There's a lot to cover about the San Francisco of today, we'll just offer you some of the places and events that we particularily enjoy.

A great place to take children is the Exploratorium which has moved from the Marina District of San Francisco to the downtown waterfront. The Exploratorium is now located at Pier 15.

Located in San Francisco Bay is Alcatraz. Alcatraz started life as a lighthouse, spent some time as a fort and achieved infamy as a federal prison. You can catch a ride to Alcatraz from Fisherman's Warf. These trips are sold out well ahead of time so plan your trip to Alcatraz well in advance.

There is a lot to do in the Fisherman's Warf area. One of my favorites is watching the sea lions which have taken over the docks next to Pier 39. Just be warned that Fisherman's Wharf is a tourist trap.

When you've had your fill of watching the sea lions turn to Pier 39 where you'll find the Aquarium of the Bay.

Or you could visit the California Academy of Sciences located in Golden Gate Park. Cal Academy houses a natural history museum, planetarium, aquarium and rainforest dome all in a structure that itself should be experienced.

San Francisco is also home to some beautiful museums. There is the Palace of the Legion of Honor, not to be confused with the Palace of Fine Arts which formerly housed the Exploratorium (above). The Legion of Honor is located in Lincoln Park, surrounded by a golf course and views of the western end of the Golden Gate.

Also located in Golden Gate Park is the de Young museum. The de Young and the California Academy of sciences are across from each other in Golden Gate Park.

If you want your art definitely more modern then San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is where you want to stop. SFMOMA is located in downtown SF and is very easy to get to.

About 12 miles north of San Francisco is Muir Woods. Muir Woods is an old-growth coastal redwood forest. There are paved and unpaved walking trails through the forest.

South of San Francisco, in Monterey, is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. An excellent experience for children and adults alike. The aquarium has constantly updating temporary exhibit and you'll have to visit the site to uncover the latest exhibit. (Note: Monterey Bay Aquarium is about 100 miles south of San Francisco.)

The Bay Area is home to a number of professional sports teams. In the NFL we have the San Francisco Forty-Niners (who have relocated to the Santa Clara). The Golden State Warriors represent the Bay Area in the NBA. In MLB the Bay area has two teams, the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics. San Jose, 45 miles south of San Francisco, is the home of the San Jose Sharks of the NHL and the San Jose EarthQuakes of MLS.

These are just a few of the sites you can visit to enjoy the San Francisco Bay area.