Itinerary for San Francisco--An Insider's Guide

Our local expert shares her city secrets for individuals and families alike, to help you plan your ideal San Francisco vacation.

Hotel Vitale opened in March of 2005 in an ideal location for business in the financial district and for leisure as it is on the Embarcadero waterfront and across the street from the landmark Ferry Building. The hotel boasts 199 spacious guestrooms and suites, many with spectacular views of the water and Bay Bridge. A full-service luxury hotel offering a spa with outdoor rooftop soaking tubs, a signature restaurant and outdoor cafe, 24 hour room service, outdoor event space and conference space, fitness center, business center and wifi in all guestrooms. Located on the revitalized Embarcadero Waterfront and the Financial District of San Francisco, Hotel Vitale is convenient to those traveling to San Francisco for business or pleasure. Additionally the hotel offers a location directly across from the historic Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco��s new gourmet mecca.

Stop in here for a meal or quick snack—there are so many eating options here, from casual take aways to trendy sit down restaurants like the Slanted Door. I love to hit the happy hour at Hog Island Oyster company--$1 oysters from 5 to 7pm. If you’re here on a Tuesday or Saturday (and sometimes Thursdays during the summer) browse the stands of the farmer’s market and try some of the local farm produce and prepared foods—you can everything from fresh tofu to grilled sausages and roasted chicken.

Make sure you book a reservation for the ferry and tour in advance. There’s no fee to visit Alcatraz, but you do have to pay and reserve a space on the ferry over to the island. Especially in the summer, the tours can sell out in advance. You can book online at http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/.

Even though this is probably one of the most touristy places in SF, I still find myself drawn to it. It’s nostalgic for me—my family would come here a lot and it was probably one of my favorite places to visit in SF when I was a kid. Despite the obvious kitsch and tourist fare you see, there’s an old-school San Francisco charm to Fisherman’s Wharf. I still love eating the fresh cracked crab on the wharf, and my dad can never resist the clam chowder in a sourdough bowl from Boudin bakery (home of the original San Francisco sourdough).

An engineering masterpiece, this bridge, built in 1937, towers with sturdy grace over the Golden Gate. Stretching over 4,200 feet, it is every bit as awesome an accomplishment in suspension-bridge engineering today as it was over half a century ago. Pedestrians and bike riders can access the east entrance for a jaunt on one of the world's most famous corridors. For photos, or to view the bridge in its entirety, try the spectacular lookout points located at the southeast and northeast ends. Don't miss the historic Roundhouse, a gift shop/visitors center, which boasts a fine selection of souvenirs, and an informative exhibit about the bridge's construction and history.

This is close to Hotel Vitale—food is good, and the views are even better. There’s a heated outdoor patio, which is great if it’s not too cold and foggy outside! The patio is also a good spot to grab a beer and appetizers on a nice afternoon.

Chinatown is one of my favorite places in town for window shopping and people watching. You can wander through the numerous trinket shops and catch the locals shopping for produce, fresh fish and other groceries at the many small markets. I always stop in one of the small bakeries for some Chinese pastries—especially the steamed sweet buns, which remind me of visiting my grandparents in Taiwan.

It’s great to visit North Beach and Chinatown together—they are right next to each other, and it really gives you a sense for how distinct each neighborhood is in San Francisco.

Despite the popular misconception, Joe DiMaggio did not marry Marilyn Monroe in this opulent church (that was at City Hall). He did, however, marry his first wife, starlet Dorothy Arnold, here and it was this church that celebrated his funeral mass. Dating only from 1922, this Roman Catholic church is awash in marble, gilding and ornately carved wood, starting with the life-size marble angel at the entrance. Inside the hushed sanctuary, redolent with the aroma of burning candles, is an elaborately carved and painted ceiling glinting with gold leaf. Pendant chandeliers in aged brass and frosted glass hang from the arches of the colonnade on either side of the nave. The altar is an explosion of marble carved with the titular saints of the church, plus cherubs, angels and all the niches and domes needed to contain them. Statues and shrines, including one to Our Lady of Lourdes that features a faux grotto, line the walls and the elaborate chapels.this church is located near the Washington Square which is an outdoor meeting hall and a social center.

This independent North Beach icon, founded by an icon of another sort, Beat writer-mentor Lawrence Ferlinghetti, goes beyond your average bookstore by shelving beat literature, anthologies, fiction from Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and much more Experience San Francisco through the words written by some of the area's most famous and sometimes hard-to-find writers. The store has its own publishing house, City Lights, which has been enriching the San Francisco community since 1953 by promoting emerging writers with an edge.

This musical revue is a San Francisco institution. It’s a great show, and it changes constantly so even if you’ve seen it once, it’s worth seeing again. Buy tickets in advance at their website: http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/

If you go to the park on Sunday, one of the main thoroughfares (JFK Drive) is closed to cars. It makes it perfect for bike riding or roller skating—there’s a group of roller dancers that gather every Sunday and skate to music in the park. I usually pay a visit to Stow Lake. The walk around the island in the lake is beautiful, and you can rent paddle boats and canoes.

The lines here can get long, so it’s a good idea to get here early. As soon as you get in, go get a “ticket” for the planetarium. The tickets are free, but they assign you a specific show time. If you wait too long to get a ticket, all of the times will be take, and you won’t be able to see the planetarium show. For lunch, head to the cafeteria. This isn’t your ordinary cafeteria—the menu was created by two of San Francisco’s top chefs. The food is good, and there are enough choices to please everyone.

The historic Mission District is home to many internationally famous murals. See 75 murals in just 6 blocks in an informative tour given by a professional muralist. Tours also include historic sites of community mural art and other points of interest. Check website for private tours, bicycle tours, and additional information.

Try to get to this center before 4pm on weekends or 5pm on weekdays to pick up a map and some literature for a self-guided tour of the Mission District murals. There are guided tours as well, but it’s fun to follow the map and “discover” the murals on your own as you wander through the Mission.

This is a favorite restaurant of locals in San Francisco. It’s hard to get a reservation so book well in advance of your visit. If you don’t get a reservation, you can also go next door to the more casual Pizzeria Delfina, where it’s first come first serve. They specialize in “Neopolitan-inspired” thin crust pizzas along with a few other items. The food in both Delifinas is delicious so regardless of where you end up you’ll eat well.