The unique experience you will embark on during a visit to San Francisco is such that doing it justice will be difficult, but I will try to.

Fisherman's Wharf is very much a tourist attraction now. In past years concentrating primarily on it's fishing industry, there is now much more money to be made in tourism. (Fishing boats do still go out and you can see them when docked at the numerous piers on the water front.)
The Wharf area is a little chaotic, packed with shoppers and sightseers alike, but should not be missed. Home to some of the most exquisite seafood restaurants (I recommend Vannellis) and Pier 39 (a 2 level pier/shopping mall with over 100 shops), you can also take a ferry to Alcatraz Island (I have reviewed this seperately), cruise around the bay, or watch the infamous sea lions that frequent there.
Views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge are fantastic on a clear day but the fog in SF bay frequently obscures vision.

Russian Hill is very much a residential area, maybe less opulant than some but just as beautiful. Immaculate cottages with well kept gardens make it very pleasing to the eye. Russian Hill is also home of Lombard Street which claims to be the crookedest street in the world. Not only extremely crooked (7 very tight bends) but also on a slope, Lombard Street is more appreciated by sight than experience.

Telegraph Hill, another desired residential location is probably best known for Coit Tower. The 210ft monument was built as a tribute to the firefighters who battled to save lives and properties in the devastating earthquake of 1906. Inside the tower is a very interesting musuem of Californian life in the 1930's, but the views from the top of the tower are the ultimate reward for your visit.

Pizza and pasta restaurants flourish in North Beach and for garlic lovers the infamous Stinking Rose restaurant can be found there, along side the traditional style cafes and bakeries. Not only are the eateries very appealing, but you will find a number of fashion boutiques and bars too. Caution should be taken in chosing which bars you enter as some are a little seedy.

The Financial District is very much as it sounds. Also known as Wall Street West, this is the centre of banking/finance in SF and home of the skyscrapers. You cannot fail to notice the Transamerica Pyramid, SF's tallest building, an amazing 48 stories, at a height of 853 ft. The chrome and glass design is without a doubt very different to the general style of building in SF but still a magnificent structure.
The Bank Of California has exhibits of old and gold coins, and the Wells Fargo History Room in the Wells Fargo Museum has memororabilia from the 1849 gold rush so it is well worth taking a look while in the area.
The Embarcadero Centre is a modern 5 building complex of offices, shops and restaurants, and the Justin Herman Plazza and Hyatt Regency Hotel.

South of Market Street, known as SoMa, is the place to go for trendy galleries and nightclubs. Once a rundown and dreary expanse of empty warehouses and industrial buildings, it is now the art and nightlife centre of SF. Daytime appeal is the factory outlets offering great fashion at bargain prices, the Moscone Convention Centre and the Yerba Buena Gardens, several acres of beautiful landscaping.

Haight-Ashbury was the centre of free love in the 60's. 'Flower Children' flocked to The Haight for the Summer of Love and free concerts in the park. Among the performers were the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin. Some of the free love spirit has lived on in generations of today and you will find a number of shops and lively bars/nightclubs representing this, but you are just as likely to meet a 'yuppie' as a 'hippie' in this thriving area.

Richmond and Sunset, the residential areas either side of the Golden Gate Park, are mixed in ethnic origin. If you are looking for eateries which cater for all tastes, you are sure to find something here. Quite unusual in being on flat ground (SF is known for it's hills), Richmond and Sunset sit close to the Pacific Ocean. Breathtaking views are spoilt only on occasion by fog. Ocean Beach which lays beneath Richmond is popular for surfers and walkers but swimming is not recommended due to the strong currents and high winds that prevail.

The Civic Centre, the collective name given to a group of state and federal buildings, is a classic example of some of the finest Renaissance architecture you will see in SF. The magnificent City Hall building with it's green and gold dome, and the curved glass front of the Symphony Hall are glorious sights of which you are unlikely to see elsewhere.

Should you decide to visit SF for yourself, here are a few 'tourist' things to note...
� Smoking is prohibited in many public areas including outdoors so if in any doubt, don't light up.
� Drinking laws in SF are very strict. You must be over 21 to purchase and consume alcohol. Be prepared to show your passport for proof of age as if the serving staff are in any doubt at all of you being old enough they will not serve you.
� If you are driving remember that seatbelts, as in the UK, are compulsory. It is also illegal to drive with any alcholic beverages open in the vehicle so don't let your passengers drink.
� On most street corners you will find free guides giving listings of things to do, places to go, restaurants to try and any special events that are coming up. These are very handy.
� The weather in SF is not always too good. Fog quite often covers the bay until around 10am and reappears around 4pm. Rain is not that frequent but wind is. Warm clothes are recommended!