (at Taylor St.), San F rancisco, CA 94108. &800/227-4683 or 415/474-5400. Fax 415/ 474-6227. www.huntingtonhotel.com. 135 units. From $315 double; from $540 suite. Kids 5 and under stay free in parent crime and punishment museum washington dc s room. Rollaways crime and punishment museum washington dc $30; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $39. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; pool (16 and over only); spa/exercise room; concierge; courtesy car; room service (6am 11:30pm); massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV/DVD w/movies, fax, wireless high-speed Internet access, kitchenettes available, hair dryer, safe, CD player (on request), iPod dock.

415 Brannan St. (at 3rd St.). &415/369-0007. www.kohsamuiandthemonkey.com. Highchairs, boosters. Reservations accepted. Main courses crime and punishment museum washington dc $8 $22. MC, V. Mon Sat 11am 3pm; Sun Thurs 5 10pm; Fri Sat 5 10:30pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton or no. 45-Union to Brannan St.

p. 87) also welcome pets, and the Larkspur H otel (524 S utter S t.; & 800/ 919-9779 or 415/421-2865; p. 81) keeps a bowl of dog treats in the lobby. Best for Walkers: S teps fr om Chinatown and the F inancial D istrict, and still close to U nion S quare, the Hotel Triton (342 G rant Ave.; & 800/8001299 or 415/394-0500) is terrific for anyone who wants to get up and explore downtown. See p. 73. I f you prefer to stroll along the water , tr y the Hotel Vitale (8 M ission crime and punishment museum washington dc S t.; & 888/8908688 or 415/278-3700; p. 92) or the Harbor Court Hotel (165 S teuart St.; & 866/792-8263 or 415/882-1330; p. 93), both of which ar e acr oss the street fr om the E mbarcadero pr omenade, one of the best places in the city for a str oll. The Argonaut Hotel (495 Jefferson St.; &866/415-0704 or 415/ 563-0800) is next to one of the loveliest walking paths in to wn, which star ts at Aquatic P ark, r uns thr ough woodsy Fort M ason, and takes y ou along the scenic Marina waterfront. See p. 89. Most E nvironmental: The Orchard Garden Hotel (466 Bush St.; & 888/ 717-2881 or 415/399-9807) is the first California Hotel to be certified for ecofriendly ne w constr uction b y the U.S. Green Building Council. See p. 75. Its sister property, crime and punishment museum washington dc the Orchard Hotel (665 Bush St.; &888/717-2881 or 415/3628878), is also an envir onmentally friendly option. See p. 75. Best Views: Most of the guest rooms at the Hotel Vitale (8 Mission St.; &888/ 890-8688 or 415/278-3700) look out onto the bay, while the Circular suites

pisac ruins Presidio shuttle buses to get ar ound inside. The 30-Stockton Muni bus fr om Chestnut 99 Street brin

Presidio shuttle buses to get ar ound inside. The 30-Stockton Muni bus fr om Chestnut 99 Street pisac ruins brings Marina visitors through North Beach, Chinatown, and Union Square. You may spend more time traveling to other neighborhoods, pisac ruins but at the M arina Motel you ll spend a lot less on accommodations.

78 higher-floor, street-side bedrooms ending in 00 through 05, you ll have views of the cable cars and Union Square. pisac ruins Bathrooms are moderately sized, and each tub comes with its own rubber pisac ruins ducky. The in-house restaurant, Luques, pisac ruins serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Older kids will appreciate the fr ee high-speed I nternet access av ailable in the lobb y. Check the w ebsite or call the hotel about special pisac ruins package rates, which can be much lo wer than published rates.

old executive office building washington dc The cheapest rooming option is usually one room with two queen-size beds. (Note: Some downtown hotel

Frjtz BEL GIAN FRIES/CREP ES Among the hip boutiques old executive office building washington dc and antique shops of Hayes Valley is this funky teahouse specializing in fries. Thick and crispy, and wrapped in a paper cone just like y ou get on the streets of Brussels, the starchy wedges are best eaten when they re as hot as y our fingers can handle. The inv entive dipping sauces include kalamata-caper ketchup, miso mayo, and spic-yogurt peanut. If you feel guilty just feeding your kids fries for lunch, y ou can order them salads, sandwiches, or cr epes, all of which are named after artists. Another location is in the Mission.

