prague tourist map 868 Mission St. (btw. 4th and 5th sts.). &415/593-3895. www.wichcraftnyc.com. Highchairs, boosters.

Unfortunately, many of the colorfully decorated rooms are small, and the bathrooms even tinier, with har dly any counter space. B ut if y ou don t mind forgoing queen-siz e beds, the executive double-double rooms are relatively spacious and have a bonus second prague tourist map

868 Mission St. (btw. 4th and 5th sts.). &415/593-3895. www.wichcraftnyc.com. Highchairs, boosters. No r eservations. Sandwiches $6 $10. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. M on Thurs 8am 7pm; F ri 8am 8pm; Sat 10am 8pm; Sun 10am 7pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton prague tourist map or no. 45-Union-Stockton bus to Mission St.

For HIV-positive visitors, r equirements for entering the U nited S tates ar e somewhat v ague and change fr equently. For up-to-the-minute information, contact AIDSinfo (&800/448-0440 or 301/ 519-6616 outside the U.S.; www.aidsinfo. nih.gov) or the Gay Men s Health Crisis (&212/367-1000; www.gmhc.org).

ellis island memorial wall Persons), 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049 ( & 888/687-2277; www.aarp. org), get discounts on hote

(p. 177) and travel to Monster Park. There is no simple way to handle strollers on either buses or str eetcars, although, with the ex ception of the F-M arket cars, streetcars ar e mor e spacious. I f y ou ar e

The Castro A huge rainbow flag, the symbol of gay activism, r eigns over the center of this historic community where Market Street meets Castro Street. The flag is planted in H arvey M ilk P laza, named for the country s first openly gay man elected to public office, r ecently portrayed by the actor Sean Penn in the acclaimed film Milk. There aren t many family-friendly hotels her e, but y ou ll find many fun, w ell-priced r estaurants in the area. The Castro Theater is handsome to look at and fun to attend, particularly if y ou can catch one of the legendary sing-along scr eenings of the Sound of M usic. Otherwise, there s not much for children around here.

Persons), 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049 ( & 888/687-2277; www.aarp. org), get discounts on hotels, air fares, and car rentals. AARP offers members a wide range of benefits, including AARP The Magazine and a monthly ne wsletter. Anyone over 50 can join.

veterans memorial in washington dc 78 higher-floor, street-side bedrooms ending in 00 through 05, you ll have views of the cable cars a

This is an optional 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 veterans memorial in washington dc 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.

78 higher-floor, street-side bedrooms veterans memorial in washington dc ending in 00 through 05, you ll have views of the cable cars and Union Square. Bathrooms are moderately sized, and each tub comes with its own rubber ducky. The in-house restaurant, veterans memorial in washington dc Luques, 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 package rates, which can be much lo wer than published rates.

sex and the city tour stops MODERATE Pazzia ITALIAN This restaurant, a quick walk from the Yerba Buena Center and the Museum of

Having breakfast in your hotel room cuts back on restaurant bills. Also, some kids wake up at the crack of dawn when in new surroundings or time zones, well before any cafes are open. If you can t get a kitchenette, a fridge (and a coffee- maker for mom and dad) will do. If they re not already in your room, many hotels will provide these at no charge. Buy some disposable dishware, plastic cutlery, and some milk and cereal (or bread and butter, if that s what you re used to at home) and you re all set.

4.5 liters of wine and beer , or 1.125 liters of liquor. New Zealand currency does not carry import or export restrictions. Fill out a certificate of export, listing the valuables you ar e taking out of the countr y; that way, y ou can bring them back without paying duty. Most questions are answered in a free pamphlet available at New Zealand consulates and Customs offices: New Zealand C ustoms G uide for Travellers, Notice no. 4. For more information, contact New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17 21 Whitmore S t., Bo x 2218, Wellington ( & 04/473-6099 sex and the city tour stops or 0800/ 428-786; www.customs.govt.nz). WHEN TO GO

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 sex and the city tour stops 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.

woodrow wilson house washington dc 2455 Mason St. (at Nor th Point St.). &415/561-1111. www.cafepescatore.com. Kids menu, highchairs, b

EXPENSIVE San Francisco Marriott woodrow wilson house washington dc I first checked out this hotel because it has a pool, and as I stated at the beginning of this chapter woodrow wilson house washington dc , I intend to list as many hotels with pools as possible provided they re wor th listing. When I walked into the lobb y, I star ted to wonder. Serving guests in a whopping 1,498 r ooms (!), the lobb y of this confer enceoriented hotel is predictably frenetic and crowded at most times of the day. The escalator ride up from the lobby takes you to the mezzanine level, inside an ambitious four-story

2455 Mason St. (at Nor th Point St.). &415/561-1111. www.cafepescatore.com. Kids menu, highchairs, boosters. Reservations accepted. Main courses $8.75 $17 lunch, $9 $22 dinner; kids menu $3.25 $6.95. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon Fri 7am 10:30am, 11:30am woodrow wilson house washington dc 10pm; Sat Sun 7am 10pm;. Muni: F-Market streetcar to Mason St., and then walk 1 block south.

aerogelic ballooning With that spirit of disco very in mind, I ve listed a few dining options in this chapter that ar e n

With that spirit of disco very in mind, I ve listed a few dining options in this chapter that ar e not specifically designed for families but to which kids will certainly feel welcome. I ve also included two restaurants for a night you may have a babysitter.

The real treasures are the 12 suites located in the adjacent building on Chestnut Street. These are brightly aerogelic ballooning decorated one- or two-bedroom apartments that are true homes-awayfrom- aerogelic ballooning home, with living r ooms, fully equipped kitchens, and dining r ooms with wood flooring. The two-bedr oom suites aerogelic ballooning hav e two bathr ooms, and one of the one-bedr oom rentals contains two double beds. Coin-operated washers and dr yers are on every floor. The trick is to reserve far in advance up to a year for visits over holidays. The Inn also discounts the suites an extra $25 per day for stays longer than 5 days.

vietnam veterans memorial wall facts parsley. For finicky eaters, the kitchen can fix up a plate of butter ed orzo pasta. The traditional

1887 George Hearst pur chases a small daily new spaper, the S an F rancisco Examiner, t o pr omote his rac e f or the U.S. S enate. H is son, William R andolph Hearst, turns it int o a v ery successful tabloid.

p. 141. Best B arbecue: N o whining and no deconstructing the barbecue sauce: you re not in Kansas City , Dorothy. In San F rancisco, w e think Memphis Minnie s (576 Haight St.; &415/8647675) does a fine job of smoking brisket and ribs. The slaw is good, too. See p. 144. Best Vegetarian: You can t beat Greens (Building A, Fort Mason; &415/7716222) for ex cellent meatless cuisine not to mention a lo vely, air y dining room and fabulous vie ws. S ee p. 133. Greens offers vietnam veterans memorial wall facts v egan dishes as w ell, but for those wishing to av oid any animal products whatsoever, Millennium vietnam veterans memorial wall facts (580 Geary S t.; & 415/345-3900) is the choice. See p. 108. I f that s not ear thy enough for you, try the all-raw menu at Caf Gratitude (1336 9th Ave.; &415/ 683-1346). Best Bakery: Tartine (600 Guerrero St.; &415/487-2600) actually has to advertise when its bread comes out of the oven (after 4pm, by the way). Otherwise, folks would be hanging ar ound all day to get a loaf of walnut br ead, which sells out immediately. See p. 148. Best C afe: N ot that kids r eally dig hanging out at cafes, vietnam veterans memorial wall facts but our kids (and plenty of other customers kids) love the croissants at Boulange de P olk (2310 Polk S t.; & 415/345-1107). They munch happily while parents sip cafe au lait and people watch from the sidewalk tables. See p. 140. Best Chinese in Chinato wn: The 13 R&G Lounge gets my nod because of its authentic and r efreshingly differ ent menu (631 K earny S t.; & 415/9827877). See p. 120. Best Chinese N ot in Chinato wn: In offering an out-of-Chinato wn choice, vietnam veterans memorial wall facts I m going to make a plug for Dragon Well (2142 Chestnut St.; &415/4746888), which offers Chinese food that has been California-iz ed, with an emphasis on v ery fr esh, high-quality ingredients and a lot less gr ease. S ee p. 136. Best Dim Sum: San Franciscans seem to be equally divided as to wher e to get the best dim sum. Many insist it s to be found at Ton Kiang in the Richmond District (5821 G eary B lvd.; & 415/ 387-8273). See p. 152. If you just can t head out that way during your stay, rest assured. It s a bit mor e expensive than Ton Kiang, but I m also a big fan of Yank Sing (101 Spear St., in the Rincon Center; vietnam veterans memorial wall facts &415/957-9300). See p. 124. To help familiariz e your kids with dim sum, check out the box Kids Guide to Dim Sum, below. Best Thai: By far our fav orite is Osha Thai R estaurant (2033 U nion S t., &415/567-6742). Just thinking vietnam veterans memorial wall facts about their pad see ew noodles makes my mouth water. See p. 137. Best E thnic R estaurant for K ids: If the ar ched ceilings, hand-painted vietnam veterans memorial wall facts Arabesque plates, and delectable Moroccan menu at Aziza (5800 G eary B lvd.; &415/752-2222) aren t exotic enough, head into the back r oom, which is full of North African styled sofas and cushions. B etter y et, wait until 7pm on weekends, when the belly dancer vietnam veterans memorial wall facts arrives. See p. 149. Best Italian: For a terrific family meal, Trattoria Contadina (1800 Mason St.; & 415/982-5728) offers hear ty pastas and a friendly ma-and-pa atmospher e. See p. 127. For truly exceptional Italian HOW TO FEEL LIKE A SAN FRANCISCO FAMILY

parsley. For finicky eaters, the kitchen can fix up a plate of butter ed orzo pasta. The traditional spinach and cheese pastr y spanakopita is a hit with my kids and it s a great way to get them to eat their spinach.

