J & J Hardware Store

When you visit San Francisco for the first time, visiting Alcatraz is definitely a must-do. The Rock, as Alcatraz is known locally, was originally a lighthouse and a military out post and prison before becoming a federal prison. The likes of Al Capone, among others, served their time here. The tour takes you from the shore to this ominous island and the guides are all well-informed and always ready to answer your questions. The inherent drama of Alcatraz itself makes it worth seeing, but the added touches and expert treatment by the guides only underscore how essential it is to see this dramatic facility when you are in the Bay Area.

Cycling is considered a legitimate way to get around San Francisco, and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition does its best to make sure that safety is everyone's first priority. Several of the best bike trails in the city are posted, along with detailed reviews, on their website.

Gump's San Francisco takes pride in celebrating the truly eclectic! Founded in 1861 by Solomon Gump, this shopping gallery offers one-of-a-kind items from all around the world that include such highly-sought after items as crystal, china, silver, jewelry, home and office furnishings, and bed and bath items, just to name a few. Gump's specializes in not only the eclectic, but also the exotic and unusual while never losing sight of its high standard of quality in every item that you'll find in their store.

Do any of your kids show an interest in art? Whether they love to create it or just take it all in, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art will more than likely inspire some new ideas. Several styles of modern art are featured as the museum regularly rotates its exhibits and attractions. In addition to viewing the art, the kids can actually create some of their own in the various modern art hands-on workshops that are provided on Family Sundays. But be prepared for a good workout, as the museum is an impressive six stories that is topped by a 145-foot skylight tower that the kids will surely want to check out.