Sunfinder Vacations

A large hotel on Fisherman's Wharf, the modern-themed Sheraton comprises six low-rise buildings interconnected by both indoor and outdoor walkways. Vacationing families congregate at the Sol Restaurant or by the outdoor pool; convention and corporate groups hustle between the fitness center and the conference rooms. Lively happy hour is offered in the Spressi Bar. Wireless Internet access is available throughout.

This newly renovated (May 2008) hotel puts guests in an ideal spot in San Francisco, less than two blocks from Union Square. The Financial District and Moscone Convention Center are within one mile. Business travelers mix with vacationers in the elegant lobby, which is accented by a cozy fireplace.

What to expect: Across from the waterfront, this creatively converted brick warehouse is a virtual dry-dock cruise liner. The nautical-themed lobby sports navy-blue deck chairs, a replica of an astronomer's clock above the fireplace, decorative sails, a whimsical fish-patterned rug, and shipshape plank floors. The Maritime National Historic Park Visitors Center shares the 1907 building; admission is complimentary.

Amenity highlights: Stylish and family-friendly, this San Francisco boutique hotel brims with charm and personality.

The Blue Mermaid Chowder House & Bar, just off the lobby, features six savory chowders, including the award-winning Dungeness Crab & Corn Chowder. Weather permitting, guests can dine alfresco on a patio facing Del Monte Square.

The Argonaut hosts a wine reception each evening.

Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas.

Insider tip: The big, boisterous Laffing Sal automaton, the Kiss-O-Meter, and elaborate mechanical dioramas such as the Carnival and the Farm (with 150 moving figures and objects) are just a few of the wonders of the Musée Mécanique, one of the area’s lesser-known treasures. Admission is free; a quarter or two will bring these old-time marvels to life. The museum is at Pier 45, about four blocks from the hotel.

What to expect: The red-brick Hyatt is just two blocks from Fisherman's Wharf. Manicured gardens with semitropical plants flank the entrance. Beyond the lobby is the hotel's popular Knuckles Sports Bar, housed in a century-old marble factory. With its wealth of amenities, this upscale hotel is ideal for guests who want to stay near Fisherman's Wharf, but not directly amid the crowds and bustle.

Insider tip: Boudin Bakery, three blocks from the hotel, has long been a Fisherman's Wharf favorite. Now it's even better, with a bakery tour that includes samplings of its famous sourdough bread and other treats. Be sure to check out the breads in creative shapes such as lobsters, crabs, teddy bears, and even cable cars. Tours are held daily except Tuesday (surcharge; complimentary for children under 12).

Amenity highlights: This San Francisco hotel is home to Fournou’s Ovens, serving creative Mediterranean and American cuisine prepared in an exhibition kitchen. The restaurant is also renowned for its 5,000-bottle wine cellar stocked with local and international vintages.

On weekdays, the hotel provides complimentary Town Car service to the Financial District and Union Square. The lobby includes a staffed business center and wireless Internet access (surcharge).

With a prime location two blocks from Fisherman’s Wharf, the Tuscan Inn is a popular choice for vacationing families. In the morning, guests relax on sofas by the lobby fireplace reading the newspaper, checking e-mail via complimentary wireless access, and planning the day’s activities. Italian-inspired decor includes brocade tapestries, trompe l’oeil paintings, and a colorful flower-filled courtyard.

Established in 1904, this grande dame hotel presides over Union Square in the heart of San Francisco. The lobby is a destination unto itself, with dazzling chandeliers, stately columns, and a soaring coffered ceiling. The knowledgeable concierge staff includes members of the prestigious Les Clef d'Or. Guests over the years have included U.S. presidents, international royalty, and movie legends.

Host to presidents, celebrities, and the traveling elite, this palatial Nob Hill hotel has been a social hub since opening in 1907. An $85-million restoration in 2001 resurrected the remarkable vision of architect Julia Morgan. Now tourists, celebrities, heads of state, and locals come to experience the top-notch service and admire the grand façade, Corinthian columns, and gilded-relief ceilings.

Business and leisure travelers with an eye for value return to this stylish boutique San Francisco hotel for its attentive service and reasonable price. The ornate lobby, with its Spanish-Moroccan décor, gilded columns,

Guests, ranging from celebrities and business travelers to vacationing families, enter another world when they check into this San Francisco hotel. Built in 1915, a facelift in the 1990s incorporated a 25-foot-ceilinged lobby into a surreal landscape with plaster walls, limestone floors, a hand-carved reception desk, and a gigantic Louis XVI chair.