maupin tours CALIFORNIA/BRUNCH Named after the street it s on, this low-key spot is in a part of town that really

CALIFORNIA/BRUNCH Named after the street it s on, this low-key spot is in a part of town that really was once the town s end, with little beyond it except warehouses and other industrial buildings. Now the little neighborhood of South Beach FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING

dealing with a gr oup whose members may all hav e differ ent inter ests. M ake the kids active participants in your upcoming adventure by talking through the activities you can all enjoy. This chapter provides updated information on those activities, with details maupin tours on when to go and how to get there.

onondaga coach bus trips The walk from Union Square east to the SoMa neighborhood takes maybe 5 minutes and brings you into a

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 onondaga coach bus trips having a t te- t te and little girls practicing to be big girls. See p. 148. Best O utdoor D ining: 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, onondaga coach bus trips the whole restaurant feels like you re outdoors. See 15

The walk from Union Square east to the SoMa neighborhood takes maybe 5 minutes and brings you into an amazing cultural zone. The Yerba Buena Gardens, Metreon, the Cartoon Art Museum, SFMOMA (the S an Francisco Museum of Modern Art), and the California Academy of Sciences can all be r eached on foot and can cer tainly onondaga coach bus trips make up a full day s program. Families with determined teens may want to tour the Westfield San Francisco Centre mall at 5th and Market streets as well.

Naan-N-Curry Value INDIAN/P AKISTANI When S an F ranciscans want good, inexpensive I ndian/Pakistani food, they come to N aan-N-Curry. F lavorful tandoorioven- baked meats, delightful curries, a gr eat selection of v egetarian options, and plenty of naan breads are on offer here. Although some dishes can be too spicy for younger kids, we ve found a fe w items that ev en our y oung daughters lo ve, including chicken tikka masala, which is cooked in a mild yogurt sauce, and vegetable biryani, or vegetables with rice. With a casual atmosphere and hearty portions for just pennies, it s worth branching out from pizza, noodles, and the other usual suspects.

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 onondaga coach bus trips $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.

six taste tours 3100 Webster St. (at Gr eenwich St.), San F rancisco, CA 94123. &877/433-5765 or 415/921-5520. F ax

Unfortunately, many of the colorfully decorated rooms are small, and the bathrooms even tinier, with har dly any counter space. B ut if y ou don t mind forgoing queen-siz e beds, the executive double-double rooms are relatively spacious and have a bonus second

3100 Webster six taste tours St. (at Gr eenwich St.), San F rancisco, CA 94123. &877/433-5765 or 415/921-5520. F ax 415/931-4137. w ww.thehoteldelsol.com. 57 units. $129 $189 double; $189 $249 suit e. R ates include continental breakfast. Kids under 12 stay free in parent s room. Futon, rollaway, or crib $10. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities: Heated outdoor pool; passes to nearby six taste tours health club ($15); laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV/DVD/VCR, dataport, free wireless Internet access, fridge (on request, $10), coffeemaker (on request), hair dryer, iron/ironing board, safe, CD player or iPod dock in all rooms.

When Nature Calls: The Westfield mall has a childr en s area tailor-made for changing diapers and nursing. The children s section do wnstairs six taste tours in B loomingdale s has spacious restrooms and an area for nursing six taste tours moms; the ladies room at Nordstrom six taste tours also has an area for nursing six taste tours moms. Metreon is also well equipped with toilets.

jt tours Ritz-Carlton Teddy Bear Teas for children always sell out, especially if y ou can only attend on a w

Ritz-Carlton Teddy Bear Teas for children always sell out, especially if y ou can only attend on a w eekend. The holiday teas star t after Thanksgiving, but y ou can make r eservations beginning in August; call &415/773-6198.

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 jt tours 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 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 jt tours fr om the E mbarcadero jt tours 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 jt tours 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, jt tours 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

red hot air balloon CHINESE When you walk into this fav ored joint at the edge of Chinatown, you ve got two options: pr

CHINESE When you walk into this fav ored joint at the edge of Chinatown, you ve got two options: pr oceeding upstairs to the fancier dining r oom, or descending into the basement. I f you have little ones with y ou, it s likely the host will send you downstairs. This troubled my husband red hot air balloon gr eatly; the linoleum flooring, fluor escent lighting, and omnipresent mirrors of the downstairs dining room offended his aesthetic sensibilities. B ut the decor doesn t seem to bother most diners, who r eturn time and again to R&G for authentically prepared Cantonese red hot air balloon fare featuring lots of fresh seafood red hot air balloon and plenty of meat dishes as well. Salt-and-pepper crab is a big hit, as is the smoky barbecued pork. Something about putting all the dishes red hot air balloon on a big lazy S usan seems to encourage adventuresome dining, at least with my kids, who happily munched on all kinds of crab, pork, and noodle dishes. For a real conversation-stopper, call 24 hours in advance and order the sweet-rice-stuffed chicken. 631 Kearny St. (at Commercial St.). &415/982-7877. www.rnglounge.com. Highchairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Main courses $7 $25 lunch, $10 $50 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am 9:30pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton bus.

Fleet W eek, the second w eekend of October, honors red hot air balloon 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 red hot air balloon music and additional red hot air balloon 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.

North Beach Landfill came betw een the waves and North Beach more than 100 years ago, just one of many changes this historic neighborhood has experienced. Situated roughly from Broadway to Lombard and Grant to Taylor streets,

building museum washington dc 444 P residio A ve. (at C alifornia St.), San F rancisco, CA 94115. &800/552-8735 or 415/567-8467. F

Amici s East C oast Pizzeria PIZZA Located building museum washington dc across the street from AT&T Park, this is the second S an Francisco location (the other is in Co w Hollow) of this r egional pizza joint specializing in East Coast style pizzas baked in wood-fir ed brick o vens. Although it s not my very favorite pizza in the city, it is pretty good, and there aren t too many other reasonably priced options near the ballpark. The menu features several other items as well, including an assortment of pastas, hearty sandwiches such as Italian sausage or eggplant building museum washington dc parmigiana, and salads (the Caesar salad is quite tasty). With friendly waiters, crayons, and speedy service, what more could you need? Kids can get a mini cheese pizza for $7.75, or a small plate of plain noodles for just $2.50.

SFO (www.flysfo.com) consists of four main terminals: N orth ( Terminal building museum washington dc 3), South (Terminal 1), Central (Terminal 2), and I nternational. The baggage lev el of each terminal also houses an information booth. Bank of America operates a branch on the mezzanine level of the North terminal, and y ou can locate A TMs on the upper level of all terminals. The number for general infor mation is & 650/8218211; for transit infor mation call &650/817-1717. The traveler s information desk in each terminal can also giv e you information on ho w to get wher e you re going.

444 P residio A ve. (at C alifornia St.), San F rancisco, CA 94115. &800/552-8735 or 415/567-8467. F ax 415/928-1866. www.thelaurelinn.com. 49 units. $189 $219 double. Rates include continental breakfast. Kids under 12 stay free in parent s room. Additional guests $10. Rollaways $10; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free parking. Pets welcome w/some restrictions; call for details. Amenities: Nearby health club access ($10); laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: TV/DVD, dataport, wireless Internet access, hair dryer, iron, CD player.

inca ruins peru Best for B aby: Call the Four Seasons (757 M arket S t.; & 415/633-3000) and tell them y ou re arriv

Best for B aby: Call the Four Seasons (757 M arket S t.; & 415/633-3000) and tell them y ou re arriving with a baby. They ll set y ou up with a fully outfitted crib , a diaper storage unit, diapers, wipes, bab y shampoo, bab y lotion, and so on. See p. 86. The Laurel Inn (444 P residio A ve.; & 800/5528735 or 415/567-8467) is another top pick for trav elers with babies or toddlers, not just for the kitchenettes but also for the neighborhood, which is teeming with families. See p. 100. Best for Toddlers: When you ve got a 2- or 3-year-old in tow, nothing comes in handier than a nearb y par k. You ll find a small one acr oss the str eet from The Huntington Hotel (1075 California St.; &800/227-4683 or 415/4745400). Also, if y ou snag one of the Huntington s rooms with a full kitchen, you ll be all set when the little tyke playgrounds: M oscone and Co w H ollow. Even if you can t snag a unit with a kitchen, all r ooms hav e r efrigerators. See p. 98. I f y ou ll be racing back to the hotel for y our toddler s nap ev ery afternoon, the Serrano H otel (405 Taylor S t.; & 866/289-6561 or 415/ 885-2500), conv eniently located near Union Square, is a good choice. I t also keeps complimentar y cribs, str ollers, and booster inca ruins peru seats on hand. See p. 76.

The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau operates the Visitor Information Center on the lower level of Hallidie Plaza on Powell and Market streets (&415/3912000; www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com). The staff is multilingual and genuinely helpful. Visit the information center for books; maps; Municipal Railway passes for buses, streetcars, and cable cars; souv enirs; and tons of br ochures to guide y ou fur ther. I t s open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm and w eekends 9am to 3pm.

