San Francisco, California 72-Hour Vacation

To witness San Francisco's famous fog roll from the Pacific Ocean across the urban landscape to the Bay is to experience a breathtaking natural wonder. In seconds, busy thoroughfares and narrow alleyways are hushed and blanketed, and the city is transformed into a mystical dream world. Then the fog lifts, and San Francisco's bright colors, architectural peaks and lush parks are revealed in high relief. From the soaring tip of the Transamerica Pyramid to the majestic, "International Orange" span of the Golden Gate Bridge above the bay, the area's eye-popping panoramas can be almost overwhelming. It's this mixture of vivid color and foggy mist that gives the city its romantic appeal.

For most, the city represents a happy marriage of freedom and indulgence. The unruly hedonism of its Barbary Coast days may have long subsided, no one smokes any longer in the Beat-era bars, and the Haight District's District's hippies have been replaced by boutique-browsing tourists—but people of all kinds and cultures still come here to be exactly themselves and revel in beauty and pleasure ... and especially to eat.

You really don't need to rent a car for a stay in San Francisco itself. Use the cable cars, buses and taxis to get around the city, and mass transit if you're going to the suburbs. If you're you're planning to cross the Golden Gate Bridge and explore the wine country, wait until you're you're ready to leave town to rent a car. You will save a considerable amount of time and money.

Also, bring comfortable walking shoes and at least a medium jacket. San Francisco is best explored on foot, and the weather can turn chilly at the strangest times of day and in the most illogical times of year. As Mark Twain was (mistakenly) believed to have said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco," so really—don't let the "sunny California" reputation fool you, especially in July.

Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel

The city has a vast selection of hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts from which to choose. Many are in the Union Square area, convenient for shopping, dining and the famous cable cars. For an ultimate "green" San Francisco experience, try the Orchard Garden Hotel, which is as lavish as it is eco-conscious. For straightforward luxury, try the Four Seasons San Francisco on the eastern end of Market Street near the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Yerba Buena Gardens and the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. Those looking for a hipper experience might try Ian Shrager's Clift Hotel, home of the famous Redwood Room and a choice spot for visiting celebs. The modern Hotel Vitale on the Embarcadero offers sweeping views of the Bay, and is just across the street from the Ferry Building Marketplace. And the InterContinental San Francisco is a towering monolith in South of Market, close to Moscone Center, with posh amenities and floor-to-ceiling window views.

Before you go, consider getting a CityPass to save up to 50% off the price of regular admissions to some of the city's finest attractions.

DAY 1

Fisherman's Wharf

Duck just outside the comfort zone of Union Square to quirky Dottie's True Blue Café, one of the city's favorite haunts for gourmet baked goods, omelets and other heaping breakfasts. The neighborhood is a bit seedy, but don't worry, join the line and wait your turn—it's well worth it—then spend the morning walking off your morning feast around the waking bustle of Union Square.

Where the wide street hits the Bay looms the giant, white clock of San Francisco's iconic Ferry Building, home of the famous Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market. Far from just a ferry dock for local commuters, the white marble building has become a mecca for local produce and artisanal products—it is a requisite destination, especially for foodies.

The building is loaded with a variety of permanent food stalls, specialty restaurants and shops. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (the day of the biggest market), chefs and locals descend on the grand outdoor market to browse the best in fresh produce and artisanal street food. Waterfront benches offer calm, glorious views of the Bay Bridge and hills of Berkeley and Oakland. A range of restaurants such as the local favorite Hog Island Oyster Company offer table service both inside and out.

The Dungeness crab, a San Francisco favorite

Then wind your way to the end of California Street and hop on one of the city's fabled cable cars. If this is your first visit to the city, ask the cable car operator to help you get to Fisherman's Wharf, where bay views, street performers and colorful characters abound. See the sea lions at Pier 39, eat some Dungeness crab, take a Bay cruise or visit Alcatraz. For a truly unique brand of vintage fun, visit the Musée Mecanique housed in a warehouse on Pier 45. The vast collection of antique arcade games and fairground fortune-telling machines provides tons of quirky fun for a handful of coins.

Next, turn up Columbus Avenue and wander into North Beach, the city's zesty Italian neighborhood. A haven for Italian immigrants, Beat poets, jazz musicians and starving artists, the neighborhood boasts several live shows (not just the X-rated kind) including the always popular Beach Blanket Babylon—be sure to book tickets well in advance for this famously irreverent musical. Stroll North Beach's many outdoor cafes, trattorias, bakeries, and shops, and don't miss a visit to the famous City Lights Bookstore on Columbus at Broadway. For dinner, try Rose Pistola in North Beach, Perbacco Ristorante + Bar closer to Market Street, or head back to the Ferry Building, the home of Slanted Door, one of the country's best-known spots for upscale Vietnamese cuisine.

Continue to Day 2