national aquarium washington dc 8 Mission St. (at Steuart St.), San Francisco, CA 94105. &888/890-8688 or 415/278-3700. Fax 415/2783

While the food is tasty, it s not always as majestic as the room that houses it. For a taste of grandeur without the grand prices, check out the adjacent, more casual Petite Cafe for grilled dishes such as hangar steak or salmon, steamed national aquarium washington dc shellfish, pizzas from a wood-fired oven, salads, sandwiches, and desser ts. Even in the main r oom, children may or der off the Petite Cafe menu.

8 Mission St. (at Steuart St.), San Francisco, CA 94105. &888/890-8688 or 415/278-3700. Fax 415/2783750. www.hotelvitale.com. 199 units. $329 $399 double; $379 $699 suit e. $30 for 3rd adult in room; kids under 18 stay free in parent s room. Rollaways and cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $51. Dogs w elcome, $35 f ee. Amenities: Restaurant; bar ; fitness c enter; c oncierge; c ourtesy car ; business center; room service; massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV/DVD, dataport, free high-speed Internet access, minibar, coffeemaker (on request), hair dryer, iron, safe, CD player, iPod dock.

For years, the Tuscan Inn could proudly call itself the best hotel in Fisherman s Wharf. Now that title will have to be passed on to the Argonaut. (Both hotels are part of the Kimpton hotel group.) Tuscan Inn rates are lower than the Argonaut s, but the inn is located on the less picturesque end of Fisherman s Wharf and doesn t have bay views. One thing both hotels lack is a pool, so if you re dead-set on one in this neighborhood, you ll have to go with one of the national chains. What the Tuscan Inn does have are spacious guest rooms and bathrooms handsomely furnished in warm, inviting colors. R ooms are filled with amenities, including a combination honor bar/fridge, and y ou can bring Fido with you too. The comfortable lobby puts out hot chocolate and biscotti in the mornings, not just coffee and tea, and hosts a complimentary wine hour in the evenings. More important, the concierge here is friendly and intelligent, setting the tone for the r est of the staff.

Amtrak ( & 800/872-7245 or 800/USARAIL; www.amtrak.com) doesn t stop in San Francisco proper but lands in Emeryville or O akland (depending on the point of origin), both in the East B ay. F rom Emeryville, national aquarium washington dc an Amtrak national aquarium washington dc bus takes passengers into downtown San Francisco, stopping at the F erry B uilding, F isherman s Wharf, Union S quare, and the Caltrain station. From Oakland, the Amtrak bus takes passengers national aquarium washington dc to the Financial District.