533 Jackson St. (at Columbus Ave.). &415/693-0499. Reservations old executive office building washington dc not accepted. Highchairs, old executive office building washington dc boosters. Main courses $4 $10. MC, V. Mon Fri 11am 10pm; Sat noon 10pm. Muni: No. 15 bus to Jackson St. Also at 690 Van Ness Ave. (at Turk St.) &415/775-1349.

The cheapest rooming option is usually one room with two queen-size beds. (Note: Some downtown hotels have small rooms, and so hav e two double beds in place of queen-size beds.) With little ones, that could mean lights out w ell befor e mom and dad are ready to pack it in. If that s the case, or if y ou have older kids who need their space, the next best option is a suite, which tends to r un cheaper than two

world war ii memorial pictures 580 Gear y St. (at Jones St.). &415/345-3900. w ww.millenniumrestaurant.com. H ighchairs, boost ers.

68 A NOTE ON PRICES I have listed rack rates a hotel s highest r oom price in categorizing my hotel picks. You will probably get a much better quote when y ou call. More than 16 million visitors came to San F rancisco in 2007, pushing hotel occupancy rates to 79%. These numbers may dip along with the countr y s economic slo wdown meaning y ou ll find more weekend discounts, family packages, and other promotions. world war ii memorial pictures In this chapter, I ve classified hotels based on cost for a family of four staying in one r oom, unless world war ii memorial pictures a specific hotel has space constraints that require staying in a suite or two connecting rooms. Prices do not include the 14% hotel tax, nor does it include par king, which can r un from free to o ver $60 a night.

When y ou step out of the dar kened Exploratorium Hall into the light of day , take a moment to appr eciate the lo vely scenery world war ii memorial pictures at the Palace of Fine Arts (p. 161) abutting the E xploratorium. H ave y our kids look at the ducks and run on the grass before heading world war ii memorial pictures nor th on B aker S treet, crossing M arina Boulev ard and continuing to the water s edge. Walk onto the breakwater, world war ii memorial pictures wher e y ou ll see the bizarr e Wave Organ (p. 202), created by scientists from the Exploratorium.

580 Gear y St. (at Jones St.). &415/345-3900. w ww.millenniumrestaurant.com. H ighchairs, boost ers. Reservations recommended. Main courses $21 $24. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun Thurs 5:30 9:30pm; Fri Sat 5:30 10pm. Muni: No. 27-Bryant or no. 38-Geary to Jones St., or Powell-Hyde or Powell-Mason cable car to Union Sq., and then walk 2 blocks w est.

2 Townsend St. (at Embarcadero). &415/512-0749. www.townsend-restaurant.com. Highchairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Main courses $6.50 $12 brunch, $11 $23 dinner; prix-fixe $22 ($18 on Tues). AE, DC, MC, V. Breakfast Tues Fri 7:30 11am, lunch 11:30am 2pm, dinner Tues Thurs 5:30 9pm and Fri Sat 5:30 9:30pm; Sat Sun 8am 2:30pm. Muni: N-Judah streetcar to Brannan Station, and then walk south toward Townsend St.

visitor center washington dc VEGETARIAN The setting is so lo vely and the food so good at this vegetarian spot, even dedicated ca

VEGETARIAN visitor center washington dc The setting is so lo vely and the food so good at this vegetarian spot, even dedicated carnivores will enjoy it. Built by the San Francisco Zen Center in a conv erted warehouse, visitor center washington dc the r estaurant visitor center washington dc boasts v ery high ceilings and a wall of windows that frames a stunning view of a marina, the bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Come in the early evening, and you ll be rewarded with a glorious sunset as well.

