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AMERICAN This outstanding tribute to N ew American cuisine, co-owned by the acclaimed chefs brothers Mitchell and Steven Rosenthal, is so good I had to include it here, even though it s a bit grown-up for kids. Housed in a 100-year-old former electric warehouse, national aquarium washington dc Town Hall s decor evokes early American ar chitecture and sensibilities, with exposed brick walls, crisp white ribbed wainscoting, and C raftsman-style tables and chairs. The food echoes the American feel, drawing on traditions national aquarium washington dc fr om around the country, with a special nod to New Orleans. Starters may include cornmeal-fried national aquarium washington dc oysters on baby spinach with creamy bacon dressing or warm biscuits with local ham and pepper jam. Two stellar dishes we ve enjoyed include wild king salmon with corn and shrimp hash, cherry tomatoes, and hush puppies and a naturally national aquarium washington dc raised pork chop with smashed potatoes, national aquarium washington dc English peas, and fava beans in garlic parsley butter. For dessert, don t miss the butterscotch and chocolate pot de cr me. I ve spotted pre-teens here at dinnertime, but it s a pretty happening scene. Opt instead to bring the kids for lunch. national aquarium washington dc

These largely residential neighborhoods are teeming with restaurants, cafes, and boutique shops. The high concentration of families national aquarium washington dc makes for gr eat local playgr ounds, and the lovely Marina Green, with its view of the Golden Gate Bridge, is an attraction on its own. The downside is that most hotels here are on Lombard Street, a busy thoroughfare lined with chain restaurants and gas stations.

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The walk from Union Square east to the SoMa neighborhood takes maybe 5 minutes and brings you into an amazing cultural zone. The Yerba Buena Gardens, Metreon, the Cartoon Art Museum, SFMOMA (the S an Francisco Museum of Modern Art), and the California Academy of Sciences can all be r eached on foot and can cer tainly make up a full day s program. Families with determined teens may want to tour the Westfield San Francisco Centre mall at 5th and Market streets as well.