Family Fun in San Francisco

San Francisco, a bustling, cosmopolitan city in northern California, is the centerpiece of the Bay Area, well-known for its diverse ethnic and political communities, hilly terrain, world-class restaurants and scenic beauty.

It is the home of the ‘50s beat generation, the ‘60s flower power students, the ‘70s gay rights movement, the ‘80s culinary revolution and, of course, the ‘90s technology boom. Today, the city remains the epicenter for all things cyber and is on the leading edge of the sustainable food movement.  

Ride a cable car, walk across (or windsurf under) the Golden Gate Bridge, scribble poetry in a North Beach café, shop at the hip boutiques along Union Street, check out the latest exhibit at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, see an opera, then club-crawl through cyber-cool South of Market.

So much to see and do, it’s no wonder why Tony Bennett left his heart there.

Located on Union Square in the heart of San Francisco, near world-premier shopping, Chinatown, and the Theater District, the Grand Hyatt San Francisco gives you easy access to cable cars to Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square.Amenities include a complimentary health club on the 35th floor with treadmills, lifecycles, stairmasters, and free weights. Dining is available at Grandviews Restaurant, Grandviews Lounge, and Mezzanine Cafe. Valet parking is available at 49 plus tax. The hotel also offers concierge assistance, a full business center, 22,000 square feet of function space, wireless Internet access, and room service.Guest rooms feature work desks, wireless Internet access, irons and ironing boards, hairdryers, minibars, daily newspapers (on request), AM/FM alarm clocks, coffeemakers, voicemail, and views of the city or bay.

The atmosphere at this casual spot could be described as comfortable funky and the service as indifferent, but then again it is not exactly the Four Seasons. It is a pizza joint. Garlic is the topping of choice here and one North Beach knows how to work into a slice or whole pizza to delight a garlic lover. The Coit Tower and the North Beach are both great specialty pizzas which use garlic to great effect.

This San Francisco landmark features some of Fisherman's Wharf's best shopping and attractions. Ride the carousel or watch the sea lions. There are more than 25 one-of-a-kind gift stores that carry automobile, Hollywood, and rock 'n' roll memorabilia, as well as flags of the world, Russian dolls, collectible knives, hammocks, kites, and more. But that's not all. You will find more than 30 more stores, including the famous Na Hoku to shop for clothing, jewelry and toys. It is a great place to pick up high-end San Francisco souvenirs. Credit card acceptance varies by store. Pier 39 is a magnet for locals and tourists for many reasons, including their nearly year-round calendar of special attractions for the whole family like the Tulipmania tulip festival held in late February on both levels of pier 39 or the Holiday Tree Lighting in November.

January 19th, 2006 marked the sixteenth anniversary of the sea lions' arrival at Pier 39! These adorable creatures flocked here after the 1989 earthquake and the population has grown ever since. Every winter the number increases to almost 900, thanks to the availability of space and ample food. Although some of the sea lions choose to migrate in the summer, a group of them decide to stay back at Pier 39! You can bring your kids over for free educational talks by the Marine Mammal Center, held on weekends year-round provided the weather is good. Call the numbers listed for further information.

No longer a prison for some of America's most dangerous offenders, Alcatraz is part of the National Park Service and is a must-see for visitors to the city. Once on the island, you will certainly be captivated by its history and its incredible beauty. Take your camera because regardless of the view, a photo opportunity awaits. Also, dress in layers (even during the summer months) because the island can be breezy and inside the prison walls it is cold and damp. If you want to scare your kiddies into good behavior, there is a cellhouse audio tour of Alcatraz; for more info check out the website. Ferries to Alcatraz depart from Pier 33, run by Alcatraz Cruises. See website for up-to-date schedule and complete visitation particulars.

Don't leave San Francisco without a stroll through this legendary square at Fisherman's Wharf that is named after San Francisco's original chocolate-maker. There is a bakery and several restaurants featuring seafood, Chinese, Indian and California cuisine. And, of course, there's the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop. Take some time and visit the art galleries, gift and specialty stores, shoe and clothing shops. Some services are available including a dressmaker and tailor, film developing, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and a Federal Express drop-off box. Credit card acceptance varies by store.

Mel's Drive-in on Van Ness is the sister restaurant to Mel's on Lombard Street and is often filled to bursting with tourists due to its location. However, that does not make it any less fun. When you finally secure a table, order a frosty milkshake and peruse the menu for the most outrageously calorie-packed item you can find. From meat loaf plates to enormous hamburgers to truly soothing Chicken Noodle Soup, the menu has it all. It is the perfect place to take younger siblings or rowdy friends or a date.

If you want to know how a cable car works, Cable Car Museum is the place to learn. The world's first cable car rests here and with it a concise explanation of how those little cable cars go halfway to the stars. In an underground viewing area, you can look at the system's enormous cable wheels, which pull 11 miles (18 kilometers) of cable at 9.5 miles (15 kilometers) per hour. The cable cars move by clamping onto it. Examine closely the steel cables, gears, and pulleys that bring this city's most famous transportation to life. Don't miss the gift shop, where you can purchase your very own length of used cable! Opens daily at 10 am

One of the busiest areas of the city, Chinatown is a hodgepodge of shops, restaurants and businesses of every kind. The vibrant and close-knit community that lives within this neighborhood has also made it one of San Francisco's top tourist destinations. Thankfully, there are many side streets, quiet shops and traditional restaurants that provide some relief from the bustle outside. Try your luck at one of the hundreds of dining options in the area, especially those serving Dim Sum, as they can be some of the best in the city. Also make sure to stop in some of the small herbal shops for some unusual trinkets and art. It is on Grant Avenue which is one of the oldest streets in Chinatown.

