San Francisco Vacations

San Francisco's climate is mild year-round, so forget about packing wool -- or shorts. Daytime temperatures rarely rise above 75 or drop below 55. Summer is notoriously cool, with fog and chilly Pacific breezes, and neighborhood "micro-climates" can mean balmy conditions in the Mission District, but chillier conditions in the Outer Richmond. Summer is also peak tourist season, and late June's LGBT Pride Celebration Parade is one of the biggest in the country.

May, September and October have less fog and, locals contend, the best weather. December, January and February are the coldest and wettest months, while January brings the Chinese New Year's Parade.

These concrete sliding tubes re-teach what you knew when you were six: Gravity is fun. Be sure to bring your own cardboard to slide on, though.

The Haight's perfect drinking/dining combo defines the term "gastropub": world-class artisan cocktails crafted with love, and a food menu to match.

A gift to hikers, bikers and diners. Enjoy this former military post's paths, restaurants and views on your way to or from the Golden Gate Bridge.

What looks like a tourist trap is actually a foodie paradise, with oysters (Hog Island), cheese (Cowgirl Creamery), a fantastic farmer's market and more.

Get your green bounty on. Rainbow Grocery really is what it's cracked up to be: an eco/organic/fair-trade heaven.

The world-famous Golden Gate Bridge is a must-see, but doing so is easy, considering the 1.7-mile-long orange behemoth can be viewed from many vantage points. Connecting San Francisco to Marin County, the bridge is the city's only northern exit and is part of U.S. Route 1 and California Route 1. A pedestrian walkway runs the length, and bikes are allowed. (Check posted signs for the appropriate side to ride on; the schedule varies.) Fort Point Overlook offers a primo spot to snap photos.

This golden nugget is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, plus the oldest in North America. Its entrance, called the "Dragon's Gate," is at Grant Avenue and Bush Street. Inside are 24 blocks of hustle and bustle, most of it taking place along Grant Avenue, the oldest street in San Francisco. This city-within-a-city is best explored on foot: Exotic shops, renowned restaurants, food markets, temples and small museums form its boundaries. Visitors can buy ancient potions from herb shops, enjoy a dim sum lunch or learn how fortune cookies are made.

Constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, this beauty reflects the domed and columned temples of ancient Roman and Greek style. Its exhibition hall, which once housed Impressionist paintings, is now home to a state-of-the-art science museum, the Exploratorium. The Palace is also the site of countless weddings and film backdrops, including the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "Vertigo" and "The Rock." A lagoon lined with Australian eucalyptus trees surrounds the area, making a perfect family-photo opportunity.

Because of its natural isolation and the bay's cold, strong currents, Alcatraz housed Civil War prisoners, and years later, some of the country's most notorious criminals, including mobster Al Capone, the "Birdman of Alcatraz" and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. The prison closed in the 1960s, but the stories live on. Today, Alcatraz is partially a self-guided experience that you can do at your own pace. Advance reservations are highly recommended.

One of the largest urban parks in the world, this three-mile stunner is filled not only with natural beauty but also a science museum, art museum, flower conservatory and more. The California Academy of Sciences houses an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and scientific research facility under one roof -- and a living roof, at that. Scale the deYoung Museum's 144-foot-high observation deck. The Japanese Tea Garden creates the perfect backdrop for munching fortune cookies, which were first created here in 1914.

Founded in 1935, SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast devoted to modern and contemporary art. Today, it continues that tradition, exhibiting and collecting works by modern masters and less-established artists. Audio guides, docent tours, interactive kiosks and public programs offer visitors diverse learning opportunities. SFMOMA's landmark building, just a short walk from downtown, displays a soaring atrium topped by a turret and oculus skylight. The MuseumStore features art books, design objects, furniture, jewelry and children's products.

Spanning Castro Street, from Market Street to 19th Street, is the world's first, largest, and most famous gay neighborhood. It has been a symbol of gay pride since the sixties and seventies, when figures like Harvey Milk established themselves as business owners and activists. One of the district's most notable sites is the Castro Theatre, a movie palace constructed in 1922 that is still one of the city's best. Other sites of interest include Twin Peaks, the city's first gay bar, and Hartford Street Zen Center, a small Buddhist temple open to the public.

Cable cars have been transporting people around San Francisco since the late 19th century, and they're a great way to get conquer the city's notorious hills while enjoying some of the spectacular views and diverse neighborhoods. At Powell and Market streets, a turntable serves as the starting point for two lines, the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde. The Powell-Mason heads to Fisherman's Wharf, while the Powell-Hyde ends near Ghirardelli Square (hello, chocolate!).

This landmark square is the largest district of retailers, restaurants, galleries and salons in the Western United States. The recently remodeled site boasts granite plazas, light sculptures designed by artist R.M. Fischer and four grand-entrance corner plazas bordered by palms. Find clothing stores, from Banana Republic and Anthropologie to Prada and Yves Saint Laurent, and an assortment of antique stores, art galleries and beauty and health shops. More than 40 hotels are located nearby, as are a variety of restaurants, bars and clubs for late-night dining and entertainment.

San Francisco is one of the most visited destinations in the world. On day one of your visit you’ll see why it’s easy to lose your heart to this City by the Bay. Sure the place is foggy and can be downright chilly—there are as many microclimates as there are things to do in San Francisco—but you’ll forget about the weather once you hop on a trolley car instead of tackling those steep hills on foot. San Francisco boomed during the Gold Rush era and still prides itself as a center for counterculture movements drawing Beats, hippies and the LGBT community from the 1950 to the ‘70s. Today the city is known more for its dotcom wunderkinds and venture capital companies. Culinary trendsetters abound, too. Alice Waters still runs Chez Panisse in Berkeley, vegetarians and vegans have plenty of options, and visit the Ferry Building market and you too will soon turn your nose up at anything that isn’t seasonal, local and artisanal. Being the gateway for Napa wine country has its impact. Museum options range from modern art to science to Alcatraz. For shopping, head to Union Street, Hayes Valley and Upper Fillmore for local designer and boutique stores. Outdoor enthusiasts can cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County for excellent hiking, or head to the south peninsula for surfing and kayaking in Half Moon Bay or biking the steep and winding roads through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Just don’t miss the majestic redwood forests.

AOL Travel’s San Francisco Guide

AOL Travel's Best San Francisco Hotels