california dreamin balloon With all the tourists, it s no surprise most of the national chains hav e hotels here, many with poo

This is one of the bett er plac es t o eat in Chinatown, but y ou ve got t o k now ho w to or der. P ass on the Westernized menu and ask what fr esh fish is a vailable. Order it prepared simply with garlic or salt and pepper, and be ready for a delicious feast. See p. 120.

With all the tourists, it s no surprise most of the national chains hav e hotels here, many with pools. U nfortunately, except for the Argonaut Hotel, most of the area s lodging is not very inspiring but it is all quite family-friendly.

Hop in line t o or der cr eative sandwiches made with sustainable ing redients (even the PB&Js use or ganic peanut butt er), enticing salads , or health y hot dishes. Then grab a table outside t o enjoy lunch by the sculptur e gar den. The k ids can touch the sculptur es and ev en go inside of one as y ou sip y our post-lunch espresso.

Checking Out the Scene at the M aritime National Historical Park: Young kids will lo ve exploring the antique ships of the H yde Street Pier (p. 170), running around on the grass at Victorian Park, and gaping 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 (p. 132), and perhaps listen to some music from a local performer. california dreamin balloon Hanging O ut in G olden G ate P ark: You don t need an agenda to fritter california dreamin balloon 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 california dreamin balloon and elegant y ou ll want to meditate there, but the kids will pr efer stepping california dreamin balloon 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 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; california dreamin balloon 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 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 california dreamin balloon 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 california dreamin balloon space trav el in the P lanetarium. See p. 178.