GREEK This modern G reek r estaurant pr ovides a memorable and upscale dining experience that y ou can comfor tably enjo y with kids. Although the subtle lighting, cr owded bar, and roaring fire in the first r oom suggest a more adult establishment, don t be concerned. The expansive back room, made to feel warmer with the inclusion of heavy wood furniture and richly hued tapestries, is an ideal place for families inca ruins peru and large par ties. The cozy booths inca ruins peru along the hall connecting the two rooms are also very suitable for diners with kids. The delectable inca ruins peru menu is based on traditional Greek cuisine, but is inspired by the Bay Area s bounty of fresh, local ingredients and, as such, changes seasonally. At any time of the y ear, however, look for such house specialties as moussaka (eggplant and lamb casser ole) and delectable lamb chops made with naturally raised Niman Ranch meat. The plate of traditional Greek spreads and pita bread is great for sharing, but is less inspir ed than some of the mor e exotic appetizers, such as fried zucchini cakes with y ogurt-mint dressing, or crispy smelts with lemon and

duck tours galveston All ground transportation at the airport is on one level. Bayporter Express (&877/ 467-1800; www.bay

Despite Union Square s urban feel there s not a playgr ound to speak of staying in this area is worth considering as it has the gr eatest concentration duck tours galveston of hotels. M oreover, it s close to many other city attractions, duck tours galveston with readily available public transpor tation. F inally, if your children are actually old enough to enjoy shopping as much as you do, this could be the neighborhood for you.

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; duck tours galveston 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.

All ground transportation duck tours galveston at the airport is on one level. Bayporter Express (&877/ 467-1800; www.bayporter.com) is the best choice for a shuttle. I t picks up passengers fr om Terminal 1 at the center duck tours galveston island duck tours galveston and fr om Terminal 2 ar ound the corner fr om baggage claim. The far e to San Francisco is $26 for one person, $38 for two in the same par ty, and $7 for kids under 12. You need to make r eservations for the 45- to 90-minute driv e. Cabs will run $40 or more depending on traffic and take 30 to 40 minutes.

washington dc mall area Hotel A dagio Value The H otel A dagio is one of the better v alues in U nion Square. Inspired by th

Hotel A dagio Value The H otel A dagio is one of the better v alues in U nion Square. Inspired by the color scheme of the original 1929 S panish Revivalist decor, the hotel s modern furnishings come in pleasing shades of burnt sienna, orange, and chocolate br own. G uest r ooms ar e mor e spacious than in most historic buildings, and the bathroom fixtures have been completely updated as w ell. Although bathr oom counter space is limited, it is mor e generous than at other do wntown hotels in this price range. washington dc mall area Moreover, guest rooms come equipped with two phone lines (one cor dless), flatscreen TVs, and spacious closets.

MODERATE Great Eastern Restaurant CHINESE The specialty here is seafood, which you can observe swimming ar ound in tanks against washington dc mall area the back wall. D inner doesn t come fr esher than this, so if y ou re in the mood for steamed whole r ockfish, crab ser ved in a doz en ways, shrimp, lobster, or whatev er s in season, G reat Eastern is the best choice in the hood. Just don t let the waiter steer you away from the fish tanks toward more typical Chinese-American fare; you ll get the same food you could have gotten for less at a corner Chinese takeout joint. That s what happened to us some years back when we were tourists in San Francisco now we know better. Like the vast majority of Chinatown restaurants, this one has big tables for extended families. The basement dining r oom is comfortable, washington dc mall area but w e prefer the upstairs. O ne of the nice things about eating washington dc mall area in Chinatown is that you re almost expected to have kids in tow.

Head west to vie w this r estored wetlands area, which less than a decade ago was an unsightly abandoned militar y airstrip. You ll see joggers, dog walkers, bike riders of all ages, str oller-pushers, and plenty of other locals enjoying what is the youngest national park in the Bay Area, located washington dc mall area next to the Golden washington dc mall area Gate Bridge. Crissy Field is best at this time of day, when the morning fog has worn off but the afternoon winds, which attract expert wind- and kite-surfers from thr oughout the B ay Ar ea, hav e not yet picked up.

1476 Haight St. (at A shbury St.). & 415/865-0264. Main c ourses less than $10. MC, V. Sun Thurs 9:30am 10pm; Fri Sat 9:30am 11pm. Muni: No. 6-Parnassus, no. 7-Haight, or no. 71-Haight-Noreiga bus to Ashbury St.

rayburn house While the food is tasty, it s not always as majestic as the room that houses it. For a taste of gran

215 Lincoln Blvd. (in the P residio, btw. Montgomery St. and F unston Ave.). & 415/922-3463. w ww.la terrassepresidio.com. Highchairs, boosters. rayburn house Reservations recommended. Main courses $14 $29, $8 $29 brunch. AE, V, MC, DISC, DC. Continental breakfast Mon Fri 7 11am; Mon Sat 11am 4pm and 5 10pm; brunch Sun 10am 4pm. Muni: Muni: No. 43-Masonic bus to Letterman Dr. and Lincoln Blvd.

While the food is tasty, it s not always as majestic as the room that houses it. For a taste of grandeur without the grand prices, check out the adjacent, more casual Petite Cafe for grilled dishes such as hangar steak or salmon, steamed shellfish, pizzas from a wood-fired oven, salads, rayburn house sandwiches, and desser ts. Even in the main r oom, children may or der off the Petite Cafe menu.

jack harter The JW Marriott has two key things going for it. First off, rooms are big; deluxe rooms with two dou

The JW Marriott has two key things going for it. First off, rooms are big; deluxe rooms with two double beds hav e 400 square feet of space enough for a whole family and its luggage. S econd, when conv entions aren t in town, you can often get them at a steep discount down from $359 to $199. Not bad for accommodations with the perks of a top-tier hotel, including luxe bathrooms (think deep-soaking tubs, separate sho wers, and gleaming marble), L CD TVs, and city vie ws from the higher rooms. Imagine this: you ask for a corner room with king-size bed, which is more spacious and light-filled than r egular jack harter rooms with a king-size bed, but costs the same. Then you interconnect to a room with two double beds. At off-peak times, that s a sweet setup at a luxury hotel for $400 and change. I n fact, the rooms with king-size bed alone are so spacious (corner or not) that y ou could add a rollaway and a crib, and still won t trip over luggage on a nighttime trip to the bathr oom. There s no doubt the JW Marriott is big. The walk from the elevator to your room with kids tired after a day of sightseeing can be long. B ut at least the walk bor ders an impressive, 18-story atrium. From the lobby, the hotel s uninhibited architecture is further enhanced by bold red furniture, an elegant, modern fireplace, and a towering sculpture of ladies dancing around a fountain. Guest room decor, which was newly redone in 2008, is uninspired, but that s a trivial matter when you consider the value for money if you time your visit well (for example, when there aren t many business travelers in town). Only in the hotel s 800-square-foot Pacific suites is the carpeting just too much: The dizzying circles look better suited to a hotel on the Vegas strip. Those suites, with a room with king-size bed and a separate living r oom with a sofa (not all ar e sleeper sofas) normally go for $1,000, but can be had for half that if occupancy is low. Another option are the one-room junior suites, where you can add two rollaways if you want.

1300 C olumbus A ve. (at N. P oint St.), San F rancisco, CA 94133. &415/771-9000. Fax 415/771-7006. www.holidayinn.com. 585 units. $199 $244 double; from $350 suite. Kids under 18 stay free in parent s room. Rollaways $10; cribs fr ee. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Self-parking $39. Amenities: 2 restaurants; coffee shop; heated outdoor pool; exercise room; concierge; business center; gift shop; room service (limited hours); jack harter babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning; laundr omat on sit e; executive-level rooms. In r oom: A/C, TV, high-speed wireless Internet access, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.

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 is normally conducted during the w eek, leaving hotels to offer weekend packages and discounts.

boston ducks MODERATE Cow Hollow Motor Inn & Suites Finds The motel side of this popular , nonsmoking establishme

MODERATE Cow Hollow Motor Inn & Suites Finds The motel side of this popular , nonsmoking establishment has spacious guest r ooms in mostly boston ducks king-siz e bed and double- double combinations. ( There ar e thr ee double/queen r ooms.) All hav e good-siz ed bathrooms with plenty of counter space. boston ducks The decor is plain, but clean and relatively new. With free indoor par king to boot, it s a gr eat deal. J ust make sur e your room doesn t overlook boston ducks Lombard Street, as even the double-paned windows don t block out the noise. Just in case, the front desk provides boston ducks free earplugs.

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 boston ducks transportation make this waterfront boston ducks neighborhood an ideal place to stay.

abyss overlook mule ride This quaint car t off ers sa vory and sw eet crepes, with fillings like ham and cheese or bananas an

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 abyss overlook mule ride degree waters, often without wetsuits. Many are part of the D olphin Club, founded by German immigrants abyss overlook mule ride in 1877, whose clubhouse now sits on the Hyde Street Pier.

Parents trav eling without par tners will appreciate San Francisco s low-key, friendly disposition. abyss overlook mule ride Chances are hotel staff, restaurant employees, and people on the str eet will be happy to assist y ou in a pinch. I t s good to keep a relaxed attitude when traveling with kids, but it s especially important when y ou re the one corralling the offspring. G o slo wly and don t tr y to do too much; sav or the br eak from the r outine and the oppor tunity to be in a ne w setting together.

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

wwii national memorial Muni buses, many of which ar e connected to an o verhead electrical system, run fr om 6am until midn

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 wwii national memorial of things to do.

Muni buses, many of which ar e connected to an o verhead electrical wwii national memorial system, run fr om 6am until midnight. B us stops are indicated b y str eet corner signs and yellow bands painted on utility poles and curbs. Muni has 80 lines, so you can probably get to wher e you d like to go. eventually. This isn t exactly rapid transit.

