A few good questions about San Francisco.(Chicago Tribune)

Q. What's the best way to see it all?

A. San Francisco is a great walking city, it's relatively compact, and the coolness keeps you refreshed _ but the hills can make your calves scream.

Solomon's rule: Walk if you can handle it, as much as you can, but don't be an idiot. A ride on a cable car costs $2; the streetcars, buses and Muni subway are a buck, and they're easy to figure out. The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is another option for longer distances (fares vary).

Taxis aren't cheap, but distances are short _ so tourists staying near Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf can get to most tourist places for about $8 or less, no matter how many are in the cab.

Walk there, and ride back, works for me.

Q. How about driving?

A. It's possible _ people do it _ but the hills can throw rookies, especially if you're driving something with a manual shift. Plus, hotels routinely charge $30 and more to garage the car. Parking is nuts (and has its tricks, especially on hills). Remember, you can walk to a lot of places. Public transportation is efficient, safe, even fun.

So: Do the math, …