In this part in VS .NET

Generation DataMatrix in VS .NET In this part

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Knowing when to go and how to get there Getting to know the neighborhoods and how to get around Choosing the best places to stay and dine Seeing the sights, shopping, and finding good times in the night

an Francisco continues to be one of America s most enticing destinations This former gold-rush rowdy may not always bask in the sunny weather of its Southern California sisters, but where else can you sample a touch of Asia, a bit of Parisian joie de vivre, a taste of Central America, a hint of Italy, and a good dollop of West Coast style and eccentricity in a single day San Francisco s secret weapon is its winning combination of big-city sophistication and small-town accessibility You can always discover something new in the unique neighborhoods of this walking town, from restored Victorian homes to amusing shops to some of the greatest restaurants in the country The dot-com implosion, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the general economic malaise that followed certainly left the city reeling but only for a while Office space no longer goes begging and long-awaited civic improvements have been completed Market Street, at Fifth Street, now sports a spiffy new shopping center that rivals nothing, actually The new de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park opened to appreciative crowds in October 2005; Union Square, in the heart of downtown, looks glorious after a much-needed nip and tuck; and the exquisite glass Conservatory of Flowers, also in Golden Gate Park, is back in business after a violent storm nearly destroyed it in 1995 San Francisco s impressive brick-and-concrete baseball park, the miracle on Third Street, has changed the face of a once-neglected corner of the bay, and the waterfront, lined with palm trees, awash in views, and traversed by vintage trolley cars, is a picture of urban glory, starring the remodeled and revitalized Ferry Building What never fails to beguile visitors and locals alike are the much-loved symbols that are synonymous with the city The Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Palace of Fine Arts, the cable cars, and Chinatown have changed little over the decades, thank goodness And despite good-natured grumbling from the natives regarding the good old days, the city of San Francisco has never looked so vibrant

San Francisco is a year-round city, usually draped in mild to cool temperatures and fog-bound mornings, especially during the summer If weather is a factor warm weather, that is come in September or early October when the city traditionally experiences a hot spell These, naturally, are the busiest months in the hotel trade, right up there with summer vacation Be sure to book lodgings ahead of time to ensure a decent place to stay, and inquire about air conditioning if that s important to you older hotel buildings don t have it Winter tends to be cold and drizzly (although we ve enjoyed fair skies and mild temperatures in Jan), but you can often get fantastic deals on hotel rooms after the holidays In early spring, the flowering plum trees are in bloom and, though the skies may pour, you may also find drought conditions Ya just never know It s always an excellent idea to check dates with the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau (% 800-220-5747 or 415-391-2000; wwwonlyinsanfranciscocom) to avoid scheduling your vacation during MacWeek or any other large convention, when hotels and restaurants are jammed

Although you can meander to San Francisco by car or by rail, flying into the region is the recommended option And the Bay Area has two convenient airports to make flying an even more palatable choice: San Francisco International (SFO; % 650-821-8211; wwwflysfo com), 14 miles south of downtown Oakland International Airport (% 510-563-3300; wwwfly

oaklandcom), across the Bay Bridge off I-880

More airlines fly into the considerably larger SFO, but navigating the less crowded, two-terminal Oakland airport is easier Plus, getting to Oakland International from downtown San Francisco can take just a half-hour, traffic permitting You ll find tourist information desks on the first floor (baggage level) of both airports, as well as ATMs located in every terminal on the upper levels