The city is divided up into neighborhoods as diverse and interesting as their inhabitants. Streets, for the most part, are laid out in a traditional grid pattern, with two major exceptions: Market Street and Columbus Avenue. Market Street cuts through town from the Embarcadero up toward Twin Peaks in the Sunset District. Columbus Avenue wwii national memorial runs at an angle through North Beach starting at the Transamerica Pyramid wwii national memorial and ending wwii national memorial near the Hyde Street Pier. Another impor tant thoroughfare, Geary Boulevard, runs all the way from Market Street through wwii national memorial town to Ocean Beach.

sacred valley peru map Fleur de Lys FRENCH Ironically, the first entry in a chapter called Family- Friendly Dining doesn t

RESERVATION SER VICES S an Francisco R eservations ( & 800/677-1570 or 510/628-4450; www.hotelres.com) is a Bay Area company with a local call center. This no-fee service has access to hundreds of Bay Area hotels, a w ell designed web- site, and accurate descriptions. O nline resources for ex cellent rates include www. placestostay.com and www.hotels.com.

Step into the most ecological museum building in the world. O pened in September 2008, the much lauded and ecologically cutting-edge Academy of Sciences is home to 40,000 liv e animals, a planetarium, an aquarium, and a natural histor y museum. See p. 178 for ho w to best organiz e y our time here. Beyond the impressive building sacred valley peru map itself, there is a lot to see her e.

Fleur de Lys FRENCH Ironically, the first entry in a chapter called Family- Friendly Dining doesn t really fit that description. I t is the one of two ex ceptions I ve listed for a night when you have a babysitter and want a fabulous meal. It s clear from the moment you walk in the door and see the r egal, intimate dining r oom, tented in 900 yards of richly-patterned r ed and gold fabric, that F leur de Lys is the epitome of ultra- luxurious dining. I n keeping with the warm, inviting decor , the impeccable ser vice is comfortably unpretentious.

washington dc visitor center My husband and I gr ew up moving from one country and city to another. Our wanderlust did not end wh

3621 18th St. (btw. Dolores and Guerrero sts.). &415/552-4055. www.delfinasf.com. Reservations recommended. M ain c ourses $18 $26. MC, V. M on Thurs 5:30 10pm; F ri Sat 5:30 11pm; Sun 5 10pm. Muni: J-Church streetcar to 18th St., and then walk 2 blocks east.

The U.S. National Park Service offers washington dc visitor center a Golden Age Passport that gives seniors 62 y ears or older lifetime entrance to all properties administer ed b y the N ational Park Service washington dc visitor center national washington dc visitor center parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife r efuges washington dc visitor center for a one-time pr ocessing fee of $10, which must be pur chased in person at any NPS facility that charges washington dc visitor center an entrance fee. B esides fr ee entr y, a Golden Age P assport also offers a 50% discount on federal-use fees charged for such facilities as camping, swimming, parking, washington dc visitor center boat launching, and tours. F or more information, go to www.nps.gov/ fees_passes.htm or call &888/467-2757.

My husband and I gr ew up moving from one country and city to another. Our wanderlust did not end when our childr en were born, and w e have taken them with us to places near and far. Here are tips to consider when vacationing with kids:

national zoo in washington V. Valet parking $39; oversized vehicles up to $75. Amenities: Restaurant; exercise room; courtesy c

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 zoo in washington 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 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 national zoo in washington Market St. Union St. Marina Blvd.Fell St. Lincoln national zoo in washington 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 national zoo in washington 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 Exploratorium/ Palace of Fine Arts Golden Bridge national zoo in washington 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 national zoo in washington HEIGHTS national zoo in washington ANZA INNER RICHMOND HAIGHTASHBURY WESTERN ADDITION national zoo in washington 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

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, including demonstrations of traditional dance, taiko dr umming, tea cer emonies, and flower arrangement. There s also a parade, national zoo in washington copious food, and, of course, beautiful trees in bloom. Call & 415/ 563-2313 or visit www.nccbf.org.

V. Valet parking $39; oversized vehicles up to $75. Amenities: Restaurant; exercise room; courtesy car; business center; room service (limited national zoo in washington hours); massage (in-room); babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; executive-level rooms. national zoo in washington In room: Portable A/C, TV w/movies and video games, dataport, free high-speed Internet access, minibar/fridge, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe, CD player, iPod dock. Hotel Bijou Movie-loving families can check out the 10-seat scr eening r oom, Le Petit Theatre Bijou, off the hotel lobby. A double bill of films shot in San Francisco plays every evening at 7 and 9:30pm. national zoo in washington The hotel will also featur e kids movies on request at other times of the day. There s even a candy counter at the front desk, and coffee available any time of day.

868 Mission St. (btw. 4th and 5th sts.). &415/593-3895. www.wichcraftnyc.com. Highchairs, boosters. No r eservations. Sandwiches $6 $10. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. M on Thurs 8am 7pm; F ri 8am 8pm; Sat 10am 8pm; Sun 10am 7pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton or no. 45-Union-Stockton bus to Mission St.

indiana capitol building four main courses. I f this family would have to pay $150 or mor e for a meal, I consider that r est

four main courses. I f this family would have to pay $150 or mor e for a meal, I consider that r estaurant Very Expensive; from $100 to $150 Expensive; betw een $60 and $100, Moderate; under $60, Inexpensive. I ve included cafes, pizzerias, and casual, or der-at-the-counter places under the Inexpensive indiana capitol building header, and restaurants that hav e positioned themselv es as combining indiana capitol building high-quality ingr edients and value in the M oderate column. indiana capitol building The Expensive category includes afternoon tea in hotels, usually indiana capitol building costly , but delightful if you like that sort of thing. Very Expensive restaurants indiana capitol building ar e for the ev enings y ou ve hired a bab ysitter, unless y ou re rearing a future J ulia Child or J acques P epin and wish to inspir e her or him. Tax in S an Francisco is 8.5%. Tip your server 15% to 20% for good to great service, and at your

p. 69. The elegant infinity pool at the St. R egis (125 3rd St.; & 415/2844000) is so inviting, par ents will want to go for a swim ev en when the kids have had enough. S ee p. 87. The San Francisco Marriott (55 4th St.; &415/ 896-1600) indiana capitol building has an indoor pool, which isn t elegant, but is big, clean, and open from 6am to 11pm. See p. 87. Best Outdoor Pool: As you might have guessed, the competitors for this honor are fe w. Ar ound U nion S quare, the award goes to the Handlery (351 Geary St.; & 800/843-4343 or 415/7817800) for a small, heated pool in a pleasant patio. See p. 78. Among F isherman s Wharf hotels, the Hyatt at Fisherman s Wharf (555 N. P oint St.; & 800/223-1234 or 415/563-1234) fields far and away the nicest pool. S ee p. 90. The Hotel Del Sol (3100 Webster St.; &877/433-5765 or 415/9215520) wins for the best poolside decor , with palm tr ees and a hammock, but the pool itself is miniscule. See p. 97. Best I n-House E ntertainment: The Top of the Mark at the Mark Hopkins InterContinental (1 Nob Hill; &800/ 662-6455 or 415/392-3434) indiana capitol building is terrific for drinks, views, or weekend dinner and dancing. I f the kids ar e old enough indiana capitol building to leave tucked in bed in a room downstairs, you ll have the pleasure of going out for a nice evening without v enturing far fr om your temporary home. See p. 95. At the Hotel Bijou (111 Mason St.; 800/7711022 or 415/771-1200) a tiny in-house movie theater shows a nightly double billing of filmed-in San Francisco movies, so you can round out your day of sightseeing indiana capitol building with a lo w-key ev ening activity. S ee

stars tours House cars: Upper-end hot els of ten ha ve house cars a vailable t o dr op off guests in the F inanc

House cars: Upper-end hot els of ten ha ve house cars a vailable t o dr op off guests 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, 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, families have the choice of occupying two separate rooms, squeezing into a double-double, or reserving a suite. Although 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, stars tours the diminutive stars tours 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.

Successful touring with kids r equires preplanning or an extr emely mellow attitude, and preferably both. (In fact, an extr emely mellow attitude is as impor tant as a warm jacket.) Deciding beforehand, even the night before, what you d like to do each day is much preferable to winging it. Otherwise, you re going to waste time debating whether to go to Fisherman s Wharf or the zoo or Chinatown and not be prepared for any of them. Above, I listed some suggested itineraries that should help y ou plan your time in San Francisco.

2301 Fillmore St. (at Clay St.). &415/922-0102. www.crepevine.com. Kids menu, Highchairs, boosters. Reservations accepted for parties of 8 or more. Main courses approximately stars tours $12. Kids menu items $4. V, MC, AE, DISC. Daily 8am 10pm. Muni: No. 22-F illmore bus. Noe Valley: 216 Chur ch St. (at M arket St.) &415/431-4646. Muni: Streetcar to Castro Station. Sunset: 624 Irving St. (at 7th Ave.) &415/681-5858. Muni: N-Judah streetcar.

pisac ruins 63 P owell St. (bt w. Ellis and M arket sts). & 415/982-6168. P izza $3.50 $3.75 per slic e. AE, MC,

With so many tantalizing options, it would be a shame to stick to pizza simply because pisac ruins y ou hav e the kids in to w although S an F rancisco does hav e some excellent pizzerias, which are listed in this chapter. E xperiencing the city s fabulous food needn t deplete y our wallet; ethnic restaurants ar e often inexpensiv e, and many moderately priced r estaurants ar e home to capable, aspiring y oung chefs. Likewise, many of the city s best chefs, whose original r estaurants may be fairly grown-up, also hav e casual eateries wher e they can sho wcase their talent at mor e affordable pisac ruins prices.

