A First Time Visitor to San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge--this seems almost too easy, but it''s the SF icon and it holds that title for good reason.

Coit Tower--the view from this oddly shaped structure is breathtaking and is not to be missed.

Fisherman''s Wharf--honkeytonk heaven, but you have to do it once.

Visit the naval museum by the Cable Car turntable if you love ships. Chinatown is another world--don''t miss it.

The Haight--go and take a picture under the steet sign and if you are over 30, prepare to feel old!

Cable Car Rides--these are for tourists, but that''s what you are. Just do it, it''s fun and cheap enough.

Lombard Street--yup, the serpentine street in all of the post cards. Walk it to really experience it.

Little Italy (North Beach)--ok, I love food, especially Italian food. Look, smell, eat, and enjoy.

Pacific Heights--the ''Heights'' part of the name was not a mistake. The houses you will see here are probably why rich people always seem to be happy!

Quick Tips:

Muir Woods is right outside of town. Big Trees, bigger than any you have ever seen, live here. Please go. Napa Valley wineries are just a short ride away, and are some of the best wineries in the USA. Buy a map and get going. Visit Carmel and Big Sur. Both of these places are pretty far away, but you will be hard pressed to find more beautiful scenery anywhere. Pick a sunny day and you will have a lifetime of memories.

Best Way To Get Around:

This is California, after all, so going by car is a must. I try to rent a rag-top. My friend just got back yesterday and she had a convertible Mustang--bright yellow. It made the trip. However, those with strong legs and a stronger heart should park the car and leg it around to see the city sights up close. Yes, the cable car rides are a must, too. Good shoes, a car with an automatic tranny, and a map are all you need. If you are really brave, find the Filbert Steps and start climbing (starts by the Battery, near Fog City Diner).

OK, this is an expensive place, but hey, you're worth it right? The building looks like a mansion and inside, the decor doesn't disappoint. The secret to any first class hotel is service and the Ritz-Carlton SF may have written the book on giving good service. Everyone smiles at you, they are helpful and seem to actually like what they are doing - rare indeed, these days of full employment! Little things like great soap, shampoo (I grabbed about 6 small bottles and hoard it for myself at home) and the fluffiest towels this side of home. The location is great too. A short walk to Chinatown and the cable car line. If money isn't a problem (I was on expense account) you got to go.

Our food travel bibles - Road Food and Good Food by Jane and Michael Stern - told us that a visit to Doidge's was a must for brunch. We stayed near by this Pacific Heights restaurant at a shabby little motel called the Pacific Heights Inn. The Inn appealed to my wife because it was only 2 stories high and it was cheap for SF. I opted for it because it was within walking distance of Doidge's. Breakfast is their speciality and you would be hard pressed to find a better one, anywhere.

My benchmark for breakfast is French Toast. Theirs rivals my own and I don't have to do the dishes. If eggs are your yardstick for what makes a good first meal, then any of their omelets should make you happy. The weekend crowds can be 'out the door,' so call ahead so you make sure that you get in. Walk off your meal by doing some window shopping up and down Union Street - an upper class collection of stores designed to separate you from your tourist dollars!

Made famous by the VISA commercial (they don't take American Express), this place would have made history on its food alone. The cuisine is a mix of classic diner fare mixed with California flair. The best way to enjoy the Fog City Diner is to grab a booth by the windows. Failing that, get a seat at the counter so you can watch the hustle and bustle of the wait staff and the kitchen. I found the flank steak with fries to my liking and all of the carnivors in my party gave it more than a passing eye. Make sure to leave room for dessert. The chef can be creative with dessert. As long as you are not counting calories or cholesterol points, ask your waiter for a decadent recommendation. This is one of those rare places that manages to combine good food with a little fun. Go, eat hearty, and tell me if you liked it.

Our local (NYC) gourmet TV show did a piece on this place and raved about the creativity and value. Naturally I made point to visit when I could. The food is a California/Asian fusion and when the chef gets it right, it's really exciting. Their fried calimari is the best I have had this side of Venice. Don't ask me about the sushi - I can't bring myself to eat bait. However, my companions thought it was wonderfully fresh (with a butt-kicking wasabi) and expertly prepared. The decor looks like Terry and the Pirates meet Burger King, but it appealed to my weird taste. The waiter we had was helpful and proved that he knew the menu as he made some tasty suggestions. A good house brew rounds out the package. If you drive, remember you have to feed the meters.

You can't mention the beat poets without speaking about City Lights Bookstore in the same breath. This is the first all-paperback bookstore in the USA and is ground zero for one of the most famous fights about free speech. It has to be something in the water or maybe the fog, but as I browsed the aisles, I felt the urge to grow a beard, scratch out some poetry on the back of a brown paper bag, kick off my establishment shoes and don a pair of funky sandals. I walked across Jack Kerouac Street and had a Bushmills at Vesuvio while I waited for these feelings to pass!

I love Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. I live within a short hop of the Guggenheim museum in NYC and visit there often (I went there this past Sunday to see the Armani show). So when I found out that there was a Wright-designed building on Maiden Lane, you could not keep me away. Reported by some to be a design study for the Guggenheim (I have no evidence of that), inside it is a minature spiral, rich in detail and visual tricks. You have to go see it if you are near by. 140 Maiden Lane, be there.