off beat thingsto do and sights

exploitorium, blue and green heron treetop nesting site in marin co.

You should be able to find something here that will interest you; we love using this free way to see the city.

http://www.sfcityguides.org/

We have done many of them and will be doing more next month on our week stay in SF.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Get the "Stairway Walks" book (see link above)

Stu Dudley

We just spent a few hours in San Francisco last weekend. We had chocolate at Ghirdelli Square, drove down Lombard Street then drove over to Coit Tower to get a birds eye view of the city and saw the beautiful murals inside the tower. Then we drove over to the Mission District and saw the old Spanish Mission built in 1776 (Mission San Francisco de Assi / Mission Dolores).

It's amazing what you can do in just a few hours. San Francisco, even in the rain and dreary fog, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I am always awed by its charm and beauty.

I you enjoy documentaries, I highly recommend watching The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill before prior to your trip. Though these birds are no longer under the care of Mr. Bittner, you can still see the flock up by Coit Tower, which makes for a neat experience.

You may also want to grab a cappucino at Cafe Trieste, also featured in the film. It's on a very quaint, artsy street just down from Telegraph Hill.

guidebooks and research here for sights.