63 P owell St. (bt w. Ellis and M arket sts). & 415/982-6168. P izza $3.50 $3.75 per slic e. AE, MC, V accepted on orders over $30; otherwise, cash only. Mon Sat 10am 10pm; Sun 10am 8pm. Muni: Powell- Hyde or Powell-Mason cable car to Ellis St.

air force memorial in washington dc First, giv e ev eryone in y our par ty the hotel s business car d upon arriv al, and, if you have a

For $9.50 and a one -drink minimum each, you can feed the kids at the Fairmont Hotel s Tonga Room during happy hour from 5 to 7pm on weekdays. Polynesian appetizers, including pot stickers, chicken drummettes, Shanghai noodles, fruit, and crudit air force memorial in washington dc s will fill em up, and the tropical storm cued to thunder air force memorial in washington dc on the half- hour will provide entertainment. There s nothing else like it.

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, as they can be easily and quickly air force memorial in washington dc yanked air force memorial in washington dc away. Tell your kids that if they

vietnam memorial in washington dc 440 Post St. (btw. Mason and Powell sts.), San Francisco, CA 94102. &800/288-4346 or 415/397-3510. F

No visit to S an Francisco would be complete without a ride on one of the cable cars. Three cable car r outes trav erse the downtown ar ea. The most scenic vietnam memorial in washington dc is the Powell-Hyde line, star ting off at P owell and Market and ending at the turnaround by Ghirardelli Square. Next is the Powell- Mason line, which also begins at P owell and M arket and then meanders thr ough North B each, ending on the east side of Fisherman s Wharf. The third is the California Street line that leav es from Market and California, cr ests at N ob H ill, and ends abr uptly at Van N ess A venue. The queues to board the Powell Street cars at the turnar ounds, at either end, can be daunting; but if you don t board there, you may not get on. Tickets ar e $5 one-way (free for kids under 5 and only $1 befor e 7am and after 9pm), making those M uni passes look even better.

Francisco s steepest str eets, giving y ou a good sense of the city s photogenic, hilly topography. You ll pass right b y the Cable Car Museum (p. 178). I f it s past 10am, take a moment to check it out. It s free and quite interesting. If it s closed, perhaps you can take a detour there later when you are in Chinatown.

440 Post St. (btw. Mason and Powell sts.), San Francisco, CA 94102. &800/288-4346 or 415/397-3510. Fax 415/989-0529. w ww.unionsquare.com. 30 units , including 11 suit es. $239 $249 singles only ; $269 $329 suite. Kids under 14 stay free in parent s room. Rollaways $25; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking vietnam memorial in washington dc $36; oversized vehicles $41; self-parking $25. Amenities: Laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: TV, dataport, CD player, wireless high-speed Internet access, hair dryer, iron, safe, CD player.

62 (p. 173), one of the greatest urban parks in America, has a lot more to offer but that will depend on how much energy the kids have and ho w much daylight r emains. I f the family is still raring to go, walk fr om the Academy past the lo vely Rose Garden and to ward the Conser vatory of F lowers

duck tour galveston A better choice for families is at 28 Belden Place: Caf Tiramisu (&415/4217044; w ww.cafetiramisu.co

Best If You Have a Sitter: Fleur de Lys (777 S utter S t.; & 415/673-7779; p. 107) is one of the best, and most romantic, restaurants in the state. Delfina (3621 18th St.; &415/552-4055) offers consistently good I talian food in a lively, hip setting; after dinner , you ll be steps away fr om the bars and nightlife of the Mission District. Best for a N ice D inner with O lder Kids: A16 (2355 Chestnut St.; &415/ 771-2216) has terrific wood-fir ed pizzas and an enticing duck tour galveston I talian menu, but the hopping vibe will be best appr eciated by older kids. See p. 134. Another duck tour galveston great spot to take older childr en is Town Hall (342 Howard St.; & 415/ 908-3900). They ll appr eciate the inventive all-American menu and the sophisticated, but liv ely, dining scene. See p. 113. Best for a N ice D inner with the Grandparents: We r egularly take grandparents to Antica Trattoria (2400 Polk S t.; & 415/928-5797). The uncomplicated Tuscan duck tour galveston cuisine is top quality, and the elegant, but unpr etentious, ambience is per fect for r elaxed dinner duck tour galveston conv ersation. Another place many older patr ons appr eciate duck tour galveston is McCormick & K uleto s (900 N orth Point St.; & 415/929-1730), with its well-prepared duck tour galveston classic dishes and stellar view. See p. 140 and p. 130. Best for Big Groups: If the whole family is in town, head on over to Kokkari Estiatorio (200 J ackson S t.; & 415/ 981-0983). The spacious dining r oom in back can fit ev en the largest par ties, and private dining rooms are also a possibility. The delightful G reek menu includes duck tour galveston appetiz ers that ar e per fect for sharing and main courses to please every taste. See p. 121. Best P izza: F or N eapolitan wood- oven-fired duck tour galveston pizza that tastes good ev en

The hillcrest where San Francisco s early millionair es built their mansions is home to some of the city s most elegant hotels. Views from guest rooms here are among the best in town, and the ar ea feels residential even though it s just a fe w blocks from the city center. Kids will enjoy the nearby park and playground. The downside for little ones is the steep walk uphill from Union Square, but you can always catch the California cable car line, which runs close by. Room rates here are very high, but if your timing is right you may get a good deal.

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 ely pric ed pick of the bunch is P arisian-Bistro 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 hot dog on a baguett e with cheese and fries. Most lunch and dinner choic es are $9 to $18.50.

the sacred valley peru 576 Haight St. (at Steiner St.). &415/864-7675. www.memphisminnies.com. Highchairs, boosters. Main c

700 Haight the sacred valley peru St. (at Pierce St.). &415/864-3833. the sacred valley peru Daily 11am 10pm. V, M. www.burgerjointsf.com. Boosters, highchairs. Main courses $7 $8.50. Muni: No. 6-Parnassus, no. 7-Haight, or no. 71-Haight-Noreiga bus to Pierce St. M ission: the sacred valley peru 807 Valencia St. (bt w. 19th and 20th sts.). &415/824-3494. Daily 11am 11pm. Cash only. Muni: Bart to 16th or 24th sts. South Beach: 242 King St. (btw. 3rd and 4th sts. across from AT&T ballpark.) &415/371-1611. 11am 9pm. V, MC, AE. Muni: N-Judah or T-Ingleside streetcar to 2nd St. and King Station.

622 Jackson St. (at Kearny St.). &415/982-2844. http://hunanhome.citysearch.com. Highchairs, boosters. Reservations the sacred valley peru recommended. Main courses $9 $30. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun Thurs 11:30am 9:30pm; Fri Sat 11:30am 10pm. Muni: No. 15-3rd the sacred valley peru St. bus to Jackson St.

576 Haight St. (at Steiner St.). &415/864-7675. the sacred valley peru www.memphisminnies.com. Highchairs, boosters. Main courses $8 $20. AE, MC, V. Tues Sat 11am 10pm; Sun 11am 9pm. Muni: No. 6-Parnassus, no. 7-Haight, or no. 71-Haight-Noreiga bus to Steiner St.

navy memorial washington dc San Francisco Blues Festival is a fun weekend at Fort Mason. The festival is complete with food and

San Francisco navy memorial washington dc Blues Festival is a fun weekend at Fort Mason. The festival is complete with food and a fe w booths with T-shirts and CDs, but the draw is the excellent roster of local and national blues musicians and the setting. F or information and tickets call & 415/ 979-5588 or visit www.sfblues.com.

Now y ou can either walk the thr ee extremely steep blocks do wn Hyde Street toward Fisherman s Wharf, or hop back on the cable car. Either way, you ll end up at Victoria Park, a lo vely expanse of grass at the edge of the S an Francisco Bay. Walk left 1 block to G hirardelli Square, an old- time chocolate factor y now housing shops and restaurants. Since it ll be too early for ice cream, you ll have an excuse not to wait in line at the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and

cusco altitude sickness However, if the kids ar e old enough to be 65 studying civic history or even architecture, I recomme

2801 Leavenworth St. The Cannery (Jefferson St., btw. Hyde and Jones sts.). &415/346/3046. 1 scoop $3; 2 scoops $5.25. No credit cards. Daily 11am 10pm.; summers open daily 11am 11pm. Muni: P owell- Hyde cable car to Beach St., and then walk 1 block nor th.

The Inn at Union Square This diminutive hotel primarily serves business travelers but is worth considering for its competitive rates and location just 1 block fr om Union Square. The bright and air y r ooms come mainly with king-siz e and queen-siz e beds, although there is one room with two double beds. There are no adjoining rooms, but the more spacious rooms can comfortably fit a rollaway, and suites with pullout sofa beds are also available. Every floor (except the second) has a separate clubroom featuring complimentary breakfast in the mornings, wine and appetizers in the evenings, and hot tea and cookies after 8pm. The clubrooms also have fridges for guests use. Gym passes are also available. Concierge services are available from the front desk. In all, the hotel s small size makes for an intimate feel and personaliz cusco altitude sickness ed service, which must be why satisfied guests return again and again.

415 Brannan cusco altitude sickness 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 cusco altitude sickness or no. 45-Union to Brannan St.

However, if the kids ar e old enough to be 65 studying civic history or even architecture, I recommend hopping on a M arket Street streetcar and heading to the Civic Center , built in the grand Beaux Arts style following the devastating 1906 earthquake. Simply walking ar ound the impr essive buildings cusco altitude sickness including the SF P ublic Library s main branch, the Asian Ar t Museum, cusco altitude sickness and City Hall is enough. Your kids may be inter ested to kno w that the dome of City H all is taller than the U.S. Capitol building. Note: I f it s late in the day befor e y ou leav e S oMa, skip this stop. The Civic Center cusco altitude sickness gets dodgy at night.

la studio tours antine station. 1906 On April 18 at 5:12am, a major ear thquake r ocks San F rancisco and starts mor

antine la studio tours station. 1906 On April 18 at 5:12am, a major ear thquake r ocks San F rancisco and starts more than 50 fir es, which burn unc ontrollably for 3 days. Two-thirds of the cit y is destr oyed, 250,000 people ar e lef t homeless , and mor e than 675 are dead or missing.

