PACIFIC OCEAN. The west end of the city ends at the Pacific Ocean. Blustery Ocean Beach the stretch of coast from Lands End to Fort Funston, has flat sandy beaches and paved walkways for strolling, biking and skating. The water is not suitable for swimming, but surfers take advantage of the consistent waves. On a clear day, the sunsets can be spectacular. Enjoy the view over cocktails or a meal at The Cliff House or Beach Chalet, both located on Great Highway. Take Geary Boulevard west all the way to the coast.

THE PRESIDIO. This former military base is now a public park and part of GGNRA (Golden Gate National Recreation Area). Crissy Field, the stretch of shoreline extending from Marina Green to the Golden Gate, features a restored tidal marsh, coastal dunes, a promenade popular with joggers and strollers, and picnic area. Presidio Visitor Center is open daily 9am - 5pm in the Officers' Club, Building 50, on Moraga Avenue near Arguello Boulevard 415-561-4314. The George Lucas Digital Arts Center near the Lombard Gate is surrounded by landscaped greens the public can browse. The Presidio Golf Course near the Arguello Gate is open to the public year-round. A 2.5-mile stretch of the Bay Area Ridge Trail starts next to the Presidio Golf Course Clubhouse.

SOUTH OF MARKET. The area South of Market (SoMa) is a center of art and nightlife with a wide selection of museums, galleries, restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, is located at 151 Third Street. The new Museum of the African Diaspora, tracing man’s roots and culture, is at 685 Mission at 3rd. Visit California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, the state’s official repository of historical materials, Wed - Sat noon - 4:30pm. 415-357-1848. The Contemporary Jewish Museum, located at 736 Mission Street, presents exhibitions and programs exploring Jewish history, art, and ideas. Call 415-655-7800 for more information. The Moscone Convention Center, bounded by Mission, Folsom, Third and Fourth Streets, hosts an ongoing schedule of conventions. Metreon Center at 4th & Howard, houses movie and IMAX theaters, stores offering the latest entertainment technology, and restaurants. AT&T Park, 3rd and King Streets, is home to the San Francisco Giants. South of Market is a transportation hub with CalTrain Station at 4th & Townsend Streets and Transbay Terminal (Greyhound buses) at Mission & 2nd Streets.

TWIN PEAKS. Follow Market Street southwest (Market turns into Portola) and look for the three masted radio tower atop Twin Peaks which offer sweeping views of the city when not shrouded in fog. To the south of the peaks, Mt. Davidson, the highest point in the city at 938 feet, is topped by a 103-foot concrete cross.

UNION SQUARE. Named for the pro-Union ralleys held during the Civil War, Union Square is the City’s largest shopping area with streets lined with hotels, restaurants, theaters, galleries, department stores and major retailers. The historic park features granite plazas, grassy terraces, and a kiosk where Tix Bay Area sells discount theater tickets. Maiden Lane is a historic 2-block alley extending off Stockton to Grant, now lined with upscale shops, cafes, and salons. Yerba Buena Gardens, the city’s Financial District, and Chinatown are nearby. Catch the Cable Car at Market & Powell for a ride to Fisherman’s Wharf. At the corner of Market & Kearny stands Lotta’s Fountain. Dedicated in 1875, the fountain is celebrated for its role as a message center after the 1906 earthquake. Order a copy of San Francisco Guide® for a map of Union Square with shops, hotels, restaurants, parking garages, points of interest, and transit lines.

UNION STREET & PACIFIC HEIGHTS. Union Street, between Gough and Fillmore Streets, is a popular destination for locals and visitors. This historic area is called Cow Hollow for its origins as dairy meadows. The renovated 19th century Victorians along picturesque Union Street now house upscale shops, restaurants and pubs, businesses and a movie theater. The stately mansions of adjacent Pacific Heights are fine examples of turn of the century Victorians. This area, roughly bordered by Union Street to the north and Bush Street to the south, is home to some of the city’s wealthiest residents as well as foreign consulates. The Haas-Lilienthal House, 2007 Franklin Street, is a landmark Queen Anne Victorian built in the 1880’s. For tours, call 415-252-9485.

YERBA BUENA GARDENS. This urban oasis situated between Third and Fourth, Mission and Folsom Streets features areas of open space, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and waterfall, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts with exhibition galleries and theaters, Zeum, (Merit put dynamic link to listing in children’s museums) a hands-on art & technology museum for kids and families; a bowling center, an ice rink, an historic Carousel. For information call 415-820-3550 or visit www.yerbabuenagardens.com.