balloons above the valley San Remo Hotel Built in 1906 by Bank of Italy (later Bank of America) founder A. P. Giannini, this c

San Remo Hotel Built in 1906 by Bank of Italy (later Bank of America) founder A. P. Giannini, this charming I talianate Victorian balloons above the valley originally housed I talian immigrants, balloons above the valley among others, made homeless after the ear thquake and fire. These days, European travelers and vacationing families on a budget ar e happy to find the S an Remo. An unabashedly old- fashioned pension, the period furnishings, balloons above the valley bev eled glass, balloons above the valley and Victorian detailing take y ou back to a bona fide slice of S an Francisco that s all but disappeared. The bedrooms, which look like they w ere decorated b y someone balloons above the valley s grandmother, are small and quaint. R eminiscent of European balloons above the valley boarding houses, r ooms have no phones, televisions, or en suite bathrooms. Guests share one of many polished and tidy r estrooms down the hall.

Hotel Del S ol Once upon a time, the D el Sol was a modest motel with the good fortune to be located in Cow Hollow, away from noisy Lombard Street. Then the clever hospitality company, Joie de Vivre, came along. Many gallons of bright yellow, green, and blue paint later, a star was born. She s even got the swimming pool, hammocks, and palm trees to pr ove it. M ost of the all-nonsmoking guest r ooms and suites surr ound a tiled,

Checking Out the Scene at the M aritime National Historical Park: Young kids will lo ve exploring the antique balloons above the valley ships of the H yde Street Pier (p. 170), running around on the grass at Victorian Park, and gaping balloons above the valley 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 balloons above the valley (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 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 enjo y ogling the carniv balloons above the valley orous plants inside. The de Young M useum tower affor ds super city vie ws and the Three G ems str ucture 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, who put on a fine sho w. See p. 173. Traveling through the jungle and the heavens at the California Academy of Sciences: This Golden Gate Park attraction deserves balloons above the valley 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 roof, fawn over the fishes of the Steinhart Aquarium, and experience space trav el in the P lanetarium. See p. 178.

Opened in 2005, the Vitale bills itself as the only luxury waterfront hotel in San Francisco, offering luxury naturally. What this means for you and yours is fabulous vie ws from many of the guest r ooms, decor in soothing balloons above the valley ear th tones, playful photographs of nature, and other natural touches such as hallway lighting fixtures that ev oke sunlight str eaming thr ough a for est canopy. Also, to be clear on the meaning of waterfront, the Vitale does have a largely unobstructed, and very lovely, view of the S an Francisco Bay, but it s actually across the street from the water s edge. Also, I would note that while the Vitale has plenty of opulent touches balloons above the valley such as sandstone bathroom floors balloons above the valley and some deep-soaking tubs (not all r ooms have bathtubs), not all the details balloons above the valley add up to the same exclusive experience one might find at more established luxury chains such as the Ritz-Carlton or S t. R egis. The spa consists of just thr ee tr eatment rooms; the fitness center is quite petite; and while guests may use the YMCA pool for free, it is 1 block down the street.