I've never been to SF and will have 2 1/2 days in SF during Presidents' Day weekend. What are the must sees in this small amount of time?

I am surprised more people did not pick up on this. Try searching older postings. I seem to recall that there was a flurry of activity on this topic about 4 months ago.

My favorite spots are the Japanese Gardens and the acquarium in Golden Gate Park. And a ride on the cable car is part of it. And the wharf and the Cannery are interesting is somewhat touristy. I despise Alcatraz -- it is grim and ugly in my view.

I am sure some others can fill you in with more stuff. If you have access to the AAA guide to SF, get it. And use the Fodors miniguide feature available at this web site.

I am surprised more people did not pick up on this. Try searching older postings. I seem to recall that there was a flurry of activity on this topic about 4 months ago.

My favorite spots are the Japanese Gardens and the acquarium in Golden Gate Park. And a ride on the cable car is part of it. And the wharf and the Cannery are interesting is somewhat touristy. I despise Alcatraz -- it is grim and ugly in my view.

I am sure some others can fill you in with more stuff. If you have access to the AAA guide to SF, get it. And use the Fodors miniguide feature available at this web site.

Alcatraz is grim and ugly, which is exactly what makes it so fascinating. I recommend it if you enjoy crime and justice documentaries; seeing the actual sight of so many legends is interesting.

Other neat things: Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf (VERY touristy, but that's part of its wierd attraction), eating fresh sourdough bread, wandering around side streets of Chinatown, hanging on the outside of a cable car as it goes around a sharp curve.

Must Sees: Chinatown, North Beach Area (North Beach Pizza and City Lights Bookstore), Haight Street (take a bus across the city), Nightlife south of Market Street. And all bars are wonderfully smoke free!

Not Must Sees: Fisherman's Wharf
(Disney Frisco), Union Square (filthy, full of loud, obnoxious bums).

I think the Cable Car Museum is very interesting. You walk in and can see the massive cables that run through the city pulling the cars - you can stay as little or long as you like, doesn't take long to see and gives extra meaning to a cable car ride.

Previous poster is right - due a text search for San Francisco - there was a lot of discussion.
No one has mentioned that SF has absolutely outstanding art museums - the De Young in Golden Gate Park, next to the Tea Gardens. The legion of Honor in Lincoln Park - with spectacular views back to the east of the Golden Gate. The Legion was redone several years ago and it is beautiful.
The SF Museum of Modern Art on 3rd Street between Mission and Howard - with the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (very modern) across the street, and the California Historical Society and the Ansel Adams Photo centers not too far way. It's great.
And that's just in the City. On a fabulous winter day, it is wonderful to drive to Mill Valley and over to Muir Woods and Stinson Beach. Muir Woods is a spectacular Redwood Grove. The Beach is the Beach - and Mill Valley is a former bohemian kind of summer community which is now part of the mega-burbs, but the downtown has not lost any of its charm and has great shopping.
And we haven't even started on the East bay or the SF Peninsula (more museums, both places) - but save it all for the next visit.
One other thing - lots of good restaurants in the SFMOMA area. And when you just can't do another thing, walk up to the Palace Hotel and go into the Pied Piper Bar - great Bar with a Maxwell Parish mural - the matching one is the King Cole Bar in NY City.
The Garden Court of the Palace is also absolutely spectacular.
Have a great time.

Thanks for all the advice.

I did do a search for previous postings on San Fran and have already printed out a bunch of stuff. Thanks to Bob who lives in the Bay area, Kate, Scott, Marcia and more. However, half the fun of this forum is posting your own message and having people respond to your own question!

I've got to agree with Paul - Alcatraz is probably the best tour of a national park I've ever seen. Again, not for aesthetic beauty but just simply an amazing tour that is extremely well done by the parks service. Boat leaves from Fisherman's Wharf so you get a seaside view of S.F. as you return from Alcatraz island. Combining Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz is a great afternoon. Don't miss Boudin's Bakery for soup in a Sour Dough Breadbowl. Book the Alcatraz tour ahead - it does fill up. Have fun!

RE: Alcatraz. I live in the Bay area. I recommend Alcatraz tour, but you need to call in advance for tickets. Do not wait till the day you want to go. You need to reserve a few days in advance to be sure of getting on the boat tour. Trust me on this one. Drive over the Golden Gate bridge and take the exit to Sausilito. At the stop sign, turn left, go thru the tunnel as if you are heading back to the City. Take the first exit before youget back on the bridge and drive all the way to the top of the hill. You then look back and get a great view of the Bridge and the City beyond. Sausilto is also a great little town to walk around. Try the Buena Vista (touristy, but nice) for Irish coffee. It is at the Cable Car turnaround corner of Hyde and Beach. One other piece of advice: Never call it "FRISCO", never. The natives hate that. It is San Francisco or "THE CITY". Trust me on that one too. Have a great time in a great City.

You don't say whether you will be driving. If so, you must drive down the World's Crookedest Street. Don't get yourself a car just to drive the crooked street; public transport is excellent (the locals use the bus), and parking is expensive.

Check out the SF marina, that's where the locals hang while the tourist hit the wharf. Actually the wharf has some interesting shops, just don't make the mistakes of 1) being there after dark, and 2) getting a meal at the wharf. Instead, cross the Embarcadero and eat at Sabelli's. If you ahve any appetite left, walk over to Ghirardelli Square for ice cream/chocolate for dessert.
The marina leads into the Presidio, which the Army lets you walk through; pretty cool. You can walk clear to the GG bridge, which you can then walk across (if you don't mind the wind). Or, you can take the ferry to Sausalito. Sausalito is pleasant enough but there's nothing compelling there that must be seen. Still, it is a popular activity so I thought I should mention it.
On either side of the GG bridge are parks you can view teh bridge from --worth it for the view of the bridge and the city.
If yo don't do Alcatraz at least do a harbour tour.
You can ride the elevator to the top of the Fairmont Hotel just to see the city.
You should definitely visit Chinatown and get a meal there.
GG park is worth a visit. So is Coit Tower for a view of the City.
Cost Plus is a big importer which is interesting and ought to have bargains galore due to the Asian crisis.