Marc Upton Smith

In the age when even books are being downloaded, it is actually a treat to be able to hold a book in your hands, read it and turn the pages. If technology is making books collectible, then that fact is celebrated every day at Green Apple Books. This extensive retailer and online store will not only have your purchases delivered to your door, they will also buy back your old books and give you credit for them on your purchases. There are always special events going on in the store like readings and book signings, so check the website regularly. Also, while you're online or in the store, pick up a cool Green Apple Books t-shirt or bookbag.

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.

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.

The San Francisco Giants baseball team is a Major League team that plays at AT&T Park which opened in 2000. The stadium was actually the cornerstone project of the South Beach and Mission Bay redevelopment. The sports team hit the diamond season after season for 52 years before winning the World Series in 2010.