Hotel des Arts This may be the only place downtown where you can find both a hip vibe and a r oom with queen-siz e bed for under $100. The key to the hipness besides front desk personnel donning cool duds and funky glasses ar e a fe w pieces of sleek furniture combined with the contributions of sev eral emerging artists. Your kids will be impressed by the lobby and hallways, which are essentially gallery spaces jampacked with artwork. The permanent works are displayed in the many painted guest rooms, where the walls are literally covered in ambitious and unr estrained paintings. Some room art may be inappropriate for kids, so please tell the staff whether little ones will be in your group. (You should in any case call the hotel to specifically r eserve a painted guest r oom and even to request a particular artist.) One impressive room featuring red and black imagery that may be too bold for young ones is the work of Shepherd Ferry, whose Obama campaign posters have received much attention.

scenic helicopter tours pigeon forge tn The Joie de Vivre hotel group livened up this 1911 building with plenty of vibrant paint: think burg

The Joie de Vivre hotel group livened up this 1911 building with plenty of vibrant paint: think burgundy , y ellow, and purple. B ut the guest r ooms, named after locally made films, remain tiny, and the bathrooms are especially small. Given its location on a less savory section of Mason Street, the Bijou is best left to experienced trav elers with savvy kids who want an inexpensive, but fun, hotel.

4 INEXPENSIVE Golden G ate Hotel This charming 1913 E dwardian bed-and-br eakfast sits on a relatively quiet block, close to the cable car lines and within walking distance of N ob Hill, Union Square, and Chinatown. The cozy rooms, decorated with white wicker furniture, antique bur eaus, and floral prints, scenic helicopter tours pigeon forge tn hav e either two twin beds or one queen and space for little else. At most, you could squeeze a crib into the queen room. Families often choose from one of the two do wnstairs rooms, which share a common bathroom. One room has two double beds, and the other has a double and a twin. F amilies of four stay for $125 in summer and less in the off-season. Another off-season bargain is a room with a queen-size bed that connects to a tiny r oom with two twin beds all for as little as $180. (In summer, the rate is much higher.) The queen room has a bath, and ther e are additional shared tubs and toilets in the hall.

The hotel caters scenic helicopter tours pigeon forge tn to kids with cookies and lemonade in the afternoons, and a complimentary continental breakfast with fresh juices and an array of muffins and pastries helps jump-start the mornings. Moreover, scenic helicopter tours pigeon forge tn the neighborhood is safe and quiet. A t night, enjoy in-room entertainment with help from the hotel s CD and movie lending library. Despite the location away fr om the tourist z one, convenient bus lines ar e just outside the fr ont door, including the 3-Jackson to Union Square and the 1-California to Chinato wn and the financial district.

hop city hours 5 One Rincon Center, 101 Spear St. (at M ission St.). &415/957-9300. 49 Stevenson St. (alley btw. Ma

Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality , value, service, amenities, and special featur es using a star-rating system. I n countr y, state, and regional guides, we also rate to wns and regions to help y ou narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of z ero (recommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are rated accor ding to the follo wing scale: z ero stars (r ecommended), one star (highly r ecommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see). hop city hours

All child seats manufac tured af ter 1985 ar e c ertified f or airline use , but make sure your chair will fit in an airline seat it must be less than 16 inches wide. You ma y not use boost er seats or seatless v ests or harness sy stems. Safety seats must be placed in window seats except in exit rows, where they are pr ohibited, so as not t o block the passage of other tra velers in the case of an emer gency.

5 One Rincon Center, 101 Spear St. (at M ission St.). &415/957-9300. 49 Stevenson St. (alley btw. Market and Mission sts. and 1st and 2nd sts.). &415/541-4949. www.yanksing.com. Highchairs. Reservations recommended. Dim sum $3.65 $10. AE, DC, MC, V. Rincon Center hours: Mon Fri 11am 3pm; Sat, Sun, and holida ys 10am 4pm. St evenson St. hours: Daily 11am 3pm. Muni: F-M arket str eetcar. BAR T t o Embarcadero St. (for Rincon Center) or Montgomery St. (for Stevenson St.).

