As the midwest and northeast shiver under grey skies and layers of sleet, San Francisco offers a break. March is still officially rainy season in the Bay Area, but it will just as likely be sunny, clear and warm. In either case, the temperate climate allows for undiminished opportunities for playing tourist.

The Orchard Hotel is one block above Union Square, two blocks from the Chinatown Gate and a nice walk (or short ride) from the historic Ferry Building and Embarcadero Center.

Many of downtown San Francisco's visitor attractions are famous, from the restaurants and bookstores of North Beach and the dizzying drive down Lombard Street to the wax museum, fresh seafood and cable cars at Fisherman's Wharf.

Here are a few lesser-known San Francisco destinations:

• Fun place for a stroll: The Mission, San Francisco's biggest Latino community

• Stunning view of the city: San Francisco Art Institute's open, second-floor courtyard

• Smelly and meat-eating jungle plants (and those more beautiful and sweet-scented): Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park

It's a perfect time of year to visit the wine country, about one-and-a-half hours from downtown San Francisco. And just a BART-ride away is the East Bay (including Oakland and Berkeley), with plenty to see and do:

• The University of California at Berkeley campus: sports events, films, museums (such as Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, home to Ishi artifacts)

• La Peña Cultural Center (social awareness, dramatic, musical and literary events)

• Freight & Salvage Coffee House (traditional music)

• Oakland Museum of California (California history, arts and culture)

• Jack London Square (once the stomping grounds of one of Oakland's most colorful literary figures, Jack London Square is the premier destination in the East Bay to dine and check out the sights)