Kudos to Executive Chef jW Foster and Pastry Chef Stephen Sullivan who are responsible for the construction of this year’s majestic life-sized gingerbread house, which is nearly double the size of last year’s stunning two-story display.

Lovingly built with 7,500 gingerbread bricks and 1,200 pounds of royal icing, the more than 20-foot-high house will be adorned by 650 pounds of colorful candies and over 12 gallons of chocolate, making this gingerbread ‘mansion’ the largest ever built by Fairmont Hotels.

Guests can also enjoy an enchanting 23-foot Christmas tree, the celebrated Molinari Family Nutcracker Collection on loan from the San Francisco Ballet and beautiful holiday decorations courtesy of Silk Peddlers.

The gingerbread house will be on display through January 1, 2012.

On Saturday, January 27th , at about 11:55 am, I was proven wrong for the second time that day. The first time happened during an early morning trip to Alcatraz Island while on a girlfriend getaway to San Francisco. I whined and complained, insisting we skip over this visit, or just do the spooky evening tour because, I argued, what the heck is so interesting about an old prison on a deserted island in the middle of San Francisco Bay?

I discovered, to the glee of my friends, who had put their collective foot down on seeing Alcatraz, that “The Rock” was a fascinating place. How could I possibly have thought an island full of riveting history, with a pretty cool retro prison whose cold steel gray walls echo with the voices of famous past inmates such as Al Capone and Richard Stroud, be at all boring? Add in gorgeous rock gardens bursting with color and laden with fragrant old roses, fantastic views of San Francisco Bay sparkling in the early morning sun, and I was hooked. I even wanted to sign up for all of the National Park events happening on island that day.

After being dragged back to the mainland by my friends, I then suggested, since we were only in San Francisco for the weekend, we ditch the waterfront and explore another part of the city After all I said, everyone knows that this city’s waterfront is not a happening place.

Again, incorrect.

By 11:55 am we’d paid a visit to the sea lions basking in the sun on Fisherman’s Wharf, checked out a chocolate warehouse on Pier 17, shopped along the outdoor market stalls on Market Street and finally ended up in San Francisco’s new Ferry Building for some retail therapy and lunch.

San Francisco’s waterfront is evolving into a unique and exciting destination thanks in part to the devastating earthquake in 1989. The old Embarcadero Freeway along the waterfront was severely damaged, so the city decided to demolish the remnants and instead develop a ground level boulevard connecting the city with a walkable, bikeable and livable waterfront space. There is no better way to enjoy a sunny morning in San Francisco than by walking along the waterfront exploring this revitalized part of the city, and I’m glad I was proven wrong.

Things to do on the Waterfront:

Alcatraz Ferry Terminal on Pier 33

Start with an early bird (remember the early bird catches the worm) ferry to Alcatraz Island provided through Alcatraz Tours. Buy your tickets online to avoid lineups. The bonus of going on the first ferry boat of the day is you’ll be sharing the boat with a mere few hundred people as opposed to thousands, and yes I’m exaggerating, but not by much!

Fisherman’s Wharf on Pier 39

Once you’ve made the return trip from Alcatraz, head over to Fishermen’s Wharf and take a peek at the sea lions, they are a spectacular sight. The numbers of lions have fluctuated in the last few years. In the past the wharf was home to thousands of these cute creatures but in 2009 they suddenly disappeared, and are now slowly trickling back to the relief of tourists and the city. No one knows why the lions left; but I’m thinking Fisherman’s Wharf was getting too touristy for them!

TCHO Chocolates on Pier 17

Halfway between the Alcatraz Tours and Ferry Building, stop at the TCHO Chocolate Warehouse, where you can take a tour, or sample some of their wonderful rich hot chocolate. If you’re a true fan of the dark, try ordering a TCHOspresso, it’s quite an eye opener!

This quote on TCHO’s homepage describes TCHO perfectly:

“You know that chocolate river in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Mr. Wonka takes a cup and dips it into the river, and when Charlie drinks it, it is perfectly creamy and delicious and warms him to his very toes. I’ve been looking for a chocolate experience like that for 40 years. The drinking chocolate – it is as close to chocolate nirvana as anyone will ever, ever get. I swear it. Now, go try it.” Yelp Feb 24, 2011

Hippie Nirvana

Head over to Market Street and Embarcadero, about a 10-minute walk from TCHO’s, to get a quick hippie fix at the outdoor stalls set up along Market Street, pick up one of many variations of peace sign jewelry and tie die creations on display throughout the market.

Ferry Building

End your morning on San Francisco’s waterfront at the newly restored Ferry Building. This newly restored building is chock full of cool, hip boutique shops and food markets. San Francisco’s largest farmers’ market is held there on Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am – 2pm, year-round.

For lunch head over to the legendary Slanted Door Restaurant for some Vietnamese-inspired deliciousness but be sure to make reservations beforehand or grab a seat at the bar because this place is popular!