3110 Oc tavia St. (at L ombard St.), San F rancisco, CA 94123. &800/274-1420 or 415/928-1000. F ax 415/928-5909. w ww.marinainn.com. hop city hours 40 units. $65 $135 double. R ates include c ontinental br eakfast. Kids under 5 stay free in parent s room. Additional guests $10. Rollaways and cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC,

maupin tours 580 Gear y St. (at Jones St.). &415/345-3900. w ww.millenniumrestaurant.com. H ighchairs, boost ers.

The most popular trav eler s checks ar e offered b y American E xpress (& 800/ 221-7282 for car dholders this number maupin tours exempts Amex gold and platinum car d- holders from the 1% fee.); Visa (& 800/ 732-1322) AAA members can obtain Visa checks for a $9.95 fee (for checks up

580 Gear y St. (at Jones St.). &415/345-3900. w ww.millenniumrestaurant.com. H ighchairs, boost ers. Reservations recommended. Main courses $21 $24. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun Thurs 5:30 9:30pm; maupin tours Fri Sat 5:30 10pm. Muni: No. 27-Bryant or no. 38-Geary to Jones St., or Powell-Hyde or Powell-Mason cable car to Union Sq., and then walk 2 blocks w est.

viet nam memorial wall First, giv e ev eryone in y our par ty the hotel s business car d upon arriv al, and, if you have a

First, giv e ev eryone in y our par ty the hotel s business car d upon arriv al, and, if you have a cellphone, write that number on the back of the car d. Make sure these stay in pockets or backpacks preferably a front pocket, which is also the safest place for wallets. N ever keep v aluables in backpacks, viet nam memorial wall as they can be easily and quickly yanked away. Tell your kids that if they

Building A, F ort Mason (at Ba y St.). &415/771-6222. www.greensrestaurant.com. Highchairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Main courses $8 $14 lunch, $16 $23 dinner; prix-fixe (Sat night only) $49. AE, DISC, MC, V. Lunch Tues Sat noon 2:30pm; dinner Sun Fri 5:30 9pm; Sat prix-fixe dinner 5:30 9pm; brunch Sun 10:30am 2pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton bus to Laguna St. and transfer to the no. 28 bus to Fort Mason.

duck tours pittsburgh For information on how to get a passport, go to Passports in the Fast Facts section in the appendix

Stern Grove Midsummer Music Festival is one of the great free events of the summer. All sor ts of per formances opera, Latin music, jazz are held Sunday afternoons at 2pm in S igmund Stern Grove at 19th A venue and S loat Boulevard. The venue is easily r eached on M-Oceanview or K-Ingleside Muni streetcars or the 27-Monterey bus. Bring a picnic and a blanket. Call & 415/ 252-6252 duck tours pittsburgh or visit www.sterngrove.org.

For information on how to get a passport, go to Passports in the Fast Facts section in the appendix at the end of this book the w ebsites listed pr ovide do wnloadable passpor t applications as w ell as the curr ent fees for pr ocessing passpor t applications. I nternational visitors can obtain a visa application at the w ebsite of the U.S. S tate D epartment at http:// travel.state.gov.

For years, the Tuscan Inn could proudly call itself the best hotel in Fisherman s Wharf. Now that title will have to be passed on to the Argonaut. (Both hotels are part of the Kimpton hotel group.) Tuscan duck tours pittsburgh Inn rates are lower than the Argonaut s, but the inn is located on the less picturesque end of Fisherman s Wharf and doesn t have bay views. One thing both hotels lack is a pool, so if you re dead-set on one in this neighborhood, you ll have to go with one of the national chains. What the Tuscan Inn does have are spacious guest rooms and bathrooms handsomely furnished in warm, inviting colors. R ooms are filled with amenities, including a combination honor bar/fridge, and y ou can bring Fido with you too. The comfortable lobby puts out hot chocolate and biscotti in the mornings, not just coffee and tea, and hosts a complimentary wine hour in the evenings. More important, the concierge here is friendly and intelligent, setting the tone for the r est of the staff.

