Grant Plaza Hotel
465 Grant Avenue (map)
San Francisco, CA 94108

Reservations 800.472.6899

www.GrantPlaza.com

Located one block inside the gate to Chinatown, the Grant Plaza is within minutes of San Francisco's restaurants and theaters. The rooms are comfortable and modest with modern furnishings and the latest amenities.

We’ve reserved eight rooms of either one double bed or two twin beds at $69. Rates will be adjusted to $74 if fewer than four rooms are reserved. All rates are subject to a 14% city hotel tax.

To make a reservation, please . To get the group rate you need to mention the "Mark and Velma Wedding Group." The hotel will send you a confirmation email, at which time you should call the hotel and give them your credit card information. If you have any trouble, please let Velma know.

San Francisco Airport (SFO) is the most convenient airport to fly in to. There is public transit from the airport to San Francisco proper via BART.

Oakland Airport (OAK) is just across the bay. If you fly in to Oakland, you give up any chance of us picking you up (sorry). But you can take a shuttle from the airport to BART, and then it's probably only 40 minutes to San Francisco.

San Jose Airport (SJC) is about 50 miles and about an hour's drive from San Francisco, with no easy transit in between. So unless you really want to rent a car and deal with parking hassles, try to fly in to SFO.

Alcatraz
It's touristy, but it's really cool. Get your tickets way in advance if you want to go.
www.nps.gov/alcatraz

Muir Woods
Great old-growth redwoods just north of Golden Gate Bridge.
www.nps.gov/muwo

Golden Gate Park
Soooo many things to do in Golden Gate Park — the Japanese Tea Garden, the new DeYoung Museum with the Quilts of Gee's Bend exhibit, the butterfly exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers.

Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
Take a jacket, it's often windy.

Chinatown
www.sanfranciscochinatown.com

Haight-Ashbury
Center of the long-gone hippie culture of the 1960s, this trendy neighborhood is now a whole new scene with upscale boutiques, Internet cafés, and hip restaurants. Haight Street, between Masonic and Stanyan.

The Mission
Where we live. Highlights include: Modern Times Bookstore, Delores Park, Mission Delores, Borderlands Bookstore(all science fiction and fantasy), Ritual Roasters, Osento bathhouse for women, Pancho Villa (best burrito around), Candystore (carried Velma's scarves), Tartine Bakery (killer french pastries), Imagiknit (first store to carry Ozark Handspun), and many other colorful characters, restaurants, and shops.

Asian Art Museum
www.asianart.org

North Beach
The Italian district, just next to Chinatown, Broadway at Columbus Avenue. Highlights include: XOX Truffles, City Lights Bookstore, and Coit Tower.

California Palace of the Legion of Honor
Has a great Renoir exhibit.

Union Square
If you must shop 'til you drop, this is the place to do it. Bordered by Powell, Stockton, Post, and Geary Streets. And nearby, check out natural cosmetics store Lush and the Apple Store.

Union Street
Not to be confused with Union Square, this is a great shopping district with many of the same shops and boutiques, with the charm and uniqueness that a neighborhood of Victorians can provide. Overall, a much more pleasant shopping experience.

The Castro
San Francisco's famous gay and lesbian neighborhood is filled with interesting cafés, bars, and shops worth exploring. The Castro Theatre draws movie buffs year-round with film festivals and movies of every genre.

SF Museum of Modern Art
www.sfmoma.org