We plan to be in San Francisco at Christmas, driving from there to Sacramento, Death Valley, Las Vegas and on to San Diego before returning through Los Angeles to Australia. Any advice on what to do; where to stay etc would be most welcome!! Our fourteen year old son will be with us.

We travelled to the US 2 years ago and visited the West Coast. Whilst at San Fransisco, we stayed at the Handlery Union Square. A great centrally located hotel which was very comfortable with a fantastic pool. (We will also be in the US for Dec and Jan. You will not be disappointed by the hotel.
Donna Melbourne

Some good hotels are: Hilton &Towers, Fairmont, Parc 55, Westin St. Francis, Donatello.

Some good things to do: Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf (pier 39), Ghirardelli Square, Union Square, Lombard Street, Museum of Natural Science, the planetarium.

I agree with the above on what to do.

We stayed at the Fairmont and found it to be excellent. If you stay there, it is atop Nob Hill which is excellent...ask for a room with a view of the Golden Gate.

Paulo: We stayed at the Holiday Inn Union Square and loved it. It's at Powell and Sutter streets, right on the cable car line. Lots of good places to eat nearby (Roxanne Cafe, Lori's, Sotano Grill). Consider taking the Coast Starlight train to SF as the parking is expensive and the streets are steep.

My pick of hotels would be the St. Francis, an old hotel on Union Square for it's location with the trolleys just outside the entrance. With your adolescent I might recommend a couple of day trips: One across the bay bridge to Sausalito and up to Muir Woods with it's magnificent redwood forest, truly spiritual and awesome. Another interesting trip for you all would be down to the Monterrey peninsula to see the absolutely spellbinding coastline, the famous Pebble Beach golf course (a natural and scenic wonder) and the 17 mile drive as well at the Monterrey aquarium.

The touristy litany for SF is really depressing!! Forget Pier 39--it's a carosel, souvenir shops and fast food. Go see the "Painted Ladies"--the beautiful Victoria homes in Pacific Heights. Go walk on Union Street or Chestnut or Fillmore. Visit the Presidio which is now public land, no longer military. G Visit the SFMOMA--relatively new and super architecture.Go see the redwoods in Muir Woods and have lunch in Sausalito. Have tea at the Palace Hotel on Market and Montgomery--the lobby will blow you away. If you're there on Saturday--go to the Farmers Market on the Embarcadero (sample all the take away food!). Visit North Beach and Little Italy--see Washington Square. My pick to stay--2 of the best and most historic--St. Francis and the newly renovated and not yet discovered by the tourists, whose guidebooks still call it second rate--the Sir Francis Drake on Powell--the lobby is traditional SF, the rooms are lovely country new. You could be more adventerous--if you really want some native recommendations, get back to me, but these are where I take my houseguests. Oh, almost forgot, Beach Blanket Babylon--silly, zany musical in North Beach--have dinner first at Moose's or Washington Sq. B&G or Rose Pistola or Fior D'Italia and walk over. Don't DRIVE to North Beach!!!!! Have fun.

A P.S. for your 14 year old son: A Ferry ride on the Bay (bring sweaters and rainwear!!), the cable car museum, Beach Blanket Babylon (he'll love it!),Monterey is a bit of a trek(about 2-2 1/2 hours by car) but the acquarium is great as is the Fisherman's Wharf there (not in SF!) You can rent bikes in Monterey and bike all along from the wharf to Cannery Row. Ghirardelli Chocolate factory at Ghirardelli Square (gear-a-delli) is every kids' idea of pigging out! Dinner in Chinatown at the Empress of China--touristy yes, but kids like it. Climb Coit Tower and be sure to learn the history behind it--go at an off time and plan on walking up Telegraph Hill. Of course, Alcatraz, but on a cold day it can be freezing and very unpleasant--if it's cold just ride the ferry around and say you've been there. Unlike most tourists to SF, you will be here in crab season!! Have a crab while walking on the Embarcadero! You can tour the Levi's Factory on Wednesdays only with a reservation (ask at your hotel) The Exploratorium is one of the best science museums in the world--it's in Golden Gate Park. And, if you get a beautiful blue sky day, walk the Golden Gate Bridge (it's 3 miles round trip--we did it last year with a 7 year old and he couldn't stop talking about it!!) What a list--did you say you would be here for a month?? Just hosted good friends from Sydney for only 4 days--they left saying they'd be back for at least 2 weeks ASAP! Have a great visit!

Hello Kate!

I liked the information you included in your e-mail on where to stay and what to do in San Francisco. I am planning to travel in SF with a friend, and we're arriving November 5th. It's my first time, and while I'm a pretty seasoned traveller, I have very few contacts in the States, and loathe over-planned and touristy holidays!
So, perhaps you could drop me a word of advice, if it's not too much trouble. My friend and I are planning to hire a car and to stay in SF and Napa Valley before flying to New York. We're desperate to sniff genuine fresh air (I currently live in Jakarta, Indonesia; kind of hell on earth..) and to savour culturally rich things like galleries, restaurants, markets etc. We will be looking for cheapish bed & breakfasts or little hotels. What are the room rates for the St Francis?
If you have any info you'd like to impart on these topics, I'd be very grateful.
Goodbye and regards

Suzanne