thin gray line Nearly all upscale hot els ha ve c oncierges, and man y smaller inns off er c oncierge services from

Belden Place, an alley betw een Kearny, 49 Bush, and P ine str eets, offers outdoor dining in good w eather and E uropean ambience all y ear r ound, and the Crocker Galleria between Post, Sutter, and M ontgomery str eets offers good fast food, in addition to upscale shopping oppor tunities. You ll also find a growing collection of informal, organic, and healthy lunch spots gear ed to the working crowd.

My husband and I gr ew up moving from one country and city to another. Our wanderlust did not end when our childr en were born, and w e have taken them with us to places near and far. Here are tips to consider when vacationing with kids:

Nearly all upscale hot els ha ve c oncierges, and man y smaller inns off er c oncierge services from the front desk. Too often, these people go underutiliz ed by guests who don t know the full range of ser vices concierges can provide. Beyond mer ely g iving dir ections thin gray line t o F isherman s Wharf, c oncierges ar e ther e to act as guests problem solvers. The best ones take r eal pleasure in helping, and the mor e challeng ing the r equest, the bett er. When y ou re on vacation, thin gray line why not truly r elax, and let the c oncierge be y our personal assistant during your stay?

MODERATE Kabuki Hotel Value Upon arrival, your kids will get some immediate cr osscultural edification, with a complimentar y Japanese tea service brought to your room. The hotel s Asian-accented guest rooms were all redone in 2007 and include top-quality linens, updated marble thin gray line and tile bathr ooms, the latest electr onics (flatscreen TVs, iPod docking stations, free high-speed wireless Internet, and so on), and Asian tea kettles. The intended mood her e is ser ene. I f tranquillity is har d to achiev e with y our little ones around, at check-in r equest a r oom with a J apanese-style thin gray line deep-soaking tub. Then send one parent to visit J apantown s bookstores and gift shops with the kids while the other one of you indulges in a long, soothing bath.