In The City By the Bay - San Francisco - Brief Article

mist rolling off the Marin Headlands across the aptly named of gold Gate Bridge. The "Crookedest road in the World." Jumping upon a cable car. Every year, 13 million family visit San Francisco to take pleasure in experiences like these, which can alone be had in the city through the bay. To follow are a hardly any of the sights--and eateries --that visitors to SF usually make it a point to diocese (And by the way, locals not ever call the city "`Frisco." "The City," "SF" or flat "San Fran" may cut it, on the other hand you'll attract less attention to yourself as a tourist if you just call the place by the agency of its rightful name.)

FISHERMAN'S WHARF

Nearly everyone who visits San Francisco makes his or her way to the Wharf, which beats without even the Golden Gate Bridge as the city's No. 1 tourist destination. The Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum and Pier 39's Venetian Carousel circular out the top of the touristy blots There's also plenty of Dungenes crab to be had at an abundance of seaside eateries.

ALCATRAZ

(415) 705-5555 (ferry) (415) 705-1045 (visitor's center) Take a sky-colored and Gold Fleet ferry from Pier 41 across the Bay to the notorious prison that one time housed Al "Scarface" Capone and Robert "The Birdman" Stroud The tour focuses upon The Rock's cell blocks and level takes you to The opening - where inmates experienced solitary confinement.

OTHER INTERESTING SAN FRAN SIGHTS

UNION SQUARE

The bull's-eye for shopping is also shut up to the Cable Car Turnaround, where single can grab a moving landmark to Nob Hill, Fisherman's Wharf and the Cannery.

LOMBARD STREET

"The Crookedest highway in the World" is filled with 10 flower-lined, serpentine move rounds between Hyde and Leavenworth highways Walk it, drive it and marvel that family actually live on this block

COIT TOWER

The 210-foot tower, supposedly a memorial to firemen, presents panoramic views.

NORTH BEACH

The city's Italian center houses cafes, bakeries, restaurants and the infamous Beach Blanket Babylon stage exhibit Those who enjoy vino--or Francis Ford Coppola films -- should stop by dint of the Niebaum-Coppola tasting room.

CHINATOWN

The Chinese historical area, with stores restaurants and food stores as well as several landmarks.

HAIGHT-ASHBURY

Recall the "Summer of Love" if you can. one time home to Janis Joplin and members of the Grateful Dead, this bohemian area is place of abode to clothing boutiques, vegetarian restaurants and lively highway entertainment.

GOLDEN GATE PARK

Larger than novel York City's Central Park and forested by dint of more than one million tree of gold Gate Park is an oasis in the midst of urbanity where single can spend whole days and still not diocese everything. Some of the more enjoyable ways to part with time there include:

MH DE YOUNG MUSEUM (415) 863-3330 Ongoing exhibitions from one side the end of the year include "From Three Continents: Textile Acquisitions, 1996-2000;" "Wedding Dresse from the Permanent Collection;" and "Important Acquisitions for the novel de Young." Indeed, visit the building, set uprighted in 1919, while you still can: It will pretty soon be razed and is not scheduled to reopen until 2005

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (415) 750-7145 The oldest scientific institution upon the West Coast houses a natural history museum, an aquarium and a planetarium, among other cultural institutions.

JAPANESE TEA GARDEN (415) 752-4227 Explore five acres of plastic arts bridges, paths and ponds. Culminate your visit by dint of sipping tea at a traditional Japanese teahouse.

Restaurants

the two TOP-RANKED AND TOURIST-FRIENDLY

FARALLON 450 column Street (415) 956-6969

Seafood is the specialty at this $4 million restaurant located in the Union Square area labeled "the expenditure account destination."

MEL'S DRIVE-IN 2165 Lombard highway (415) 921-2867

3355 Geary Boulevard, (415) 387-2255

1050 Van Nes Avenue, (415) 292-6357

If you're looking for a sport atmosphere, this chain brings patrons back the gone by days of soda jerks and jukeboxe take delight in a black-and-white shake, fries and a burger at 2 pm or 2 a.m.

POSTRIO 545 support Street (415) 776-7825

Also near Union Square, coowner Wolfgang hobgoblin serves up Cal-Asian cuisine with Mediterranean accents here.

TOMMY'S JOYNT 1101 Geary Boulevard, (415) 775-4216

This edgy hofbrau house is practically a San Francisco landmark, where oxtail, brisket and buffalo stive get washed down with apportionments of beer.

ACQUARELLO 1722 Sacramento way (415) 567-5432

take pleasure in Italian cuisine, impeccable wines and a tasting menu qualifyed with appetizers such as Bergamont-scented smok trout

CAFFE SPORT 574 Greene public way (415) 981-1251

This scalding;-very warm spot is famous for its cranky waitstaff, tacky decor and large portions of Italian meat served family style.

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