It s har d no wadays to find a city that doesn t hav e a fe w cyber cafes. Although there s no definitive directory for cybercafes, two places to star t looking ar e www. cybercaptive.com and www.cybercafe. com. S an F rancisco duck tours pittsburgh doesn t hav e many cybercafes, but most of its public libraries offer fr ee I nternet access. I n addition, FedEx K inko s and similar businesses offer Internet access for a fee. Avoid hotel business centers and I nternet kiosks, such as in most major airpor ts, unless you re willing to pay exorbitant rates.

duck tour 5 129 Ellis St. (at Cyril Magnin St.). &415/392-5500. www.pucciniandpinetti.com. Kids menu, highchai

415 Brannan St. (at 3rd St.). &415/369-0007. www.kohsamuiandthemonkey.com. Highchairs, boosters. Reservations accepted. Main courses $8 $22. MC, V. Mon Sat 11am 3pm; Sun Thurs 5 10pm; Fri Sat 5 10:30pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton or no. 45-Union to Brannan St.

To get the most bang for y our buck at any price point, timing helps. If your dates are flexible, you may benefit from reduced hotel rates. Downtown hotels are cheapest on weekends, whereas the opposite is usually tr ue in the M arina and F isherman s Wharf. During conventions, Union Square and SoMa hotel rates jump, but you could luck out if a hotel hasn t managed to sell all of its r ooms. I t may be willing to offer steep discounts. Another option is to look into hotels off the beaten track, such as in Japantown or Laurel Heights.

5 129 Ellis St. (at Cyril Magnin St.). &415/392-5500. www.pucciniandpinetti.com. Kids menu, highchairs, boosters. Reservations accepted. Main courses $13 $25 lunch, $16 $29 dinner ; kid s menu $4 $8. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. M on Sat 11:30am 4pm; M on Thurs 4 10pm; F ri Sat 4 11pm; Sun 5 10pm. Muni: Powell-Hyde duck tour or Powell-Mason cable car to Union Sq., and then walk 2 blocks south on Powell to Ellis and turn right.

5 Pasta Pomodoro ITALIAN Families, and the good fr esh food, are responsible for making this locally owned chain so successful. The fare isn t going to have you phoning home in a rapture, but it s cheap, healthy, and you can make everyone happy here with a plate of lasagna for meat-eaters, a nice linguine primav era for the v egetarian, plain capellini for the refusnik, and some saut ed broccoli because you need your veggies. The best news is that Pasta Pomodoro also delivers. Should you be in a hotel without r oom service, don t stress about taking exhausted kids out once again: Those buttered noodles are just a phone call away. You can find other locations in the N orth Beach, Presidio Heights, Castro, and Sunset neighborhoods. duck tour

spiritual travel tours on the street for any length of time. Legal street parking spaces do exist; they are next to unpaint

That said, you never know when hunger will strike so r est assured I ve listed plenty spiritual travel tours of options near the top tourist sights as w ell. F inally, while I ve tried to list varied cuisine, sometimes everyone just needs to take a break from the sightseeing frenzy, sit, and find something on the menu the kids will like. F or those moments, I ve included plenty of r estaurants that ar e tailor-made for a simple, messy family meal.

