dreamin’
The Golden State has it all: beaches, forests, deserts,
cities—big and small—and a fun, family-friendly vibe.
by Ellen Parlapiano
Chinatown
Photos: Phil Coblentz, Courtesy of San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (Alcatraz, cable car, Chinatown, Victorian homes, Golden Gate Bridge); David
Courtenay/Getty Images (otter); Richard Cummins/Corbis (Santa Cruz); Travel Ink/Getty Images (Monterey); joSon/Getty Images (flower).
3SAN FRANCISCO
BAY AREA
EXPLORE > San Francisco is one of the top walking
cities. It’s also a food lover’s paradise. Get maps at the
Visitor Information Center in Union Square, then eat
your way through ethnic neighborhoods, dining on dim
sum and handmade fortune cookies in Chinatown, and pasta
and pastries in the Italian section of North Beach. Burn off
those calories with a climb up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower,
where a $5 elevator ride whisks you to the observation deck
for breathtaking views. And don’t miss the waterfront areas:
Hit the souvenir stands and crab restaurants on Fisherman’s
Wharf; indulge your sweet tooth at Ghirardelli Square’s
Chocolate Caffe; visit the sea lions at Pier 39; and shop for
regional delicacies at the landmark Ferry Building—there’s a
terrific farmers’ market every Tuesday and Saturday.
STAY > Conveniently situated on a cable car stop near
waterfront attractions, The Suites at Fisherman’s Wharf offers
one- and two-bedroom options with kitchens—many with bay
views—starting at $169 per night ( shellhospitality.com). Or
stay in the trendy South of Market (SOMA) section, at the
playful, newly renovated Americania Hotel, which salutes pop
culture with its retro-style game room and custom burger
restaurant. From $109 ( jdvhotels.com).
RIDE > Hang tight as cable cars shuttle you up and down
steep hills—a San Francisco treat. The least-crowded
California line tackles the highest elevations, leading to
upscale Nob Hill. The Powell-Hyde line takes you past classic
Victorian homes. And definitely drive down Lombard Street—
the world’s crookedest!
CRUISE > Sail from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, the famous prison on
the rock where Al Capone did time. Tours offer up-close looks
at jail cells and an audio presentation by former prisoners and
correctional officers ($26 adults; $16 ages 5 to 11; $79 family
package of 2 adults/2 kids, alcatrazcruises.com).
HIKE > Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, then ferry back.
For more remote treks, drive north on Highway 1. Stop at Muir
Woods, where paths wind beneath towering redwoods.
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Victorian
homes
Santa Cruz Beach
Boardwalk
[SCENIC ROUTE]
San Francisco to Big Sur
One of America’s most
scenic coastal byways.
DISTANCE: 140 MILES SOUTH
Sights to See » Santa Cruz
Boardwalk: Ride the Giant
Dipper, a 1920s wooden
roller coaster (santacruz
.org). Monterey: View local
sea life at Monterey Bay
Aquarium and scuba with
marine biologists in
summer (montereybay
aquarium.org), or kayak
alongside seals and otters
on a naturalist-led tour
( adventuresbythesea.com).
Carmel: Hike in Pt. Lobos
Reserve—a hangout for
otters, sea lions, and
migrating whales
(humpbacks, orcas and
blue whales in spring/
summer; gray whales from
December through March).
Big Sur: Hike and camp
overnight (starting in late
May) at rugged Pfeiffer Big
Sur State Park (reserve
early at parks.ca.gov).
Monterey