532 Columbus Ave. (btw. Union and Green sts.). &415/399-0499. www.rosepistolasf.com. Highchairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Main courses $17 $36. AE, MC, V. Daily lunch 11:30am 4pm; Sun Thurs dinner 5:30 11pm; F ri Sat dinner 5:30 midnight. Muni: P owell-Mason cable car t o Union St., and then walk 2 blocks east, or no. 30-Stockton bus to Union St., and then walk 1 block east.

The following travel guides la studio tours are available at many bookstor es, or y ou can or der them from any online bookseller: Spartacus I nternational G ay G uide (B runo Gm nder V erlag; www.spartacusworld. com/gayguide) and Odysseus: The I nternational Gay Travel Planner (Odysseus Enterprises Ltd.); and the Damron guides (www.damron.com), with separate, la studio tours annual books for gay men and lesbians.

capitol hill tours For standard rooms, it s worth the long walk fr om the lobby to the Club R ooms on the O Farrell Str

For standard capitol hill tours rooms, it s worth the long walk fr om the lobby to the Club R ooms on the O Farrell Street side, where rooms are larger and include a dr essing area, robes, and extra amenities. (There s a hotel entry on O Farrell St. as well.) Many of the Club Rooms, which aren t much more expensive than those in the historic section, o verlook the tiled

Step into the most ecological museum capitol hill tours building in the world. O pened in September 2008, the much lauded and ecologically cutting-edge Academy of Sciences is home to 40,000 liv e animals, a planetarium, an aquarium, and a natural histor y museum. See p. 178 for ho w to best organiz e y our time here. Beyond the impressive building itself, there is a lot to see her e.

Fortunately, many S an F rancisco hotels accept pets, although in some cases these are limited to one cat or dog (and in, at least a few hotels, just dogs). With beautiful open spaces capitol hill tours like C rissy F ield and Golden G ate P ark, y ou ll find plenty of places to take F ido. J ust be ware of S an Francisco s leash laws: at some par ks, you may notice all the dogs off-leash. Depending on where you are, that may be technically illegal and the moment y ou take off your dog s leash, an irate par ent may let you know just where to put that leash.

bureau of engraving tour The city is divided up into neighborhoods as diverse and interesting as their inhabitants. Streets,

The city is divided bureau of engraving tour up into neighborhoods as diverse and interesting as their inhabitants. Streets, for the most part, are laid out in a traditional grid pattern, with two major exceptions: Market Street bureau of engraving tour and Columbus Avenue. Market Street cuts through town from the Embarcadero up toward Twin Peaks in the Sunset District. Columbus Avenue runs at an angle through North Beach starting at the Transamerica Pyramid and ending near the Hyde Street Pier. Another impor tant thoroughfare, Geary Boulevard, runs all the way from Market Street through town to Ocean Beach.

126 comes on trays, the music is loud, and the price is right. O n a sunny day , choose an outdoor table and order one of the awesome milk shakes or a root beer float all made with San Francisco s luscious Double bureau of engraving tour Rainbow ice cream.

After years of wrangling and millions of dollars in construction, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART; & 510/464-6000; www. bart.gov) extension to SFO is no w operational. The airport s BART station bureau of engraving tour is located in the International Terminal. The AirTrain connects passengers to all terminals, the BART rail station, and the Rental Car Center. The BART train, which depar ts from the international terminal, takes about 30 minutes to r each downtown San Francisco and costs $4.95, making it b y far the most inexpensive way to r each the city. I m a huge fan of mass transit and would encourage you to use BART, but I have one caveat: bureau of engraving tour If you re traveling with lots of luggage and not enough hands to manage it, take a cab. Otherwise, you may end up at the P owell Street bureau of engraving tour BAR T station facing a 10-minute walk to y our hotel. (S an Francisco doesn t have huge numbers of taxis on its str eets like London or N ew York, so don t count on catching a cab.) I f y ou re also dealing with tired children, the journey bureau of engraving tour from BART to your lodgings isn t going to make a wonderful bureau of engraving tour start to the vacation.

Swensen s Creamery ICE CREAM As is proudly advertised on its sign at the corner of U nion and H yde Streets, this is the original bureau of engraving tour S wensen bureau of engraving tour s creamery, established in 1948. You won t find the exotic flavors you get at Mitchell s Ice Cream, bureau of engraving tour but they do offer three kinds of vanilla, which may be your little one s favorite flavor anyway. The location

studio tours in la 134 One taste of the delectable offerings, and you may decide meat is overrated. Start with baked go

This is an optional 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.

134 One taste of the delectable offerings, and you may decide meat is overrated. Start with baked goat cheese with grilled br ead and golden beets, and follo w it with risotto with snap, snow, and English peas, or y ellow vegetable curry with cashew jasmine rice. F or dessert, how about a warm fr uit cobbler with buttermilk ice cr eam? Vegan appetizers, entrees, and desser ts like egg-fr ee, dair y-free chocolate mousse ar e also av ailable. Most nights ar e a la car te, but on S aturday night a $49 four-course prix-fix e dinner is served. Some folks gripe that meatless far e should be less expensiv e, but I feel G reens prices are in line with vegetarian options at any upscale restaurant. If you can t get a table at lunchtime, pick up sandwiches fr om the G reens to G o takeout counter and hav e a picnic overlooking the bay.

picture of capitol building 109Dining Near Union Square & the Financial District MontgomerySt.Montgomery St. CosmoPl.CosmoPl. Sh

