The ABC’s of San Francisco

So many things come to mind when I think of San Francisco; Alcatraz, the Bridges and the Bay, cable cars and China Town to name just a few.  We have been several times over the years and always enjoy our time there and while it is a great city to explore, I also highly recommend if time permits, hopping on the ferry to Sausalito or venturing out to Napa, Monterrey and Carmel by the Sea.  Beautiful scenic drives, and if you’re not comfortable with renting a car there are a number of affordable day trips that can give you an over view.

For whatever reason we never really had the desire to visit Alcatraz on our first few trips, however on one of our cruises, we had a one day stop  and decided we would see what it was all about.  Alcatraz tours are extremely popular so I would definitely say you should prebook your tickets.  If arriving by cruise ship, the ticket booth and dock are just a very short walk from where the large ships dock.  If you are coming from the other direction, it’s a short walk from Pier 39.

Kind of hard to explain but there is just an overall spooky vibe as you approach the island by water.  The boat ride takes approximately 15 minutes.

Much to our surprise we absolutely loved the self guided tour!  Very interesting and interactive- it provided a lot of stories and information in a very entertaining way (and at our own pace).  Not sure I would be up for a night time tour because I’m a bit of chicken but we both agreed that we would highly recommend it and we now can see why it is so popular.

Fishermans Wharf is a large touristy area of the city located along the waterfront made up of several shops, hotels and restaurants.  The Bugs were delighted to find an In n Out burger as well as many other great options.

A large section of Fishermans Wharf includes Pier 39.  Yes it’s very touristy but its also a great place to walk around.  There’s several places to eat and shop as well as an arcade and carousel.

One of the highlights of Pier 39 is the sea lions.  We always love to visit them and watch as they relax and interact with each other.

Also located at Pier 39 is Aquarium of the Bay.  Nice place to visit however if aquariums are your thing and you have transportation, Monterey Bay Aquarium has much more to offer.

San Francisco’s China Town is not only the largest China Town outside of Asia, it is also the oldest China Town in North America.  Great place to stroll around, shop and get something to eat.

Another interesting and vibrant neighbourhood worth exploring is the area of Haight & Ashbury (named after the intersecting streets of Haight and Ashbury).  This area is full of cool shops and restaurants and was made famous in the 60’s “Summer of Love” with peace. love and rock n’ roll.  Lots of history here.

Just past the Fisherman’s Wharf area, along the water is Ghirardelli Square, a pretty little plaza in a park like setting, originally home to the headquarters of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.  Nothing overly unique to see, but a nice little spot with pretty views.

Our trips to the fabulous city of San Francisco never disappoint however I think a large part of the appeal of Northern California is all of the explorable surrounding areas.  If time permits, 17 mile Drive, Pebble Beach and Muir Woods are all also worth a visit.