inca ruins peru Now that I ve dampened your expectations, let me say that the w estern side of F isherman s Wharf, o

Now that I ve dampened your expectations, let me say that the w estern side of F isherman s Wharf, opposite P IER 39, is actually quite nice, getting better every year, and worth a visit. inca ruins peru Glimpses of the area s maritime past are visible in the wonder ful antique boats of the Hyde Street Pier. Here you ll also find an upscale shopping mall atGhirardelli inca ruins peru Square, a pleasant str etch of lawn for kids to r un around, a tiny beach, The Cannery courtyard, and the M unicipal Pier, with its sweeping views of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

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 itself, there is a lot to see her e.

is an annual benefit for O pen Hand, a worthy local charity that delivers food to homebound AIDS patients. Chocoholics wander 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! Call & 415/7755500 or visit www.ghirardellisq.com.