See what the experts are saying about Brownsville. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Introduction
In my early 20s, I took the requisite college student's pilgrimage to Europe, exploring its finer train stations and sleeping on the premier park benches from London to Istanbul. I was relatively anonymous -- just another tanned and skinny, b... Continue reading »
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Frommer's favorite experiences
Riding a Cable Car: It's the quintessential San Francisco experience, taking the Powell-Hyde cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf. When you reach the top of Nob Hill, grab the rail with one hand and hold your camera with the other, because you... Continue reading »
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Best dining bets
The Best Restaurants San Francisco's Finest: Restaurant Michael Mina, 335 Powell St., Union Square (tel. 415/397-9222), is the place to go for Union Square fine dining. Dozens of fancifully presented small portions add up to a delightfully... Continue reading »
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The best architectural landmarks
The Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco): More tomato red than golden, the famous bridge remains the cheery hallmark of the San Francisco skyline. It's also an excellent expanse to walk. The Painted Ladies (San Francisco): The so-called "Pai... Continue reading »
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The best authentic experiences
Hot-Air Ballooning over Napa Valley: Sure, you have to rise at dawn to do it, but drifting over the Napa Valley's vineyards in a balloon is the best way to view the verdant, undulating hills, meticulously striped with vines and bordered by mo... Continue reading »
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The best beaches
Sonoma Coast State Beaches: Stretching 10 miles from Bodega Bay to Jenner, these sands draw 300 bird species. Look for osprey from December to September, seal pups from March to June, and gray whales from December to April.. Santa Cruz's B... Continue reading »
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The best family vacations
San Francisco: The City by the Bay will entertain every member of the family. If you're traveling with kids, ride the cable cars that "climb halfway to the stars," visit the Exploratorium, the Metreon, the zoo, the ships at the National Marit... Continue reading »
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The best golf courses
Pebble Beach Golf Links: The famous 17-Mile Drive is the site of 10 national championships and the celebrity-laden AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The nearby Pacific and a backdrop of the Del Monte Forest almost justify the astronomical gr... Continue reading »
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The best inns and bed & breakfasts
Hotel Boheme (San Francisco; tel. 415/433-9111) is the perfect mixture of art, style, class, romance, and location -- just steps from the sidewalk cafes of North Beach. If Bette Davis were alive today, this is where she'd stay. St. Orres (... Continue reading »
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The best luxury hotels
The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco (Nob Hill; tel. 800/241-3333), is the sine qua non of luxury hotels, offering near-perfect service and every possible amenity. Even if you can't afford a guestroom come for the mind-blowing Sunday brunch. The... Continue reading »
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The best museums
de Young Museum (San Francisco): The city's oldest museum was rebuilt from the ground up, and in late 2005 debuted as one of San Francisco's top attractions. Anchored in beautiful Golden Gate Park, surrounded by stunning flora, and shimmering... Continue reading »
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The best natural attractions
Redwood National and State Parks: Acres of inconceivably massive redwood trees, up to 350 feet tall, tower over thick, lush, oversized ferns, mosses, and wild orchids in the old-growth forests along the Northern California coast. Walking thro... Continue reading »
