Your thoughts on visiting San Francisco, please.

Heck no. San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the US - usually named by foreign visitors as their favorite, I believe. Also one of the best restaurant towns in the US. Plenty to do for kids of all ages.

It depends on your likes, I'm sure. I'd love to spend 3 1/5 days there! Princess, you have to tell me though: how do you measure 1/5 day for a visit!

Ha! Ha! Oops! I meant 3-1/2 days!

Well, I guess 1/5 of a day would be Midnight to 5:00 AM and then it could mean that we would be leaving for the airport just about at that time! ! !

I'm looking forward to our visit. Would a trip to Alcatraz be a definite activity we should plan? Sounds like the night trip there is interesting and one gets more for their money. What is your recommendation? With so many things to see there, in SF, can one skip Alcatraz and not regret it?

If you haven't yet, visit the Fodor's San Francisco pages - extensive recommendations:
http://fodors.com/miniguides/mgresul..._francisco@137

Personally, Alcatraz doesn't hold much interest. But that's for me, and I thoroughly respect diversity in travel!

I haven't been in a long time. I suggest seeing who shows up with advice here ... if not much, re-post with the whole words "San Francisco" in the title. Or just search the topic to see what people have been saying.

3 1/2 days is barely enough, I would do the Alcatraz night tour in the afternoon...we have all posted the same details a million times, if you search you will get tons of threads, have fun !

I love San Francisco, and have spent long weekends there before (just down from Seattle). You can see a lot in 3 days time. I have yet to go to Alcatraz (no interest). It is a great city for just walking. Get a good street map and take off on foot. My one "must do" is to ride the street cars. I like the route that begins at the turn-around on Market, then down thru Chinatown and to Fisherman's Wharf.

Three and a half days wouldn't be long enough for me. I'd skipped Alcatraz in previous visits - didn't understand why anyone would want to go there. But when we did go last time, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it! We went first thing in the morning and did the audio tour.

The Cable Car Museum is worth a quick visit too.

Definitely not too many days - there's so much to do there. We spent time on Fisherman's Wharf, ate crab, went to Alcatraz, Muir Woods, shopped, ate in China Town, saw Lombard Street, and went to Alcatraz. Alcatraz was pretty interesting - we did the audio tour, and it was also great to get out on the water. If anything 3 1/2 days is barely enough time for all the city has to offer.

Oops, we only went to Alcatraz once - LOL. I enjoyed the daytime tour because you get a great view of the city. Have fun!

Three and a half years weren't enough for me - had to move but wish I didn't. Enjoy the views, people and food - awesome!

ciaolaura!

Th Maritime Museum and a tour of the Balclutha is interesting.