San Francisco is a great city for the kids. The scenery is spectacular, with massive bridges over the bay, impossibly steep city streets, cable cars and lots of interesting people ready to entertain. There are a number of excellent parks, such as the Golden Gate Park, where kids can run around, as well as a few attractions which should capture their interest.

Alcatraz Island
Across from Fisherman’s Wharf lies The Rock, the legendary prison-island of Alcatraz where some of the world’s most treacherous criminals were kept. Believed to be impossible to escape from, this prison was home to Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and other infamous crooks. Park rangers give daily tours which include an audio narration and a slide show. Interesting stories of the past given by the rangers add to the atmosphere.
Phone: +1 415 773 1188

The Exploratorium
This fascinating attraction is modelled on a mad scientists’ laboratory, educational showcase and penny arcade all rolled into one. The hundreds of fascinating exhibits include a giant bubble-blowing machine and a visual explanation of Einstein’s theory of relativity. Every exhibit is designed to be interactive and fun. Visitors can touch a tornado, finger paint using a computer or shape an electrical charge.
Phone: +1 415 563 7337.

Suffice to say, San Francisco is a cultural powerhouse with more attractions than you could possibly see in just one visit. The neighbourhoods which make up the city, such as Chinatown, Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, are worth some exploration and the parks, museums, tours and landmarks are all among the world’s best. There is no particular activity or location which makes San Francisco so great, it’s the city itself.

Asian Art Museum
This museum has one of the western hemisphere’s largest collections of Asian art, boasting more than 15,000 beautiful objects spanning 6,000 years of history. Sculptures, paintings, jade items, ceramics and bronzes make up most of the collection, which comes from every region of Asia. Temporary exhibitions, special demonstrations and other events add to the fun.
Phone: +1 415 581 3500.

Chinatown
San Francisco has one of America’s largest Chinese communities and the city’s Chinatown is a fascinating neighbourhood to explore. As soon as you cross one street, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped out of the city and into China. There are dozens of authentic Chinese restaurants, markets and shops waiting to be explored.

Fisherman’s Wharf
No visit to San Francisco would be complete without spending an afternoon lingering at the Wharf. Even though there isn’t much actual fishing going on these days, the atmosphere is still wonderfully nautical and always chock-full of entertainment. Essentially, the Wharf is now one long strip of shopping and eating, but it’s still well-worth a visit. Around 600 California sea lions live on the floating docks off the Wharf, adding to the fanciful air of this historic district.
Phone: +1 415 956 3493

Ghiradelli Square
This historic building in Fisherman’s Wharf opened in 1864 and is best known for the world-class chocolate which it produced in the past. Today, the factory has been converted into an expansive shopping and dining area with a comprehensive chocolate shop and wonderful old-style soda fountain. Scheduled street performers entertain visitors in the West Plaza throughout the day adding to the fun. Phone: +1 415 775 5500

Haight-Ashbury
Few of the city’s neighbourhoods so completely embody the spirit of San Francisco as the Haight. Walking along this street, made famous during the 1967 Summer of Love, you’ll encounter everything from dazed drifters begging for change to the trendiest funky boutiques in the city. It’s a fascinating kaleidoscope of people and places, kind of like a human zoo.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. This wonderful maritime museum is packed with sailing, whaling and fishing lore from the days when this city had its focus on the sea. The collection of model ships and scrimshaw is particularly impressive, as are the historic photographs. Two blocks away, several historic ships are moored at Hyde Street Pier. The Balclutha, one of the most beautiful square-riggers in the world and the Eureka, a classic paddle wheel ferry are just two of the ships which are open to the public. Phone: +1 415 447 5000.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts / Yerba Buena Gardens. This is San Francisco’s main cultural centre and is literally overflowing with events and activities. The centre’s two buildings offer music, dance, theatre and visual arts performances. Cutting-edge computer art and multimedia shows, as well as contemporary exhibitions and performances can be seen in the centre’s high-tech galleries. The five-acre Yerba Buena Gardens offer the ideal place to relax and inspect the ground’s artwork, such as an emotional memorial to Martin Luther King. The gardens also host regular free outdoor festivals throughout the summer months. If you’re interested in catching some of the city’s finest cultural performances, then this is the place to go.       Phone: +1 415 978.