on the street for any length of time. Legal street parking spaces do exist; they are next to unpainted curbs and usually are accompanied b y meters. Yellow, white, gr een, and red curbs are all off limits; the ex ceptions ar e commer spiritual travel tours cial z ones (the y ellow curbs), which are open to cars after delivery hours. Pay attention to the signs liberally posted on the streets. Be very aware of tow-away zones. You cannot park on most streets do wntown betw een 4 and 6pm without r unning the risk of having y our vehicle towed. And never park in front of a driv eway. O therwise, A utoReturn, an independent contractor for the City s towing ser vices, may take y our v ehicle to its storage spiritual travel tours lot at 450 7th S t., between Harrison & Folsom streets. If you return to your parking space but y our car isn t ther e, check with A utoReturn online at www. autoreturn.com or call & 415/553-1239 to see if it s been to wed or mer ely stolen. It s likely been towed, and that means you get to visit City Tow to pay the fine and the storage charges. S uch a misadv enture will r un y ou a minimum spiritual travel tours of $244 (most forms of payment accepted).

names on vietnam wall newest national par k. An easy walk along Crissy Walk takes you all the way to Fort Point, at the fo

4 INEXPENSIVE Golden names on vietnam wall G ate Hotel This charming 1913 E dwardian bed-and-br eakfast sits on a relatively quiet block, close to the cable car lines and within walking distance of N ob Hill, Union Square, and Chinatown. The cozy rooms, decorated with white wicker furniture, antique bur eaus, and floral prints, hav e either two twin beds or one queen and space for little else. At most, you could squeeze a crib into the queen room. Families often choose from one of the two do wnstairs rooms, which share a common bathroom. One room has two double beds, and the other has a double and a twin. F amilies of four stay for $125 in summer and less in the off-season. Another off-season bargain is a room with a queen-size names on vietnam wall bed that connects to a tiny r oom with two twin beds all for as little as $180. (In summer, the rate is much higher.) names on vietnam wall The queen room has a bath, and ther e are additional shared tubs and toilets in the hall.

The U.S. State Department has a Visa Waiver Program allowing citizens of the following countries (at press time) to enter the United States without a visa for stays of up to 90 days: Andorra, A ustralia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, G ermany, I celand, I reland, I taly, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the N etherlands, N ew Z ealand, N orway, Portugal, S an M arino, S ingapore, S lovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Citizens of these nations need only a v alid passpor t and a r oundtrip air or cruise names on vietnam wall ticket upon arrival. If they first enter the United States, they may also visit M exico, Canada, B ermuda, and/or

524 Sutt er St. (near P owell St.), San F rancisco, CA 94102. & 800/919-9779 or 415/421-2865. F ax 415/398-6345. w ww.cartwrighthotel.com. 114 units , including 5 suit es. $109 $259 double; $199 $369 suite. Kids under 18 stay free in parent s room. Rollaways (limited availability) $25; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $40; self-parking $27. Pets welcome. Amenities: Bar; health club; room service (limited hours). In room: A/C (not all rooms), TV, free wireless Internet access, coffeemakers, hair dryer, iron/ ironing board, CD player.

newest national par k. An easy walk along Crissy Walk takes you all the way to Fort Point, at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Presidio has no tourist accommodations, just plenty of things to do.

port chicago naval magazine national memorial Chinese cuisine c omes in man y guises. If the menu doesn t state what pr ovince the r ecipes hail f

There s still plenty of M editerranean warmth, lots of pasta, and cafes galor e. Although no good family accommodations exist in North Beach, it s a delightful spot to come to str oll, shop , and dine.

p. 118. Closer in tone to an E nglish village teashop is Lovejoy s Tea Room (1351 Church St.; & 415/648-5895), often filled with ladies having a t te- t te and little girls practicing to be big girls. See p. 148. Best O utdoor D ining: port chicago naval magazine national memorial The v ery best outdoor dining area belongs to the Park Chalet (1000 G reat Hwy.; & 415/ 386-8439), which opens onto an expansive garden at the western edge of Golden G ate P ark. I n fact, with glass walls and a glass ceiling, the whole restaurant feels like you re outdoors. See 15

Chinese cuisine c omes in man y guises. If the menu doesn t state what pr ovince the r ecipes hail fr om, can y ou t ell y our Shanghai fr om y our Sz echuan? Here s a little cheat sheet y ou can use t o impress port chicago naval magazine national memorial your kids.

