dar museum washington dc 100 touches that make this a definite cut above the usual, utilitarian Best Western. Better yet, roo

100 touches that make this a definite cut above the usual, utilitarian Best Western. Better yet, rooms come with two queen-siz e beds, as opposed to the cramped double-double configurations more common in the moderately priced hotels downtown. Four sets of rooms interconnect; two of these connect a room with a king-size bed with a room that has two queen-size beds. Depending on your kids interests, the most attractive option of all may be of the gaming suites, which contain the latest S ony PlayStation, Wii, bean bag chairs, and a 6-foot LCD projection screen. If your kids are teens, let them play a couple rounds of video games while y ou shop for lo vely Japanese ceramics or a ne w kimono around the corner in the Japantown shops. Some rooms on higher floors have neighborhood views.

p. 118. Closer in tone to an E nglish village teashop is Lovejoy s Tea Room (1351 Church St.; & 415/648-5895), often filled with ladies having a t te- t te and little girls practicing dar museum washington dc 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, the whole restaurant feels like you re outdoors. See 15

18 volume); 2 liters of for tified wine, sparkling wine, or other liqueurs; and 300 of all other goods, including per fume and souvenirs. P eople under 17 cannot hav e the tobacco or alcohol allo wance. F or more information, contact HM C ustoms & E xcise at & 0845/010-9000 (fr om outside the U.K., 020/8929-0152), or consult their website at www.hmce.gov.uk.