visiting the smithsonian Mus e M canique (p. 171), a fun antique arcade. If your kids like big boats and battles, splurge on

The vividly designed rooms and bathrooms are larger than those at the Serrano down the block; the doubles her e are just spacious enough for a crib. Suites come with a v ery large bathroom, sofa bed in the living r oom, a VCR, and two televisions.

(p. 265), for example but it s preferable that they hang out with a companion. visiting the smithsonian The streets of San Francisco, like most big cities, ar e filled with driv ers who ar e frustrated and/or talking on their cell- phones, so be car eful crossing them. This is not the city in which to play chicken with cars. Use the crosswalks, wait for the

Mus e M canique (p. 171), a fun antique arcade. If your kids like big boats and battles, splurge on tours of the SS J eremiah O Brien, a WWII Liber ty S hip, and the WWII submarine USS Pampanito (p. 173). Our girls are staunch pacifists, but they still loved the tours as I m sur e will our son when he s older. As y ou continue east, steer clear of the cheesy tourist shops (you ll find plenty of souv enirs later on in Chinatown) and brace y ourselves for the crowds at P IER 39 (p. 172). P IER 39 is my least fav orite place on the whar f, but my opinion clearly counts for little, since it s actually the thir d most visited U.S. tourist destination, behind D isneyworld and D isneyland. I f y ou can get past the candy, cookie, and fudge shops, what does it actually have going for it? Three things: an enjo yable, albeit pricey , aquarium; an antique carousel; and the city s infamous, smelly sea lions. visiting the smithsonian B etween visiting the smithsonian those thr ee things, a plethora of to y stor es, and the aforementioned sw eet shops, good luck tearing the kids away.