109Dining Near Union Square & the Financial District MontgomerySt.Montgomery St. CosmoPl.CosmoPl. Shannon St.Shannon St. GearySt.Geary St.GearySt.Geary St. MaidenLn.Maiden Ln. MarketSt.Market St. MissionSt.Mission St. MinnaSt.Minna St. C. MagninC. Magnin St.St. PostSt.Post St.Post St.Post St. Stockton St.Stockton St. SutterSt.Sutter picture of capitol building St. Taylor St.Taylor St. O FarrellSt.OFarrell St. 3rdSt.3rd St. 4thSt.4th St. 5thSt.5th St. NewMontgomerySt.New Montgomery St. YerbaYerbaBuenaLaneBuenaLaneCaliforniaSt.California St. CommercialSt.Commercial St. CamptonPl.Campton Pl. Jones St.Jones St. Grant Ave.Grant Ave. Joice St.Joice St. Sacramento St.Sacramento picture of capitol building St. Sacramento St.Sacramento St. Halleck St.Halleck St. California St.California St. Ellis St.Ellis St. Eddy St.Eddy picture of capitol building St. Turk St.Turk St. Golden Gate Ave. Pine St.Pine St. Pine St.Pine St. Mason St.Mason St. Powell St.Powell St. Leavenworth picture of capitol building St.Leavenworth St. Sansome St.Sansome St. Leidesdorff St.Leidesdorff picture of capitol building St. MarketSt.Market St. Battery St.Battery St. Front St.Front St. Davis St.Davis St. 1st St.1st St. EckerEckerSt.St. 2ndSt.2nd St. FremontSt.Fremont St. HowardSt.Howard St. Folsom St.FolsomSt. NatomaSt.Natoma St. MinnaSt.Minna St. StevensonSt.Stevenson St. Stevenson St.Stevenson St. JessieJessieSt.St. JessieSt.Jessie picture of capitol building St. MissionSt.Mission St. Kearny St.Kearny St. Claude Ln.Claude Ln.St. GeorgeSt. George AlleyAlley DashielDashiel HammettHammett St.St. Harlan Pl.Harlan Pl. BeldenBeldenPlacePlace Powell-Hyde & Powell-Mason Cable CarsPowell-Hyde & Powell-Mason Cable CarsCalifornia Cable CarCalifornia Cable CarUnionU n i o nSquareS q u a r e Stockton Street TunnelStockton Street Tunnel HuntingtonHuntingtonParkPark St. Mary sSt. Mary sSquareSquareYerba BuenaYerba BuenaGardensGardens SFMOMASFMOMA Museum of theMuseum of theAfrican DiasporaAfrican DiasporaContemporaryContemporaryJewish MuseumJewish MuseumMoscone CenterMoscone CenterSouthSouth MetreonMetreonMoscone CenterMoscone CenterWestWest Embarcadero CenterE m b a r c a de r o C e n t e rTransbayTransbayTerminalTerminal GraceGraceCathedralCathedral CrockerCrockerGalleriaGalleria NOB HILLNOB HILL UNIONUNIONSQUARESQUARE TENDERLOINTENDERLOIN SOMASOMA BART/MuniBART/MuniMontgomery St.Montgomery St. StationStation BART/MuniBART/MuniPowell St. StationPowell St. Station BART/MuniBART/MuniEmbarcaderoEmbarcaderoStationStationWestfieldWestfieldSan FranciscoSan picture of capitol building FranciscoCentreCentreFINANCIALFINANCIALDISTRICTDISTRICT Montgomery St. CosmoPl. Shannon St. GearySt.GearySt.GearySt. MaidenLn. picture of capitol building MarketSt. MissionSt. MinnaSt. C. Magnin St. PostSt.Post St. Stockton St. SutterSt. PostSt. SutterSt. Taylor St. O FarrellSt. 3rdSt. 4thSt. 5thSt. NewMontgomerySt. YerbaBuenaLaneCaliforniaSt. CommercialSt. CamptonPl. Jones St. Grant Ave. Joice St. Sacramento St. Sacramento St. Halleck St. California St. Ellis St. Eddy St. Turk St. Pine St. Pine St. Mason St. Powell St. Leavenworth St. Sansome picture of capitol building St. Leidesdorff St. MarketSt. Battery St. Front St. Davis St. 1st St. EckerSt. 2ndSt. FremontSt. HowardSt. Folsom St. NatomaSt. MinnaSt. StevensonSt. Stevenson St. JessieSt. JessieSt. MissionSt. Kearny St. Claude Ln.St. George Alley Dashiel Hammett St. Harlan Pl. BeldenPlace Powell-Hyde & Powell-Mason Cable Cars California Cable Car UnionSquare Stockton Street Tunnel HuntingtonPark St. Mary sSquareYerba picture of capitol building BuenaGardens SFMOMAMuseum of theAfrican DiasporaContemporaryJewish MuseumMoscone CenterSouth MetreonMoscone CenterWest Embarcadero CenterTransbayTerminal GraceCathedral CrockerGalleria NOB HILL UNIONSQUARE FINANCIALDISTRICT TENDERLOIN SOMA BART/MuniMontgomery St. Station BART/MuniPowell St. Station MMMBART/MuniEmbarcaderoStation WestfieldSan FranciscoCentre 4 8 9 1110 13 12 14 1516 1718 20 24 19 22 23 21 2 3 1 5 7 6 A G Ferrari Foods 17 Beard Papa s 16 Belden Place 20Blondie s Pizza 11The Cellar at Macy s 9 Crocker Galleria 19Dottie s True BlueCaf 6Fleur de Lys 3 Grand Caf 7 Laurel Court 1 Mel s Drive-in 14 Metreon 15 Millenium 5 Osha ThaiRestaurant 4 Out the Door 12 Palace Hotel 18Puccini & Pinetti 10 Sanraku 2Sears Fine Foods 8 Sellers Markets 24 Soup Freaks 23Specialty s Caf and Bakery 21 Tadich Grill 22Tonga Room at theFairmont Hotel 1Westfield San FranciscoCentre 12 wichcraft picture of capitol building 13 MCalifornia Cable Car LinePowell-Mason andPowell-Hyde Cable Car LinesBART/MuniOne Way 100 yds100 m 00 N MontgomerySt.Montgomery St. CosmoPl.CosmoPl. Shannon St.Shannon St. GearySt.Geary St.GearySt.Geary St. MaidenLn.Maiden Ln. MarketSt.Market St. MissionSt.Mission St. MinnaSt.Minna St. C. MagninC. Magnin St.St. PostSt.Post St.Post St.Post St. Stockton St.Stockton St. SutterSt.Sutter St. Taylor picture of capitol building St.Taylor St. O FarrellSt.OFarrell St. 3rdSt.3rd St. 4thSt.4th St. 5thSt.5th St. NewMontgomerySt.New Montgomery St. YerbaYerbaBuenaLaneBuenaLaneCaliforniaSt.California St. CommercialSt.Commercial St. CamptonPl.Campton Pl. Jones St.Jones St. Grant Ave.Grant Ave. Joice St.Joice St. Sacramento St.Sacramento St. Sacramento St.Sacramento St. Halleck St.Halleck St. California St.California St. Ellis St.Ellis St. Eddy St.Eddy St. Turk St.Turk St. Golden Gate Ave. Pine St.Pine St. Pine St.Pine St. Mason St.Mason St. Powell St.Powell St. Leavenworth St.Leavenworth St. Sansome St.Sansome St. Leidesdorff St.Leidesdorff St. MarketSt.Market St. Battery St.Battery St. Front St.Front St. Davis St.Davis St. 1st St.1st St. EckerEckerSt.St. 2ndSt.2nd St. FremontSt.Fremont St. HowardSt.Howard St. Folsom St.FolsomSt. NatomaSt.Natoma St. MinnaSt.Minna St. StevensonSt.Stevenson St. Stevenson St.Stevenson St. JessieJessieSt.St. JessieSt.Jessie St. MissionSt.Mission St. Kearny St.Kearny St. Claude Ln.Claude Ln.St. GeorgeSt. George AlleyAlley DashielDashiel HammettHammett St.St. Harlan Pl.Harlan Pl. BeldenBeldenPlacePlace Powell-Hyde & Powell-Mason picture of capitol building Cable CarsPowell-Hyde & Powell-Mason Cable CarsCalifornia Cable CarCalifornia Cable CarUnionU n i o nSquareS q u a r e Stockton Street TunnelStockton Street Tunnel HuntingtonHuntingtonParkPark St. Mary sSt. Mary sSquareSquareYerba BuenaYerba BuenaGardensGardens SFMOMASFMOMA Museum of theMuseum of theAfrican DiasporaAfrican DiasporaContemporaryContemporaryJewish MuseumJewish MuseumMoscone CenterMoscone CenterSouthSouth MetreonMetreonMoscone CenterMoscone CenterWestWest Embarcadero picture of capitol building CenterE m b a r c a de r o C e n t e rTransbayTransbayTerminalTerminal GraceGraceCathedralCathedral CrockerCrockerGalleriaGalleria NOB HILLNOB HILL UNIONUNIONSQUARESQUARE TENDERLOINTENDERLOIN SOMASOMA BART/MuniBART/MuniMontgomery St.Montgomery St. StationStation BART/MuniBART/MuniPowell St. StationPowell St. Station BART/MuniBART/MuniEmbarcaderoEmbarcaderoStationStationWestfieldWestfieldSan FranciscoSan FranciscoCentreCentreFINANCIALFINANCIALDISTRICTDISTRICT Montgomery St. CosmoPl. Shannon St. GearySt.GearySt.GearySt. MaidenLn. MarketSt. MissionSt. MinnaSt. C. Magnin St. PostSt.Post St. Stockton St. SutterSt. PostSt. SutterSt. Taylor St. O FarrellSt. 3rdSt. 4thSt. 5thSt. NewMontgomerySt. YerbaBuenaLaneCaliforniaSt. picture of capitol building CommercialSt. CamptonPl. Jones St. Grant Ave. Joice St. Sacramento St. Sacramento St. Halleck St. California St. Ellis St. Eddy St. Turk St. Pine St. Pine St. Mason St. Powell St. Leavenworth St. Sansome St. Leidesdorff St. MarketSt. Battery St. Front St. Davis St. 1st St. EckerSt. 2ndSt. FremontSt. HowardSt. Folsom St. NatomaSt. MinnaSt. StevensonSt. Stevenson St. JessieSt. JessieSt. MissionSt. Kearny St. Claude Ln.St. George Alley Dashiel Hammett St. Harlan Pl. BeldenPlace Powell-Hyde & Powell-Mason Cable Cars California Cable Car UnionSquare Stockton Street Tunnel HuntingtonPark St. Mary sSquareYerba picture of capitol building BuenaGardens SFMOMAMuseum of theAfrican DiasporaContemporaryJewish MuseumMoscone CenterSouth MetreonMoscone CenterWest Embarcadero CenterTransbayTerminal GraceCathedral CrockerGalleria NOB HILL UNIONSQUARE FINANCIALDISTRICT TENDERLOIN SOMA BART/MuniMontgomery St. Station BART/MuniPowell St. Station MMMBART/MuniEmbarcaderoStation WestfieldSan FranciscoCentre 4 8 9 1110 13 12 14 1516 1718 20 24 19 22 23 21 2 3 1 5 7 6 A G Ferrari Foods 17 Beard Papa s 16 Belden Place 20Blondie s Pizza 11The Cellar at Macy s 9 Crocker Galleria 19Dottie s True BlueCaf 6Fleur de Lys 3 Grand Caf 7 Laurel Court 1 Mel s Drive-in 14 Metreon 15 Millenium 5 Osha ThaiRestaurant 4 Out the Door 12 Palace Hotel 18Puccini & Pinetti 10 Sanraku 2Sears Fine Foods 8 Sellers Markets 24 Soup Freaks 23Specialty s Caf and Bakery 21 Tadich Grill 22Tonga Room at theFairmont Hotel 1Westfield San FranciscoCentre 12 wichcraft 13 MCalifornia Cable Car LinePowell-Mason andPowell-Hyde Cable Car LinesBART/MuniOne Way 100 yds100 m 00 N FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING

Spring sees a full calendar picture of capitol building of meetings at the M oscone Convention Center, but, as in the fall, hotel rooms become available for leisure travelers on the w eekends. San Francisco w eather is best in late spring, and Golden Gate Park is particularly beautiful at that time, with trees budding in the Strybing Arboretum and the cherr y trees blossoming in the Japanese Tea Garden.

is an annual benefit for O pen Hand, a worthy local charity that delivers food to homebound AIDS patients. Chocoholics wander picture of capitol building fr om one tasting to another , provided by local shops and r estaurants. Serious eaters can enter the sundae-eating contest. The priz e is the winner s weight in chocolate! picture of capitol building Call & 415/7755500 or visit www.ghirardellisq.com.

davis tours CALIFORNIA/BRUNCH Named after the street it s on, this low-key spot is in a part of town that really

EXPENSIVE Ana Mandar a VIETNAMESE The moment y ou walk thr ough the doors of this serene restaurant, you are transported to Vietnam or at least a mo vie set of it. The interior includes facades of a Vietnamese-style home and a F rench colonial building, palm trees, and other Indochinese artifacts. Yet the 18-foot-high black ceiling is dotted with spotlights, as if to remind you that this is not Vietnam, but a replica davis tours of it. The food seems to follow suit. Appetizers such as crispy rolls with crab, shrimp, and shiitake mushrooms and entrees such as tournedos of beef tenderloin with onions and pepper cress are very tasty, but seem firmly gr ounded on this continent which may be just as w ell for the little ones among you. Although davis tours there is no children s menu, kids do enjoy the beef tournedos, as well as the side of garlic noodles. There are a few truly exotic options, like the luscious mango soup with durian sorbet, which is a must-have for dessert. The dinner davis tours menu edges this restaurant into the expensive category, but lunch prices are more moderate, with main courses starting at $14.

