San Francisco is a compact city of world-class culture, historical landmarks, award-winning dining, outdoor adventures and nightlife - all wrapped up in a sparkling bay flanked by the famous Golden Gate Bridge, visible from hilly streets' whizzing cable cars. Even the unpredictable fog adds to the beauty.

The City by the Bay reflects its roots: A morning stroll down Fish Alley - Jefferson between Hyde and Jones - offers a chance to view fishermen at work, and an old saloon established in 1861 still stands in the city's North Beach neighborhood with cracked barstools and a dusty wooden floor. (It is one of the three oldest taverns in San Francisco, which somehow survived demolition by man and earthquakes, including the major one in 1906 that resulted in fire and widespread destruction.)

But today's San Francisco is playfully sophisticated with a mix of distinct contemporary neighborhoods like the tie-dye-wearing, peace-sign loving Haight; up-and-coming Deco Ghetto; swank Pacific Heights; and fabulously gay Castro - home to many of the city's GLTB (gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual) businesses and households. But with rainbow flags lining nearly every street, the culture has spread citywide: San Francisco is actually the self-proclaimed gay and lesbian capital of the world.

If your voyage begins or ends in this colorful California port, consider a pre- or post-cruise stay in one of a great variety of San Francisco Cruise Port hotels. The treats of San Francisco command more than a few hours: mah-jongg parlors in Chinatown, cable car rides over Nob Hill, the staircase down the very steep and crooked Lombard Street, the ferry ride to enchanting Sausalito across San Francisco Bay, and, of course, an escape to Alcatraz. If you forgot to set up your park and cruise package, there's patroled San Francisco Cruise Port parking 1/2 block away, and some of it is indoors. Too bad about missing out on those park and cruise savings, though. Try to have fun anyway.

10052017