When you visit San Francisco, you may stop by Emeryville and Berkeley where are located on I - 80 and just at the other side of the Bay Bridge (about 15 mins drive from SF downtown). There is a wonderful view of San Francisco Bay from Berkeley Marina (at the end of University Ave in Berkeley; on I-80 East , exit University Ave and immediately turn left). You may have lunch or dinner at Skate restaurant (about $ 25/meal) and enjoy the SF bay view. The international kite festival is held in Berkeley Marina every year in the last weekend of July. You may also visit University of California, Berkeley (try Blondies Pizza ($3 a big slice) or the Crepe shop on the telegraph street) and Tilden park (Lawrence Hall of Science located) where you can see the beautiful night view of the S.F. bay. http://sv.berkeley.edu/view/index.html

Hope this add something interesting to your SF trip.

Maggie Near San Francisco, U.S.A.