Getaways

>>The Bay beckons visitors to San Francisco (www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com), where sports, shopping and one-of-a-kind attractions are set against spectacular views. Check forecasts, because the weather can be unpredictable.

SEE: Serve time at Alcatraz Island, which has a foreboding presence in the bay. A brief ferry ride delivers tourists to "The Rock" for a gripping audio tour, narrated by former prisoners and guards. Walk or drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, and visit the California Academy of Sciences, which opened in September at Golden Gate Park, featuring a green building designed by famed architect Renzo Piano. Take in more Bay views and San Francisco Giants baseball action at AT&T Park. Hike the hilly streets to reach the "Painted Ladies," colorful Victorian homes with breathtaking city views, and don’t miss a ride on the city’s famed cable cars. Across the Golden Gate, be inspired by the massive redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument.

STAY: Hotels such as the San Francisco Marriott make it easy to forego a rental car and walk to restaurants, shops and attractions, especially in the jam-packed SoMa (South of Market) and Union Square areas. Next to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is the luxe St. Regis Hotel, or try The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco on Nob Hill or the Palomar, a luxury boutique hotel.

DINE: Seafood is a must. Restaurants fill touristy Fisherman’s Wharf, but take a detour to Swan’s Oyster Depot in the Nob Hill section. Expect to wait for a stool at the counter, but the family-run eatery’s fresh crab salad is worth it. Affordable and authentic restaurants fill the city’s Italian section, called North Beach, and of course Chinatown. Treat yourself to a hot fudge sundae and watch the crowds at Ghirardelli Square.