Hyatt Regency San Francisco

Cable Car Museum
If you've ever wondered how cable cars work, this nifty museum explains (and demonstrates) it all. Yes, this is a museum, but the Cable Car Museum is no stuffed shirt. It's the living powerhouse, repair shop, and storage place of the cable car system and is in full operation. Built for the Ferries and Cliff House Railway in 1887, the building underwent an $18-million reconstruction to restore its original gaslight-era look, install an amazing spectators' gallery, and add a museum of San Francisco transit history.The exposed machinery, which pulls the cables under San Francisco's streets, looks like a Rube Goldberg invention. Stand in the mezzanine gallery and become mesmerized by the massive groaning and vibrating winches as they thread the cable that hauls the cars through a huge figure-eight and back into the system using slack-absorbing tension wheels. For a better view, move to the lower-level viewing room, where you can see the massive pulleys and gears operating underground.Also on display here is one of the first grip cars developed by Andrew S. Hallidie, operated for the first time on Clay Street on August 2, 1873. Other displays include an antique grip car and trailer that operated on Pacific Avenue until 1929, and dozens of exact-scale models of cars used on the various city lines. There's also a shop where you can buy a variety of cable car gifts. You can see the whole museum in about 45 minutes.

Asian Art Museum
Reopened in its Civic Center home in March 2003, the Asian Art Museum is one of the Western world's largest museums devoted to Asian art. Its collection boasts more than 15,000 art objects, such as world-class sculptures, paintings, bronzes, ceramics, and jade items, spanning 6,000 years of history and regions of south Asia, west Asia, Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, China, Korea, and Japan. Previously in Golden Gate Park, the museum's new home in the city's Beaux Arts-style central library was renovated under Italian architect Gae Aulenti and includes 40,000 square feet of gallery space showcasing 2,500 objects at any given time. Add temporary exhibitions, live demonstrations, learning activities, cafe Asia, and a store, and you've got one very good reason to head to the Civic Center.

Pier 39
PIER 39 is a multilevel waterfront complex a few blocks east of Fisherman's Wharf. Constructed on an abandoned cargo pier, it is, ostensibly, a re-creation of a turn-of-the-20th-century street scene, but don't expect a slice of old-time maritime life. This is the busiest mall of the lot and allegedly welcomes 11 million visitors per year. It has more than 100 stores, 11 bay-view restaurants, a two-tiered Venetian carousel, a Hard Rock Cafe, and arcade and aquarium entertainment for the kids. And everything's slated toward helping you part with your travel dollars. It's the place that locals love to hate. That said, it does have a few perks: absolutely beautiful natural surroundings of bay views, fresh sea air, and hundreds of sunbathing sea lions lounging along its neighboring dock.

Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel
Nearby Airports: * San Francisco International Airport - 18 Miles * Metropolitan Oakland International Airport - 25 Miles * Norman Y Mineta San Jose Intl Airport - 60 Miles Nearby Cities: * Presidio - 2 Miles * Daly City - 5 Miles * Marin County - 10 Miles * Sausalito - 10 Miles * Burlingame - 18 Miles * Palo Alto - 25 Miles * Pleasanton - 30 Miles * Concord - 35 Miles * Oakland - 35 Miles * Berkeley - 35 ...

Galleria Park Hotel
This facility is 100% non smoking hotel.A European boutique-style hotel has 3 Star Mobil/ 3-diamond AAA rating. The historical landmark building, built in 1912, features classic San Francisco architecture. The lobby recently renovated in rich burgundy, silvers and gold tones, centers around a one-of-a-kind, sculpted, Art Nouveau oversized fireplace. Comfortable leather chairs in the lobby provide a wonderful setting for the evening wine reception and for complimentary morning coffee. At ...

Petite Auberge
Pure romance. That's what people say about Petite Auberge, a charming European-style boutique hotel that combines luxury and charm in a stylish historic building. Petite Auberge, a 'small inn,' welcomes guests to a world of provincial enchantment. French doors with beveled glass, a collection of French art, a cozy parlor with a crackling fire and an afternoon wine and hors d'oeuvres await your arrival. A dedicated staff provides assistance in experiencing the city's best. A delicious ...