by Louise G. Crawford

San Francisco will always be my second favorite city, after Brooklyn of course. We spent the weekend at the Nob Hill Hotel, a small, boutique hotel on Hyde Street near downtown. Decked out in French boudoir style – the hotel is a lot more modest than the name suggests. But it was clean, the friendly staff was helpful, and the guests were a nice bunch of European travelers. Continental breakfast in the small restaurant downstairs was a convivial affair with Costco muffins, weird bagels, and decent coffee.

My mother flew in from New York to spend the weekend with me and my kids. My husband was off at the Monterey Historics, an annual race of historic cars at Laguna Seca Race Track. So it was up to me, Brooklyn-girl,  to show my mother San Francisco. And I must say I’ve become a pretty good tour guide.

After years of visiting San Francisco, I know all the cool spots to take tourists. And I deserve a medal for finding activities to satisfy an 8-year-old, a 14-year-old, and an 78-year old.  Not the easiest task.

First and foremost I wanted to give her views: Nob Hill, Lombard Street, and Coit Tower. Art: The Museum of Modern Art. Sights: Fisherman’s Wharf, the Tall Ship Balcutha, the Museum Mechanique, the Metreon. History: the Palace Hotel and the Ferry Building.  Fun: A cable car ride up California Street.

We didn’t do Pacific Heights, North Beach (City Lights Bookstore), or Haight Ashbury. But I think she had fun. And we did find some tasty food and California wine at Maxfields in the Palace Hotel, the Hyde Street Bistro, Tai Chi (my sister-in-law’s favorite nabe Chinese place on Polk Street), Dungeness Crab and Corn Chowder at the Mermaid Grill, and Asian noodle soup in the great food court in the Metreon.

For me, the fun of San Francisco is walking the hilly streets, the light, the views, the architecture, observing the locals, poking into fun shops, plugging in at Internet cafes and browsing in bookshops. I didn’t get to do too much of that this time around – busy tour guide me – but I did find a perfect little cafe on Sutter Street for eavesdropping and e-mailing.

Back on the farm, I am invalid girl with a strained calf muscle. We’re off to the town pool for a swim and a therapeutic soak. It’s so gorgeous out here – I am staring at a voluptuous rose bush, walnut trees, a big blue sky and Mount Osso in the distance. Couldn’t be farther from the Nob Hill Hotel (or Park Slope for that matter) – but California is full of wonderful contrasts.