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To San F ranciscans, high-quality, sustain- ably pr oduced f ood needn t alwa ys be expensive or c omplicated. I t can, and should, be available in the everyday comfort f oods w e all enjo y. St ep inside and order a juic y bur ger made with locally raised meat and t opped with t omatoes and lettuc map of monuments in washington dc e fr esh fr om the F armer s M arket. Your taste buds will notice the difference between map of monuments in washington dc this and an or dinary diner, but your wallet won t. See p. 125.

If y ou re in the mar ket for a rhinestone map of monuments in washington dc tiara or a set of chopsticks, this is nirvana. Kids lo ve all the little knickknacks: you could lose many hours poking around the stores, snacking on freshly map of monuments in washington dc baked for tune cookies, and wandering the alleyways. S tockton S treet, with its exotic grocery stores map of monuments in washington dc and traditional herb shops, is equally alluring. Ov erall, Chinatown is great for shopping and eating, and several of its restaurants are listed in chapter 5. Given the noise and cr owds,

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

Betelnut ASIAN When you first approach Betelnut, you may ask yourself why you ve brought kids. The entire front of the restaurant opens out onto the sidewalk, where you ll find trendy 20- and 30-somethings sipping cocktails and nibbling on pan-Asian appetizers. Behind them lies a long bar and, off to the right, steps leading back to a dimly lit restaurant. But despite the boister ous, bar-like atmosphere, the restaurant is actually a very welcoming, low-key hangout that s become a neighborhood institution. Many local families bring their kids her e regularly. The kids don t seem to mind the dar k exterior, and the vibrant atmosphere (this is definitely a place for groups, not couples) will drown out any child whining about having map of monuments in washington dc spent the entir e day sightseeing. Kids all lo ve the chicken satays, but ask for the peanut sauce on the side, as it s mildly spicy. The Cecilia s minced chicken in lettuce cups and the S hanghai steamed chicken dumplings ar e also a hit with the kids. If the adults want something with a little more zing, try the five-spiced firecracker shrimp.