With its art nouveau ambience, this small hotel is located near the heart of San Francisco's Financial District. The lobby showcases natural historical elements and features the glamour of the 1940s. Weekend vacationers take advantage of the downtown location, only two blocks from Union Square shopping. Guests are offered a complimentary glass of wine in front of the lobby fireplace each evening.

Amenity highlights: High above the city on the hotel's 36th floor, Grandviews Restaurant and Lounge provides incredible views of the skyline, bay, and famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. Wireless Internet access (surcharge) is available throughout the hotel. Self-service kiosks by the front desk allow guests to print their boarding passes and check in and out with ease. The well-equipped Hyatt Stay Fit Gym is open 24 hours a day.

Insider tip: Once notorious for its “ladies of the night,” Maiden Lane, a half-block from the hotel, is now an elegant shopping promenade. Designer boutiques such as Chanel and Escada line the narrow lane. Be sure to stop by San Francisco’s only Frank Lloyd Wright building, home to the high-end Xanadu Gallery, at 140 Maiden Lane. The interior features the same spiral-ramp style as Wright’s Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Proximity to the baseball stadium, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the financial district makes this a popular choice for business travelers. Although small in stature, Harbor Court Hotel is big on views—many guestrooms offer panoramic vistas of San Francisco Bay. In the evening, entrepreneurs, baseball fans, and vacationers avoid the hectic downtown scene and relax by the lobby fireplace.

What to expect: The Palace Hotel debuted in 1875 as one of the country's first luxury hotels, complete with vaulted ceiling, gold-leaf sconces, and Austrian-crystal chandeliers. After a meticulous restoration, it again exudes the white-gloved elegance of a bygone era. The hotel's crown jewel is the Garden Court, where guests enjoy tea or indulge in the lavish Sunday Jazz Brunch beneath a gorgeous stained-glass dome.

Amenity highlights: Unique Palace experiences include swimming in a skylit lap pool with curved vaulted ceiling; brunch in the opulent Garden Court; and cocktails in the Pied Piper Bar, with its Maxfield Parrish mural The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Maxfield’s Restaurant, named after Parrish, showcases innovative California cuisine in a richly historic setting, including a mosaic floor from 1909. Sushi and classic Japanese dinners get top billing at Kyo-ya restaurant.

Insider tip: For a behind-the-scenes look at the hotel's history--including high-society scandal, famous guests such as Oscar Wilde and Enrico Caruso, the Great Earthquake of 1906, and political events that impacted the world--take the complimentary City Guides walking tour. The tour begins in the lobby on Tuesday and Saturday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Details are available at the front desk.

What to expect: Radisson Hotel Fisherman's Wharf is a popular hotel within several blocks of attractions, tourist shops, seafood and Italian restaurants, street performers, and Pier 39. Shops, restaurants, a 24-hour convenience store, and other retail outlets are located on the same block as the hotel.

Amenity highlights: In addition to complimentary hotel-wide wireless Internet access, guests at this Radisson in San Francisco have access to a 24-hour business center. A fitness center with cardio equipment and free weights is also available 24 hours a day. A heated, freeform pool surrounded by a patio and lounge chairs is open year-round.

Insider tip: Pier 39, 1 block from the hotel, is home to numerous shops and restaurants. It is also home to the Aquarium of the Bay, is the departure point for ferry cruises, and is the setting for multi-talented street performers. A surprise attraction for many visitors is the population of sea lions--up to 900 flippered mammals during winter months.

A personal greeter welcomes guests arriving at the palatial Nob Hill hotel with its gleaming polished-marble lobby overflowing with fresh flowers and decorated with 18th- and 19th-century works of art. Guests can expect superior service in a residential setting at this destination property dating from 1909, making it a magnet for celebrities, weekenders, and discerning business and vacation travelers.

This luxurious resort, opened in 2001 along a remote stretch of Northern California coastline, is just over the mountains from Silicon Valley and only 30 miles south of San Francisco, but it feels like a million light-years from civilization. A more relaxed, residential style makes the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay a popular destination for vacationing families, wedding parties, and couples.