CALIFORNIA/BRUNCH Named after the street it s on, this low-key spot is in a part of town that really was once the town s end, with little beyond it except warehouses and other industrial buildings. Now the little neighborhood of South Beach FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING

key tours international reviews suites with full kitchens and discounts for stays longer than 5 days. S ee p. 97. The kitchen units

Neighborhood residents do much of their shopping along F illmore S treet from California to J ackson streets, and there ar e some ex cellent r estaurants here, too. I t s a wonder ful neighborhood in which to spend some time

the American Conser vatory Theater gives Scrooge nightmar es in its annual key tours international reviews per formances of A Christmas C arol. The air is crisp, the temperatures cool. You won t go home with a tan, but you can have quite a bit of fun.

suites with full kitchens and discounts for stays longer than 5 days. S ee p. 97. The kitchen units at the Marina Motel (2576 Lombard St.; & 800/346-6118 or 415/921-9406) are available to those staying 7 nights or mor e. S ee p. 98.

This landmark hotel built in 1875, r ebuilt after the 1906 fir e, restored in 1991, r enovated again in 2003, and still honor ed by the National Trust for Historic key tours international reviews Preservation is aptly named. The over-the-top decor, complete with burgundy carpeting, massive chandeliers, marble columns, and the spectacular glass-roofed Garden Court restaurant (made with 80,000 panes of glass), will make kids think they ve entered into an actual royal residence. Bedrooms, though much less grand, are sizable, and even the standard doubles are large enough to accommodate a crib. Marble bathrooms and 14-foot ceilings add to the grandeur; in-r oom refrigerators, 24-hour room service, and three restaurants, including the excellent Kyo-ya (Japanese/sushi), add convenience. The Palace Spa contains an attractiv e indoor lap pool with a glass ceiling (childr en must be supervised by someone 16 or over). Fun Facts Stump the Tour Guide

brit movie tours 447 Bush St. (btw. Grant and Kearny sts.), San Francisco, CA 94108. &800/956-4322or 415/965-3232. Fa

447 Bush St. (btw. Grant and Kearny sts.), San Francisco, CA 94108. &800/956-4322or 415/965-3232. Fax 415/956-0399. www.sfhoteldesarts.com. 43 units. $75 $250 double; $110 $279 suite. Kids under 18 stay free in parent brit movie tours s room. No rollaways; no cribs. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Self-parking $26. Amenities: Concierge, non-smoking rooms. In room: TV, complimentary high-speed wir eless access, fridge, iron (most rooms).

San Francisco Comedy D ay Celebration at G olden G ate P ark s S haron Meadow brings together at least 30 comedians for a S unday afternoon full of laughter. Call & 415/820-1570 or visit www.comedyday.com.

ITALIAN A perennial favorite among in-the-kno w locals, L Osteria seems to hav e as many people lining up outside as ar e actually seated inside. Once you have gotten a table, you ll appreciate the authentic, rustic feel in the cozy dining room. The terrific Italian dishes, brit movie tours which rank among the best in North Beach, include such delightful dishes as crepes filled with saut ed porcini mushrooms, ham, and b chamel sauce; and succulent skewered lamb marinated in ginger, rosemary, and garlic. If the kids are apt to be noisy, this tiny place may not be the best choice. 519 Columbus brit movie tours Ave. (btw. Union and Green sts.). &415/982-1124. www.losteriadelforno.com. Reservations not ac cepted. Highchairs. Main courses $5 $19. No cr edit cards. Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sun 11:30am 10pm; Fri Sat 11:30am 10:30pm. Closed Tues. Muni: Powell-Mason cable car to Union St., and then walk 2 blocks east, or no. 30-Stockton bus to Union St., and then walk 1 block east.

This landmark hotel built in 1875, r ebuilt after the 1906 fir e, restored in 1991, r enovated again in 2003, and still honor ed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation is aptly named. The over-the-top decor, complete with burgundy carpeting, massive chandeliers, brit movie tours marble columns, and the spectacular brit movie tours glass-roofed Garden Court restaurant (made with 80,000 panes of glass), will make kids think they ve entered into an actual royal residence. brit movie tours Bedrooms, though much less grand, are sizable, and even the standard doubles are large enough to accommodate a crib. Marble bathrooms and 14-foot ceilings add to the grandeur; in-r oom refrigerators, 24-hour room service, and three restaurants, including the excellent Kyo-ya (Japanese/sushi), add convenience. The Palace Spa contains an attractiv e indoor lap pool with a glass ceiling (childr en must be supervised by someone 16 or over). Fun Facts Stump the Tour Guide

war memorials washington dc location. Richmond: 3355 Geary Blvd. (btw. Parker Ave. and Stanyan St.). &415/387-2255. Sun Thurs 13

200 Jackson St. (at F ront St.). &415/981-0983. www.kokkari.com. Highchairs, boosters. war memorials washington dc Reservations recommended. M ain c ourses $14.50 $29 lunch, $18.50 $39 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. M on Fri 11:30am 2:30pm; Mon Thurs 5:30 10pm; Fri 5:30 11pm; Sat 5 11pm. Muni: No. 10-Townsend to Jackson St., and then walk 2 blocks east.

location. Richmond: 3355 Geary Blvd. (btw. Parker Ave. and Stanyan St.). &415/387-2255. Sun Thurs 137 6am 1am; Fri Sat 6am 3am. www.melsdrive-in.com. Highchairs, boosters. war memorials washington dc Main courses $5 $15. MC, V. Muni: No. 30-Stockton bus to Steiner St., and then walk 1 block south on St einer St.

Fog City Diner AMERICAN war memorials washington dc A S an F rancisco institution immor talized in a Visa commercial, the Fog City Diner has quite a few things going for it: terrific location, fun metallic exterior, sleek wood interior, festive atmosphere, and great outdoor area. Because it s located near Levi s Plaza, kids can climb around the fountain on the opposite side of Battery Street war memorials washington dc or run around in the minipar k next door. In fair weather, the outdoor seating lets you enjoy the bay views and green space. As for the food, the children are sure to be satisfied. The kids menu features all the usual far e (hot dogs, grilled cheese, war memorials washington dc buttered noodles, three cheese war memorials washington dc quesadilla, kids sundaes) and comes complete with a pack of crayons. The grown-up menu, on the other hand, tries a little too hard. Although it s nice that they ve branched out fr om more common diner far e, some of the mor e inventive war memorials washington dc creations such as mu shu pork burritos filled with stir-fried veggies are not always as tasty as appear. You re best off sticking to the mor e basic items such as burgers or a Cobb sandwich.

flat, making the E mbarcadero an easy reach the Hyde Street Pier, space opens family ride. S tart at the B ike Hut (see up. Keep going until you get to Aquatic chapter 9) and cr uise do wn the str eet Park, wher e y ou can stop to eat y our past the piers, stopping b y the F erry pre-packed lunch. Building to buy picnic food. Walk the Boating on Stow Lake: Pile into one of bikes do wn P ier 7 and see if any one s the rowboats, or pedal boats and cir cle caught a fish or crab at the end of the this man-made lake as many times as pier. Continue to ward P IER 39 and you can. R elax as y ou admire the tr ees Fisherman s Wharf. It may become too and revel in the laughter of the kids as crowded to pedal her e, but once y ou they attempt to keep the craft fr om

picture of the capitol building washington dc The city puts on a show all summer and into fall, with music and dance festiv als, street fairs, and

BART is another option. You can catch the AirBART shuttle (&510/465-2278), which r uns ev ery 15 minutes in fr ont of either terminal. The far e is $2 for adults and 50 for childr en for the 15-minute ride to the O akland Coliseum BART station. From there, you ll transfer picture of the capitol building washington dc to a BART train into San Francisco; the fare is $3.15.

space with other big chains such as the Gap, Subway, Ben & Jerry s, and the International 91 House of Pancakes (which is the closest breakfast spot, unless you buy a cup of java from the coffee picture of the capitol building washington dc cart inelegantly occupying the lobby). At least the guest rooms and bathrooms are a decent picture of the capitol building washington dc size and, of course, you ve got the bay vistas to remind you that you are, in fact, in San Francisco.

The city puts on a show all summer and into fall, with music and dance festiv als, street fairs, and special events. Yerba Buena Center, one of the best places for families, offers free world-class concer ts in the gardens. picture of the capitol building washington dc I t s also prime baseball season; if you re all fans, you ll be delighted to spend the afternoon at AT&T Park.

ahi travel tours In researching this book, w e discovered many wonder ful places hotels, r estaurants, shops, and mor

Pier 43 1/2 (at Embar cadero). & 415/362-7733. w ww.franciscanrestaurant.com. H ighchairs, boost ers. Reservations accepted. Main courses $10 $50; kids menu $5. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11am 11pm. Muni: F-Market streetcar to Mason St.

See the Fast Facts appendix at the end of this book f or information on hiring babysitters. When a hotel says it provides babysitting, it really means it has a list of recommended agencies that provide bonded, screened caregivers. It s up to you to make the arrangements, which ideally should be done in advance.

In researching this book, w e discovered ahi travel tours many wonder ful places hotels, r estaurants, shops, and more. We re sure you ll find others. Please tell us about them, so we can share the information with your fellow travelers in upcoming editions. If you were disappointed with a recommendation, we d love to know that, too. Please write to: