Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
2
Grant Street, but don 't miss the ex otic and authentic gr ocers on S tockton Street. And
although I know that cashew chicken at the big r estaurant in the middle of Chinato wn
sounds appetizing, consider ordering dim sum out in the Richmond D istrict instead.
One of the terrific things about S an Francisco is that a whole lot of the sights and
activities that appeal to tourists in general will appeal to families specifically . What kid
doesn't enjoy a ride on a cable car? And although ev eryone loves a str oll along C rissy
Field, y ounger ones will be especially delighted playing on the grassy hills and sandy
beaches. Not to mention the ferr y ride to Alcatraz I sland, which is per fect family far e.
Certainly, not every kid will be thrilled by a trip to the San Francisco Museum of Modern
Art (SFMOMA), but a terrific childr en's center is just acr oss the street. For every adult
attraction you ante up, I'll see you three that are fabulous with kids. In fact, having little
ones is a great excuse to visit the Exploratorium, the California Academy of Sciences, and
the San Francisco Zoo—all of which are first-rate.
So get started planning your trip. This chapter is a good place to begin; in it, I suggest
some of our all-time fav orite San Francisco family experiences, in addition to the best
hotels and dining spots.
1
FROMMER'S FAVORITE SAN FRANCISCO
EXPERIENCES
1
•
Shopping at the F erry Plaza Farmer's
Market:
P erhaps y ou hav en't had a
chance lately to stop and smell the
roses, admire the tomatoes, or compare
the peaches. I f that 's the case, hop on
the F-M arket str eetcar to the F erry
Building and take a str oll ar ound the
best outdoor mar ket in the B ay Ar ea.
It's a Saturday morning ritual for a great
many San Franciscans who come down
with their baskets and car efully select
the season's finest from organic farmers
and local pur veyors of fr esh sausages,
free-range meats, oliv e oils, honey, and
baked goods. The farmers offer tastes of
their wares, so y our kids may disco ver
what freshly picked-at-their-peak fr uits
taste like—a r evelation if they 've never
had a per fectly ripe pear or apricot.
Don't eat breakfast first; along with cof-
fee drinks and a huge array of morning
breads, pastries, and sw eets fr om the
very nicest bakeries, local r estaurants
serve specialties that taste ev en better
eaten with a vie w of the bay . A mor e
limited farmers' market is also open on
Tuesdays. See p. 161.
•
Eating Shrimp Dumplings for Break-
fast:
I f crab claws, por k buns, and
steamed dumplings ar en't y our idea of
Sunday brunch, it's time to branch out
from omelets and pancakes. One of our
favorite w eekend morning activities is
gathering with friends at a large table
with a lazy S usan in the middle, while
servers bring trays laden with bite-siz ed
Chinese delicacies. I f y ou're planning
on staying downtown, Yank Sing is the
place to go (O ne Rincon Center , 101
Spear St., at M ission St.;
&
415/781-
1111
). I f y ou're planning a walk at
Land's E nd, consider hopping on the
38-Geary bus and tr ekking out to Ton
Kiang (5821 G eary B lvd., betw een
22nd and 23r d av es.;
&
415/752-
4440
) for a hear ty pr e-hike br unch.
Just get there early, as tables fill up fast.
See p. 124 and p. 152.
•
Strolling thr ough Chinato wn:
J ust
steps away from Union Square, you can
enter another world—one decorated by
bright r ed, gr een, and gold banners.
The knickknack shops, traditional
herbalists, vendors of ceremonial papers
