Of the city guide tours that are offered, what are the most recommended ones to take?

Is the Golden Gate walk a good one for kids? Any others that preteen boys might find interesting?

I don't know about city guides, but a walk across the Golden Gate is pretty spectacular - the view is unforgettable. Bring a windbreaker, as it's almost always very windy on the bridge. You can also rent bicycles and bike across.
Another excellent option for your boys is the Alcatraz visit. Make sure you book this memorable tour well ahead, as it's very popular.

Start looking here
http://www.fodors.com/search/results...thor=stududley

Then here
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35129049

Stu Dudley

Thanks! Great info on the sites attached.

StuDudley,


I read your negative comment about Union Square being a little too close to the more seedy Tenderloin district. We were thinking about staying in the Union Square area on Geary. Would you suggest a better choice elsewhere?

For wine country, which would be preferable Healdsburg or Yountville for an overnight stay?

Thanks again.

>>We were thinking about staying in the Union Square area on Geary. Would you suggest a better choice elsewhere?>For wine country, which would be preferable Healdsburg or Yountville for an overnight stay?

>>

C'mon Stu. The Hotel Monaco, the Clift Hotel and two of San Francisco's most prominent theaters are located 1-2 blocks west of Powell, which is just fine.

>>C'mon Stu. The Hotel Monaco, the Clift Hotel and two of San Francisco's most prominent theaters are located 1-2 blocks west of Powell, which is just fine.

sf

You & I know how to avoid the vagrants west of Powell. If Europenovice stays at the Monaco or Clift House & decides to catch public transportation on Market or even the cable car at Powell & Market, and he/she decides to walk south on Taylor to get there (instead of east on Geary) - he won't feel comfortable at all.

We actually walked west on Market from the Powell BART station 1 1/2 weeks ago in the early evening for a tour of the US Court of Appeals Bldg, and we were not comfortable. After the tour, we took a different route back to the Powell BART station - on Mission.

Stu Dudley

Thanks for the advice.

Someone else mentioned to me the Courtyard by Marriott downtown on 2nd street. Wouldn't that area be less desirable than Union Square?

It's not a bad area, it's just in the middle of a bunch of offices, not immediately near any of the tourist sites.

If it's available during your visit, the Sutro Heights tour would be fun for young kids.

We stayed at the Courtyard on 2nd street on our trip in 2009. It was a bit out of the way [a 10 minute walk to Market] but the hotel [more like a regular Marriott than a courtyard] was really nice, comfortable, and we would stay there again.

We had to cut our trip short due to a family medical emergency that trip and they allowed us to cancel our remainind days with no penalty.

I see my comments on the various tours we've taken on the links Stu posted above. I'll add that we did a free City Hall tour and found that to be really good as well.

The Cable Car barn might interest a teen boy as well as the museum for the Market St trolly [both free and can be done in short time and are right on the route of the F Market and Cable Car [not the California line, but the other 2 that go to FW].

These City Guide tours might also interest him: Chinatown, North Beach, Ferry Building, Fire Department Museum, Fisherman's Wharf. I haven't done any of these, but think that by there location, they might interest him.

Good luck; San Francisco is our favorite city!