Ever since the Gold Rush of 1849 brought a flood of immigrants to this city, San Francisco has been at the crossroads of ethnic dining. The Mission District is the place for Hispanic food, North Beach for Italian and Chinatown and Richmond for Asian fare. This is a city that loves to eat and the local chefs have to keep inventing ever-more creative dishes to satisfy the residents. The world-famous California cuisine, developed in the 1970s across the bay in Berkeley, continues to be used and refined in dozens of trendy San Franciscan restaurants across the city.

The city is also the birthplace of sourdough bread, with Fisherman’s Wharf being one of the best spots to find a loaf of this distinctive chewy and pungent treat. Thanks to its location in the northern half of the state, San Francisco is near the wine growing Meccas of Napa and Sonoma Valley. With an abundance of seafood, organic produce, free-range meat and amazing wines, it’s easy to see why so many chefs consider San Francisco to be one of the world’s premier spots to eat.

Today’s trend in dining is towards the ‘small plate’ concept, where diners order several small dishes, similar to Spanish tapas but more like mini-versions of entrees. However, no matter how small the plate, eating out is not cheap in this city and popular restaurants are often booked weeks in advance, so be sure and bring plenty of cash and make your reservations as early as you can. The majority of places close by 22:00, so be prepared to eat early.

Just like its population, shopping in San Francisco is both intimate and global at the same time. All of the major stores are here, selling everything from fashion to home furnishings. But the products aren’t being sold in giant, tacky shopping malls. Rather, the locals prefer to do their shopping in quaint, personal boutiques scattered throughout the city. Dozens of pricey international flagship stores are packed into Union Square, while bargain hunters can scour the funky shops around Haight-Ashbury or the Mission District.

Visitors with little time can focus on the Union Square area, where the city’s major department stores are tastefully perched over exclusive boutiques. This is where you can find the greatest concentration of stores in one block. But if you have more time, there are plenty of other great options in the locally owned shops of other neighbourhoods. The Castro is the best destination for men’s clothing, home accessories and anything with a gay theme. The hip Mission District is a bastion of the used; its little shops stocked with used clothing, used books and used music.

Half the fun of visiting San Francisco is all the wonderful outdoor activities the city has to offer. With pleasantly cool and vibrant weather all year round, it’s the perfect city to throw on your sweater and hit the streets. Golden Gate Park is the centre of grassy recreation, but don’t overlook the beaches right at the city’s doorstep. If you have the chance, rent a car and explore the stunning sights just beyond the bay, or stay in town and catch a game with one of the city’s professional sporting teams.

Hiking
Right at the edge of the city lies some of the best hiking in the area at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. One of the more scenic walks, or bike rides, is along the Golden Gate Promenade, from Aquatic Park to the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. This mellow 3.5-mile paved path passes the marina, wetlands and a small beach along the way. There is also the great Coastal Trail if you want something longer and more robust. If you have a car, you can drive up to Mount Tam, a stunning grassy hill with endless views over the Pacific Ocean and miles of classic hiking trails through forests and along the edge of the mountain.

Parks
In addition to the indescribably pleasant Golden Gate Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco contains more than 2,000 acres of public parkland right in the city. The smaller parks offer excellent views of the Golden Gate Bridge and relaxing spots for a picnic. Ina Coolbrith Park on Taylor Street has fine views of the Bay Bridge and Alcatraz, while the 270-acre Lincoln Park offers a bit of everything. Not only does it have an 18-hole scenic golf course, the park ends at the edge of 200-foot cliffs that overlook the Golden Gate Bridge and the entire bay area.

The real gem of San Francisco is the legendary Golden Gate Park. Everybody in the city uses this 1,017-acre landmark, which consists of hundreds of small gardens and lovely sites connected by wooded paths and paved walking trails. You can easily spend several days exploring the park alone. Major sites include the McLaren Rhododendron Dell, The Rose Garden, Strybing Arboretum, the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Garden. But there’s also Strawberry Hill, the Dutch Windmill and dozens of other secret little spots waiting to be discovered.

Spectator sports
The Bay Area is a hot spot for professional sports and the city is home to a number of teams. The San Francisco Giants play their Major League Baseball at the new and stunning SBC Park from April to October. Just across the bay, the Oakland Athletics play their home baseball games at McAfee Coliseum, easily accessible by the public subway system. Basketball fans can catch a game with the Golden State Warriors, who play their NBA games at the McAfee Coliseum from November to April. For a taste of American football, catch the San Francisco 49ers, who play at Candlestick Park on Sundays from August through December. Tickets for all professional games are hard to come by, but not impossible. Ask the concierge at your hotel or as a last resort, head down to the venue and buy a ticket from one of the scalpers.