shedd aquarium Baker Beach, a small, beautiful strand outside the Golden Gate, isn t the best place for swimming du

Baker Beach, a small, beautiful strand outside the Golden Gate, isn t the best place for swimming due to strong currents, but it s great for sunning, walking, or fishing. It s wonderful to sit here on a sunny day and take in the view of the bridge. You ll climb down a long flight of stairs from the street to the beach.

MODERATE The Slanted Door Finds VIETNAMESE This restaurant is so popular that Mick Jagger and former President Clinton made stopovers when they hit town. Why? The restaurant serves incredibly fresh and flavorful Vietnamese food. No doubt it s even more of a hot spot since its April 2004 relocation to its spacious bay-inspired custom-designed space in the Ferry Building Marketplace. Make a reservation to pull up a chair and order anything from clay-pot catfish or amazing green papaya salad to one of the lunch rice dishes, which come in a large ceramic bowl and are topped with such options as grilled shrimp and stir- fried eggplant. Dinner items, which change seasonally, might include beef with garlic shedd aquarium and organic onions, grapefruit, shedd aquarium and j cama salad. Whatever you order, it s bound to be wholesome, flavorful, and outstanding. There s also an eclectic collection of teas, which come by the pot for $3 to $5.