visiting the smithsonian 165 Steuart St. (btw. Mission and Howard sts.), San Francisco, CA 94105. &866/792-6283 or 415/882130

Picnicking by the water may be an even better idea. Go to the Ferry Building (p. 161) on the Embar cadero and pur chase sandwiches fr om Mastrelli s Delicatessen (& 415/397-3354). Then go out behind the building , g rab a bench, and enjoy your picnic as you watch the ferries head out across the bay. Another good picnic spot is the Justin Herman Plaza across the street from the Ferry Building, visiting the smithsonian where the massive concrete arms of Vaillancourt Fountain fold over each other. At Fort Mason, pick up delicious v egetarian sandwiches like egg salad at Greens to G o (Building A, F ort Mason Center, &415/771-6330) and then sit y ourselves under a palm tr ee on the expansiv e lawn. If you re at Crissy Field (p. 160), g rab a soup or sandwich at the Warming Hut. You ll find plenty of picnic spots outside.

165 Steuart St. (btw. Mission and Howard sts.), San Francisco, CA 94105. &866/792-6283 or 415/8821300. Fax 415/882-1313. www.harborcourthotel.com. 131 units. $139 $239 double; $499 suite. No rollaways; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $40, $30 hybrid. Amenities: Restaurant; complimentary evening beer and wine r eception; pool; health club; c oncierge; courtesy car; laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV, free wireless Internet access, minibar, complimentary morning coffee and tea, hair dryer, iron, CD player, iPod dock.

Muni str eetcars r un undergr ound ex clusively fr om Van N ess A venue to the Embarcadero and mostly abo veground in the outlying neighborhoods, fr om 6am until 1am. Five lines (J, K, L, M, and N) make identical visiting the smithsonian stops belo w Market Street, including Van Ness Avenue, Civic Center, visiting the smithsonian Powell and M ontgomery str eets, and the Embarcadero. Past Van Ness Avenue the routes v eer in differ ent dir ections. The N-Judah services the Haight-Ashbury area and parallels Golden Gate Park on its way down J udah S treet to the ocean. A t the Embarcadero, this line also trav els to AT&T Park by way of King Street near the Cal Train station. The J-Church line passes near M ission D olores and the Castr o on its way to N oe Valley and points south. The L-Taraval visiting the smithsonian travels through the S unset District within walking distance of the San Francisco Zoo.