San Francisco City Guides is currently offering regular walking tours of the Ferry Building. Tours are free and start at noon on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Tours coincide with the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

Sure, the City by the Bay is a foodie mecca, and judging from the healthy glow of its cyclers, joggers and weekend trailblazers, it’s just as wild about exercise and the outdoors. But take a moment to check out some of the girls’ outfits (like you weren’t already), and you’ll notice a distinct San Franciscan style. It’s laid-back and effortless but decidedly chic. And most often, eco-friendly and locally minded. But if you’re thinking poorly crafted hemp shoes, think again: in San Francisco, conscious consumerism looks as classy as the racks of Nordstrom.

Missing out on San Francisco’s unique, independent clothing boutiques would be like eating at the Cheesecake Factory instead of local favorite NOPA. Luckily, we’ve got a run-down of some of the best spots for you and your friends to experience quintessential SF style—and grab a couple souvenirs.

Ambiance

Quick: your friends have decided last-minute to get gussied up and eat at Slanted Door tonight. Or some cutie has asked you out on a date. But you’re living out of a suitcase and all your favorite dresses are in a closet thousands of miles away. What do you do? Head to Ambiance.

Anytime a girl in SF needs a new dress, she steps in under the black-and-white awning and surrenders to the cute looks and helpful staff of Ambiance. Consistently voted a favorite boutique by the readers of Bay Area weeklies, Ambiance’s three locations are jam-packed with vintage-inspired dresses, funky clothes, killer shoes and plenty of glittery accessories. Ambiance tends to lean on the dressy side of the style spectrum (no velor track suits here), so you’re practically guaranteed to find all the fixings for a hot outfit.

Five and Diamond

Amid the trendy boutiques, hip restaurants and down-and-dirty taquerias of the Valencia Corridor, one store stands out as truly original and unapologetically itself: Five and Diamond. Steampunk meets industrial chic in this one-of-a-kind boutique, featuring the high-quality, handmade works of local designers. Frilly bloomers, studded holsters and tawapa earrings might not be for everyone, but the more toned-down items can put a little SF edge into any girl’s look. (Ebony wood anatomical heart pendant—killer.)

Five and Diamond doesn’t just feel like a wearable art gallery. The space doubles as a design collective, hosting numerous events and art shows throughout the year and serving as an invaluable resource for the creative design community in San Francisco.

High-end, handmade items like these don’t come cheap, but do last nearly a lifetime. The knowledgeable, chill staff will help you make the right investment.

Wasteland

The 60s may be long-gone, but you can dig for wearable memorabilia at Haight Street’s Wasteland. Housed in a former Vaudeville theater, this vintage heavyweight features the crème de la crème of yesterday’s fashions. But don’t think tie-dyed shirts and flower-patched bell bottoms. Buyers here have an impeccable eye for retro chic—and, judging from all the 80s hair metal t-shirts, irony as well. Bedazzled sweaters, broken-in cowboy boots, 60s sunglasses and a wall of leather jackets serve as the fixings of a look worth its weight in SF street cred.

With satellite stores opening in other hip California locations like LA and Santa Monica, this mother store has a long history, and big reputation. Prices can be steep and the staff cooler-than-thou, but the appeal of Wasteland still surpasses any hipster drawbacks. And if nothing else, a look at the artsy mirrored façade is worth the trek.

Venus Superstar

An adventure is all things San Francisco, Venus Superstar is a well-kept local secret. But it shouldn’t be. Tucked unassumingly in the Nopa area, this is your spot for hand-made jewelry and edgy vamp dresses that add sophistication to your darker side. Most of the avant-garde goods are the works of local designers, including the coveted earrings, headpieces and necklaces of personable owner Rebeccah.

High-quality, handmade goods like these don’t come cheap, but neither does visiting a city like San Francisco—sometimes you just need to indulge. The boutique also features a healthy selection of vintage and vintage reconstructions, which tend to be a little friendlier to your pocketbook.

What else makes this independent boutique so quintessentially SF? How about handmade shopping bags printed on recycled paper? Eco-friendly never looked so cool.

Rag Co-Op

For an independent boutique that satisfies everyone’s style, head to Hayes Valley’s Rag Co-Op. It’s a co-op cum green-business cum community of good-looking. The sizeable space showcases over 70 local designers, with everything from chic t-shirts to ready-to-wear dresses to tailored blouses and skirts. It all conspires to create a warehouse of wearability where everyone from your mom to your teenage cousin can find something unique and purely San Francisco.

The curator/founder Blakely Bass isn’t just passionate about San Francisco fashion; she’s an environmentalist who’s all about building sustainable communities. Rag Co-Op is a San Francisco Green Business, meaning its carbon footprint is minimal. And, most likely, in the shape of a cute little pump.