580 Gear y St. (at Jones St.). &415/345-3900. w ww.millenniumrestaurant.com. H ighchairs, boost ers. Reservations recommended. Main courses $21 $24. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun Thurs 5:30 9:30pm; Fri Sat 5:30 10pm. Muni: No. 27-Bryant or no. 38-Geary to Jones St., or Powell-Hyde or Powell-Mason cable car to Union Sq., and then walk 2 blocks w est.

vietnam memorial pictures This solidly residential neighborhood is a good choice for young families or anyone who wants r espi

Getting around the city with y our children should be hassle-fr ee, for the most par t. The one exception is if it s necessary to cart around baby paraphernalia such as strollers and diaper bags, because it s difficult to get on and off buses when y our hands ar e full and the bus is crowded. In this case, you ll want to plan your itinerary to decrease your dependence on public transportation and walk as much as possible, vietnam memorial pictures or take advantage of the wider entrances and exits on Muni streetcars. Again, for families with kids of any age, always factor in extra time to get ar ound even if y ou are driving, since ther e s a good chance you ll either get lost or spend 20 minutes looking for parking. San Francisco buses are slow; in addition to the scheduled stops, there s traffic to deal with and the occasional breakdown. The streetcars are a little better time-wise, but can be cr owded. Remember, in a new destination, part of the pleasure really is in the journey itself. That s certainly the case in San Francisco.

This solidly residential neighborhood is a good choice for young families or anyone who wants r espite fr om the urban jungle. vietnam memorial pictures S acramento S treet shopping has something for everyone, kids included, and Laur el Village, almost an old-fashioned strip mall, draws crowds of locals.

travel tech tours Perhaps it was inevitable that I would attend college in the Bay Area, so that weekends could be spe

Perhaps it was inevitable that I would attend college in the Bay Area, so that weekends could be spent exploring travel tech tours San Francisco with roommates and friends. Upon graduating, I was off again: I wor ked at a ne wspaper travel tech tours in B razil, wr ote for the Associated P ress in Germany, earned a graduate degr ee in N ew York, and was then based ther e while I worked to promote investment travel tech tours overseas. In between travel to far corners of the ear th, I met my soon-to-be husband, a nomad like myself. Although we moved to Seattle, my international job kept the fr equent flier miles multiplying until the bir th of our first daughter, when all the travel came to a screeching halt.

So get started planning your trip. This chapter is a good place to begin; in it, I suggest some of our all-time fav orite San Francisco family experiences, in addition to the best hotels and dining spots.

jack harter helicopters crash 240 California St. (bt w. Front and Batt ery sts). &415/391-1849. Boosters. Reservations not accepte

JULY As the largest fr ee jazz festiv al on the west coast, stretching over 8 blocks, the Fillmore S treet J azz F estival draws more than 90,000 visitors o ver the July 4 w eekend. You can listen to music performed on sev eral stages, vie w ar t

649 Jones St. (btw. Geary and Post sts.), San Francisco, CA 94102. &800/627-2396 or 415/929-8033. Fax 415/441-8033. www.halcyonsf.com. 25 units. $79 $129 double; $510 $590 w eekly. Minimum length of stay Oct Apr is 7 days. Kids under 18 stay free in parent jack harter helicopters crash s room. Rollaways and cribs $10. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. S elf-parking $14 $16. Amenities: A ccess t o nearb y health club; c oncierge; t our desk ; laundr y facilities; free fax in lobb y. In room: TV (DVD player available for $10), kitchen, fridge, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.

240 California St. (bt w. Front and Batt ery sts). &415/391-1849. Boosters. Reservations not accepted. Main courses $15 $34. MC, V. Mon Fri 11am 9:30pm; Sat 11:30am 9:30pm. Muni: F-M arket streetcar to Front St. or no. 1-California or no. 41-Union bus to California St.