We've got a day to see the city with 2 kids, ages 9 and 10, and I thought this might be the easiest way to get around and see the sites. Any thoughts or recommendations?

I've never seen an "on off" tour in SF. You can, and should take one of the van tours which you can probably book through your hotel. They go into the residential areas too and you can see some of the lovely and unusual houses.

I've never been on one (I live here), but there are a number of Hop On Hop Off lines -- do a google search for "San Francisco Hop On Hop Off".

You can take a 1/2 day Grey Line bus tour (check on line), then choose what to do for the other 1/2 day. You can just walk around the city or take a cable car ride which is fun for kids and adults alike.

Bring a jacket/cardigan/zip sweatshirt even in summer.

There is now a hop-on, hop-off bus in SF, like in any other big city. We are so proud of ourselves Didn't you all see the double-decker?

Here is the website:

http://www.inetours.com/Tours/City_Loop.html

With only one day, I'd recommend the motorized cable car tour. It goes all over, even over the Golden Gate Bridge (with a stop on the other side for photo ops) and back.

If you are going to take a tour of SF, do not take one of those double decker buses. They do not go to most of the charming neighborhoods in SF because they cannot make it up many of the hills and large tour buses are banned from streets in many neighborhoods.

I disagree with the last post. I was recently in SF and thoroughly enjoyed the hop on hop off double decker. The commentary was excellent and we saw all the inner city 'musts'. If you only have one day this will give you the most out of this city. You can do a cable car trip separately but they now cost $9 per ride, a bit of a rip off and on the hop on hop off you will pass the cable cars a number of times. Have fun, I certainly did.

For just getting around, we prefer the buses/streetcars, etc. There's a terrific map you can download at the MUNI website.

According to the MUNI website, cable car fare is $5. You can also purchase a one-day "visitor's passport" for $11 for unlimited rides on the MUNI system, including the cable cars.

Hey I just live in SF and think there is more to see in my beautiful city than Fisherman's Wharf , Union Square and the other downtown locations and I know there are lots of place that the buses don't and can't go. But each to their own, that's the beauty of differing opinions and recommendations.

The original poster has only a day to see the city. So, it's either rent a car, or do a tour.

At 9 and 10, would children appreciate residential areas more then attractions and shopping? I doubt it, seriously!

Faina, I was not discounting the idea of taking a tour of SF, only offering my opinion regarding double deckers. That is permitted, isn't it?

If your time is limited, I'd go with a straight tour, such as the Greyline tours. Less work on your part.

With a on-off bus, you pretty much have to know which stop you want off.

I went on an on-off bus in Dublin, Ireland, but then my firend knew where to get on and off, so I just followed. In other words, an on-off bus places all the burden of knowing about the various sites on your, the rider.

Enjoy San Francisoc! Great city! Wherever you go, get to Ghirardelli Square and have an Earthquake ice cream mound for the entire family!

erp! San FRANCISCO! Can't type this late at night!

SAB, probably my post sounds harsher then intended. Just an opinion, like everybody else's.