Haas-Lilienthal House
Of the city's many gingerbread Victorians, this handsome Queen Anne house is one of the most flamboyant. The 1886 structure features all the architectural frills of the period, including dormer windows, flying cupolas, ornate trim, and winsome turret. The elaborately styled house is now a museum, its rooms fully furnished with period pieces. The Foundation for San Francisco's Architectural Heritage maintains the house and offers docent-led tours. The 1-hour tours (the only way to see the house) start every 20 to 30 minutes.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Shaped like an Art Deco ship, the Maritime Museum is filled with sailing, whaling, and fishing lore. Remarkably good exhibits include intricate model craft and scrimshaw. The collection of shipwreck photographs and historic marine scenes includes an 1851 snapshot of hundreds of abandoned ships, deserted en masse by crews dashing off to participate in the gold rush. Beautifully carved, brightly painted wooden figureheads from old windjammers line the walls. Two blocks east, at the park's Hyde Street Pier, are several historic ships, now moored and open to the public.The Balclutha, one of the last surviving square-riggers and the handsomest vessel in San Francisco Bay, was built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1886 and carried grain from California at a near-record speed of 300 miles a day. The ship is now completely restored. Kids can climb into the bunking quarters, visit the "slop chest" ("galley" to you, matey), and read the sea chanteys (clean ones only) that decorate the walls.The 1890 Eureka still carries a cargo of nostalgia for San Franciscans. It was the last of 50 paddle-wheel ferries that regularly plied the bay; it made its final trip in 1957. Restored to its original splendor at the height of the ferryboat era, the side-wheeler is loaded with deck cargo, including antique cars and trucks.The black-hulled, three-masted C. A. Thayer, built in 1895, was crafted for the lumber trade and carried logs felled in the Pacific Northwest to the carpentry shops of California. Unfortunately, it's undergoing renovation and isn't slated to return until 2006.Other historic ships docked here include the tiny two-masted Alma, one of the last scow schooners to bring hay to the horses of San Francisco; the Hercules, a huge 1907 oceangoing steam tug; and the Eppleton Hall, a side-wheel tugboat built in England in 1914 to operate on London's River Thames.At the pier's small-boat shop, visitors can follow the restoration progress of historic boats from the museum's collection. It's behind the maritime bookstore on your right as you approach the ships.

Grace Cathedral
Although this Nob Hill cathedral, designed by architect Lewis P. Hobart, appears to be made of stone, it is in fact constructed of reinforced concrete, beaten to achieve a stonelike effect. Construction began on the site of the Crocker mansion in 1928 but was not completed until 1964. Among the more interesting features of the building are its stained-glass windows, particularly those by the French Loire studios and Charles Counick, depicting such modern figures as Thurgood Marshall, Robert Frost, and Albert Einstein; the replicas of Ghiberti's bronze Doors of Paradise at the east end; the series of religious murals completed in the 1940s by Polish artist John de Rosen; and the 44-bell carillon. Along with its magical ambience, Grace lifts spirits with services, musical performances, and its weekly Forum (Sun 9:30-10:30am except summer and major holidays), where guests lead discussions about spirituality in modern times.

Renaissance Stanford Court Hotel
The Renaissance Stanford Court Hotel is located atop prestigious Nob Hill overlooking the dramatic San Francisco skyline. The hotel sits where railroad millionaire Leland Stanford's mansion once stood and his legacy lives on throughout the hotel. Our lovely brick courtyard has a beaux-arts fountain and garden setting. The lobby features a colorful Tiffany-inspired glass dome, turn-of-the-century antiques and three hundred sixty degree mural depicting early San Francisco history. Luxurious ...

Marriott San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf
The San Francisco Marriott Fisherman's Wharf is located two blocks from Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 and just one block from cable car service to Union Square. This full-service hotel offers deluxe accommodations and superior facilities including fully equipped health club and sauna, lounge and restaurant, Starbucks coffee bar and seven thousand square feet of newly renovated meeting space. Indoor parking is USD 40 plus tax per night valet service only with in/out privileges. The garage ...

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 ...