Established in 1920, this is one of the city's oldest restaurants. There is a good reason that it has lasted this long and through so many food fads. The atmosphere is comfortably upscale, with decorative artifacts brought over from old China. Sit at your lacquered table next to an ancient temple screen. Share Spring Rolls, Lemon Chicken and Shark Fin soup. You will feel as if you have traveled to old China yourself.

The Academy's Golden Gate Park location is closed for renovation until 2008. It is temporarily located at 875 Howard Street. This is a great place for an inquiring mind. The wonders of the natural world are on display in the Steinhart Aquarium, complete with a penguin colony; the Morrison Planetarium, offers a sky show; and a natural history museum with a hunk of jade the size of a steamer trunk. There is also a collection of artifacts from the local native populations of the Bay Area and Oceania, and a whimsical courtyard display of animal statues by renowned sculptor Buffano. Admission prices vary according to age. Admission is free for children aged 3 and under, and for all guests on the first Wednesday of each month.

In Italian 'Cioppino' means stew. Not coincidentally, the house specialty is Cioppino, a seafood tomato stew with crabs, calamari, mussels and cod. The restaurant also serves a variety of pasta dishes including Crab Cancoli pasta with crabmeat and blended cheeses. This third-generation family-owned restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating in full view of the San Francisco Bay.

This San Francisco landmark features some of Fisherman's Wharf's best shopping and attractions. Ride the carousel or watch the sea lions. There are more than 25 one-of-a-kind gift stores that carry automobile, Hollywood, and rock 'n' roll memorabilia, as well as flags of the world, Russian dolls, collectible knives, hammocks, kites, and more. But that's not all. You will find more than 30 more stores, including the famous Na Hoku to shop for clothing, jewelry and toys. It is a great place to pick up high-end San Francisco souvenirs. Credit card acceptance varies by store. Pier 39 is a magnet for locals and tourists for many reasons, including their nearly year-round calendar of special attractions for the whole family like the Tulipmania tulip festival held in late February on both levels of pier 39 or the Holiday Tree Lighting in November.

If you visiting Pier 39, then you are in for a big treat! The street performers' at Pier 39 is a recipe for success. They start with one of The City's most beautiful attractions, add great shopping and fabulous seafood restaurants, and then toss in jugglers, comedians, unicyclists, clowns and magicians and voila! It is a place tourists and locals of all ages enjoy. See website for performance schedule.

Aquarium of the Bay is a unique nature center and the only Aquarium dedicated to animals of the San Francisco Bay and neighboring waters. The Aquarium gives visitors the opportunity to feel like a skin diver without getting wet as they walk through the Aquarium's crystal clear tunnels, while more than 20,000 sharks, bat rays, skates, octopi and other aquatic animals. With daily and special activities including behind the scenes tours, shark feeding presentations, a water discovery Lab for underwater detectives and much more; there is truly something for everyone to see, touch, discover and learn at Aquarium of the Bay.

Boudin at Fisherman's Wharf boasts of a Bakers Hall, café, market and bistro! Alfresco seating, a cozy outdoor fireplace and a staple menu of fresh sandwiches, soups, salads and the famous sourdough pizzas have earned this café a place in San Francisco's culinary history. The elegant bistro serves diners yummy seasonal fare and a range of drinks at the bar. The smell of freshly baked treats, an unpretentious atmosphere and value for money....mmmm perfect! Find out about their bakery and museum tour.

Developed by physicist Frank Oppenheimer and opened in 1969, this innovative and interactive museum behind the Palace of Fine Arts is dedicated to art, science and human perception. The hands-on displays unveil the mysteries of science and language. The exhibits present theories simply and succinctly. For a different kind of hands-on experience, check out the tactile dome, a labyrinth of different textures that explorers negotiate in the dark. Seminars on quirky subjects are offered on weekends.

The enormous neon sign shows Chianti ebulliently spilling into an oversized glass. Its 1950s flavor applies to the decor inside, too. Italian and Italian-American pop culture artifacts are scattered everywhere. Note the so-called Pope's table, featuring a bust of John Paul II. The food is hearty and served family-style in enormous portions to local professionals, students and tourists. There is nothing gourmet per se on the menu, but the Spaghetti, Ravioli, Lasagna, Scampi and various incarnations of Parmagiana (veal, eggplant, chicken) are made with care and are delicious. The wine list has a few Chiantis.

Located on Union Square in the heart of San Francisco, near world-premier shopping, Chinatown, and the Theater District, the Grand Hyatt San Francisco gives you easy access to cable cars to Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square.Amenities include a complimentary health club on the 35th floor with treadmills, lifecycles, stairmasters, and free weights. Dining is available at Grandviews Restaurant, Grandviews Lounge, and Mezzanine Cafe. Valet parking is available at 49 plus tax. The hotel also offers concierge assistance, a full business center, 22,000 square feet of function space, wireless Internet access, and room service.Guest rooms feature work desks, wireless Internet access, irons and ironing boards, hairdryers, minibars, daily newspapers (on request), AM/FM alarm clocks, coffeemakers, voicemail, and views of the city or bay.

San Francisco, a bustling, cosmopolitan city in northern California, is the centerpiece of the Bay Area, well-known for its diverse ethnic and political communities, hilly terrain, world-class restaurants and scenic beauty.

It is the home of the ‘50s beat generation, the ‘60s flower power students, the ‘70s gay rights movement, the ‘80s culinary revolution and, of course, the ‘90s technology boom. Today, the city remains the epicenter for all things cyber and is on the leading edge of the sustainable food movement.  

Ride a cable car, walk across (or windsurf under) the Golden Gate Bridge, scribble poetry in a North Beach café, shop at the hip boutiques along Union Street, check out the latest exhibit at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, see an opera, then club-crawl through cyber-cool South of Market.

So much to see and do, it’s no wonder why Tony Bennett left his heart there.