[earl]

The computer history museum is worth visiting. They have an actual implementation of Babbage's Difference Engine No 2. It's a mechanical calculator that calculates up to 7th degree polynomials to 17 (IIRC) degrees of accuracy. Babbage didn't actually get it built during his life, but two have been made. The one in the museum will retire to Nathan Myhrvold's (sp?) living room at the end of this year. They actually run it for a couple calculations each day; I can't recommend seeing it enough.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Difference_engine

Also, for the record, winter in SF is cold, at least for CA. Plan for lows in the 40s and highs in the high 60s.

Some of the hacker spaces down south, in the valley proper, might be fun too. Dunno. Depends what you want out of the vacation.

Also, I wouldn't go to Ocean beach. Too many junkies and too many needles. Rent a car and drive south along CA 1. It parallels the coast more or less and there are beaches along the road for at least an hour south.