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If you are looking for a vacation the entire family will love, San Francisco may be just the right destination you are looking for to find family fun. There is much to see and do in this beautiful California city located on the bay. San Francisco is full of history, culture and entertainment. With such diversity, there is truly something for everyone.

An event the whole family will love is a trolley tour through San Francisco. Most of the tours are narrated as you drive through various areas of the city. You'll see landmark sights such as the Exploratorium, Presidio, Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory and Chinatown. This is a great tour for families with children because the kids love the open window structure of the trolley; it's a terrific way to keep them interested in sight-seeing.

The tours usually offer a few stops where you can get out and stretch your legs, including one at the Golden Gate Bridge. The great thing about these tours is they are an excellent opportunity where you can make note of sights you want to see again for an extended visit at another point in your vacation. On our trip in 2006, we found the trolley ride was invaluable when planning out the rest of the week.

Alcatraz is a great family outing. A word of advice is to purchase your tickets early, either before you arrive or shortly after your arrival to San Francisco. You'll want to plan to spend several hours there, it's worth it. To get to the island you will embark upon a ferry ride which the kids find a blast. There is a lot of walking once you reach Alcatraz Island, so if you have young ones you may want to consider bringing a stroller to use once you arrive.

Upon your arrival to the island you have the freedom to walk around and explore the former prison and military base. Many of the buildings have been worn down and eroded by the wind and salty waters, and visiting the inside of the prison is really something to see. Many of the cells are set up to look exactly the way certain prisoners had them arranged. When you pay your admission, consider paying the extra couple of bucks for the self-guided audio tour, it really enhances the experience when viewing the prison.

When in San Francisco, the piers are a must see. As you stroll the piers, if you are interested in history, check out the Pampanito and the Liberty on Pier 45. The latter was off to New York the week we visited, but we took the submarine tour. Positively a worthwhile and educational experience if your family enjoys this kind

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