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- San Francisco is very spread out, so a rental car is a great idea. Most locals drive.
- That said, parking is a challenge. Be ready for up to $40 overnight parking charge at some downtown hotels. You can always park the car near Golden Gate Park and take MUNI into town. Or the Stockton-Sutter or Mission Street garages are pretty good bargains.
- Public transportation is not free, but it's also more fun than in most cities. Do not leave without a ride on one of the vintage trams running up and down Market Street and the Embarcadero. They rival the cable cars for the fun factor. Ditto the ferries.
- Walk through Chinatown, Union Square and South of Market loop. Another day walk is the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf.
- Drive to Golden Gate Park and other outlying destinations. Rent a bike for a thrill ride over the Golden Gate Bridge, or just cruise around the Park.
- San Francisco has many modes of transit. When you have foot-weary kids, make some use out of the transit system. Ride San Francisco city tour buses, horse-drawn carriages, cable cars and ferries, vintage trams and even bright yellow Go Cars. While BART is an amazing system, MUNI (the city bus service) is not very family-friendly.