pictures of the vietnam memorial Despite its siz e, perpetually cr owded lobby, and, quite frankly , impersonal feel, the hotel s pri

Despite its siz e, perpetually cr owded lobby, and, quite frankly , impersonal feel, the hotel s prime location on U nion Square seems to make it v ery popular. If high energy, location, and the historical pictures of the vietnam memorial aspects intrigue y ou, her e s some advice: P hone in-house reservations and be as specific as possible about y our needs. Prices can fluctuate wildly due to the many r oom configurations, some less desirable than others. S tandard queen rooms are barely large enough for two. Traditional queen rooms have more space, and can accommodate a crib or r ollaway. The deluxe double-doubles are very spacious with renovated bathrooms, and the Grandview rooms have smarter decor. Ask for a view or a corner room if you want natural light and avoid rooms by the ever-busy elevators. Hallways go on for ever. If your child has forgotten his sw eatshirt, you ll have to go back to the room with him unless pictures of the vietnam memorial he s outfitted with a compass and a map.

Children generally lo ve riding on the streetcars and especially the cable cars. Inside the Muni/BART underground stations, keep y ourself and y our kids away from the edge of the platform. O n cable cars, y ou ar e not allo wed to hang body parts out the side, despite myriad photos showing people doing just that. I t s an excellent way to get hur t the minute a truck or a bus passes by. Jumping on or off a moving cable car is equally dangerous.

439 P owell St. (at Sutt er St.). &415/986-0700. w ww.searsfinefood.com. K ids it ems on menu. H ighchairs, boost ers. Reser vations f or dinner only. M ain c ourses $8 $12 br eakfast, $7 $10 lunch, $14 $29 dinner. V, MC, AE, DISC. Daily 6:30am 10pm. Muni: 2, 3, 4 buses , Powell cable car lines.

If you have any flexibility in scheduling your trip, some events, such as the Chinese New Year Parade, are so special that it might be w orth tweaking pictures of the vietnam memorial your dates to fit them in. I t s also fun t o discover that an ev ent or per formance just happens t o be slated during your visit. You can peruse a calendar of ev ents published by the Convention and Visitors Bur eau at w ww.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/calendar. I n addition, you can subscribe t o w ww.gocitykids.com, which off ers a w eekly e -mail calendar, and also has a calendar y ou can search by date, with information and phone numbers for all events listed.