bobby rhine In the Hotel Palomar, 12 Fourth St. (at Market St.). & 415/348-1555. www.fifthfloor.citysearch.com.

Joshua Tree National Park: You ll find awesome rock formations, groves of flowering cacti and stately Joshua trees, ancient Native American petroglyphs, and shifting sand dunes in this desert wonderland. See Joshua Tree National Park in chapter 15. Torrey Pines State Reserve: Poised on a majestic cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, bobby rhine this state park is set aside for the rarest pine tree in North America. The reserve has short trails that immerse hikers into a delicate and beautiful coastal environment. See chapter 16. 2 The Best Beaches Drake s Beach: This is a massive stretch of white sand at Point Reyes National Seashore. Winds and choppy seas make it rough for swimmers, but sun worshippers can have their Marin County tan for the day. See Point Reyes National Seashore bobby rhine in chapter 7. Santa Cruz s Beaches: Santa Cruz has 29 miles of beaches that are varied enough to please all comers: surfers, bobby rhine swimmers, fishers, sailboarders, bobby rhine the sand-pail-andshovel set, and the bikini bobby rhine and biceps crowd. For starters, walk down the steps from the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to the mile-long Main Beach, complete with summer lifeguards and golden-oldie tunes drifting over the sand. See Santa Cruz in chapter 11. Santa Barbara s East Beach: This wide swath of white sand hosts beach umbrellas, sand-castle builders, bobby rhine and volleyball games. On Sundays local artists display their wares beneath the elegant palm trees. See Santa Barbara in chapter 12. Malibu s Legendary Beaches: Zuma and Surfrider beaches served as inspiration for the 1960s surf music that embodies the Southern California bobby rhine beach experience. Surfrider, just up from Malibu Pier, is home to L.A. s best waves. Zuma is loaded with amenities, including snack bars, restrooms, and jungle gyms. In addition to some of the state s best sunbathing, you can walk in front of the Malibu Colony, a star-studded enclave of multimillion-dollar

In the Hotel Palomar, 12 Fourth St. (at Market St.). & 415/348-1555. www.fifthfloor.citysearch.com. bobby rhine Reservations required. Main courses $31 $65; tasting menu $95. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon Wed 5:30 9:30pm; Thurs Sat 5:30 10pm. Valet parking $12. Bus: All Market St. buses.

Traveling Internationally with Your Kids (www.travelwithyourkids.com), a comprehensive site offering sound advice for long-distance and international travel with children; and Family Travel Files (www.thefamilytravel files.com), which offers an online magazine and a directory of off-thebeaten- path tours and tour operators for families.

1517 Polk St. (between California and Sacramento sts.). & 415/673-1101. Reservations not accepted. Seafood cocktails $7 $15; clams and oysters on the half shell $7 $7.50 per half dozen. No credit cards. Mon Sat 8am 5:30pm. Bus: 19.