Fisherman’s Wharf: A Sight to Sea

Post by: Heather Wright Schlichti

Fishing boats, seafood stalls, sourdough bread and famous chocolates are all tell tale signs that you’re at the world-famous Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, named by Forbes magazine as one of the Top 10 most visited tourist attractions in the U.S.A.

What makes Fisherman’s Wharf a top tourist attraction?  I believe there are so many reasons but for a real taste of Fisherman’s Wharf (Travel Guide) I always stroll through Fresh Street Crab to purchase fresh crab and other seafood right on the street from local vendors.  For unique gifts Ghirardelli Square  is your best shopping stop and at Pier 39 I love to watch the sea lions flop around on the rocks. Have a quick bite of fresh seafood at Alioto’s, savor an Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista Café, munch on fresh sourdough bread at Boudins, and enjoy a margarita from Las Margaritas.  Kids will love the famous Wax Museum with 270 life-like wax personalities.  And for something a little offbeat the Musee Mecanique will fascinate anyone interested in antique musical instruments and turn of the century arcade machines.

This 500-mile cleft in the California coastline has a split personality. It is both a major center for water-borne commerce and a delightful excuse to just go play by the bay.

Waterfront Shopping and More

Whether shopping for clothing, souvenirs, or that “only in San Francisco” novelty, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for at one of the many unique shops in and around Fisherman’s Wharf.

For unique handcrafted pieces of art, One of a Kind features wonderful woodworking pieces by local artisans, jewelry boxes, pens, letter openers, coffee tables, mirrors and a host of hand carved animal and abstract carvings.  For a whimsical gift for that special person and unique cards stop by Lola of North Beach.  There are a few other unique shops that might tickle your fancy, and I’d recommend McCormick & Kuleto’s for seafood.  The views of San Francisco Bay are breathtaking, but the crab cakes are definitely worth the trip.

nly in San Francisco do street performers reign and fill the Wharf with every kind of music, art, mime, and performance — night and day.  Some of the best perform in Del Monte Square Courtyard at The Cannery (Travel Guide).  This is where Robin Williams, Shields and Yarnell, Jefferson Airplane, and A. Whitney Brown got their start entertaining daily for the locals and tourists.  Built in 1907, The Cannery was once the largest peach cannery in the world.  Today, it is three levels full of shops and outdoor cafes.  Try a margarita at Las Margaritas where they boast the largest selection of tequila in the city.  For an exhilarating tour of the city, rent a bike for the day from San Francisco Bicycle Rentals and venture on the eight mile ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.  Or if you’d rather sit back and let someone else do all the work, check out San Francisco Fire Engine Tours and Adventures where you’ll see this fabulous city from atop a 1955 Mack Fire Engine.

Finally, there’s Pier 39.  A bit of a tourist trap, but if you know that going in Pier 39 can be your wonderland for shopping, boat tours, street performers, marine life and some really cute seals.  Where else would a rap singer compose a rap song about you as you walk by, or a human mannequin stand frozen in one position, hoping you will toss a coin into his hat?  View the local marine life at The Aquarium of the Bay where clear acrylic tunnels transport you through gigantic fish tanks to see thousands of fish, such as rays, sharks, and eels swimming only inches away.

If you’d rather experience the San Francisco Bay firsthand, then book a sunset cruise on a sailboat with Adventure Cat Sailing Charters.  It’s the perfect way to see the breathtaking San Francisco city skyline, Alcatraz Island, and go under the famous Golden Gate Bridge. The tours sail from March 1st through the end of November.

If you’re an animal lover don’t miss the large colony of sea lions that have made their home on floating platforms west of Pier 39. Enjoy a casual meal at the Sea Lion Café where you can see them barking and cavorting right outside the window.  Fat, lazy, and noisy, the sea lions never fail to entertain.

Seafood, Sourdough and Irish Coffee
A number of restaurants on Fisherman’s Wharf trace their history to the 1920s when fish stalls were opened to provide lunchtime provisions to laborers working on the docks.  Immigrants came from Europe with their family recipes and opened some of the finest seafood establishments in the U.S.  Nunzio Alioto, an immigrant from Sicily, was one such entrepreneur. After seeing the demand grow for his steamed crab, shrimp and crab cocktails, he built a combination fish stand and seafood bar in 1932, the first on Fisherman’s Wharf. Six years later, he opened Alioto’s (Travel Guide) where today you can call ahead at 415-673-0183 to have your fresh Dungeness crab prepared and packed for shipping. Their popular crab stand is open form 11am until 11pm daily.

Taste the original sourdough bread at Bistro Boudin (map) where French baking techniques are combined with the sourdough tradition brought north from Mexico.  Louis Boudin and his son, Isidore, created the original recipe which is still a big hit today. Stop in for a sample and watch bread bake from start to finish.  Learn how it’s made and why it cannot be baked anywhere else on earth.

To warm up from the chill of the bay, try the famous Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista Café (map).  Buena Vista, meaning a “good view” served as a warm meeting place for fishermen and handlers who worked for the nearby Sardine Cannery.  In 1952, with the help of a Pulitzer-Prize winning writer, the Buena Vista introduced to the world it’s now famous Irish Coffee. The recipe has never changed and the view is still quite good.

One-of-a-Kind Attractions
Only on Fisherman’s Wharf can you marvel at the artistry of wax figures, learn the history of the great battle ships of World War II and listen to the tunes from turn of the century hand cranked music boxes.

If you’ve always wanted to “mingle with the stars,” you’ll get your chance at The Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf (Travel Guide).  (Hours: Weekdays – 10:00am – 9:00pm Weekends – 9:00am – 11:00pm Open every day of the year. )  Not only does the museum feature over 250 wax creations of famous personalities but it also is over 100,000 square feet of pure entertainment with retail, dining and other entertainment options.

The Submarine USS Pampanito located on the Wharf at Pier 45 (Travel Guide) offers visitors an unforgettable experience of this restored, authentic, World War II submarine.  Just imagine that you are one of the 80 men crew who lived for weeks on end in these amazingly tight quarters.  (Summer hours: Th-Tu 9am-8pm, W 9am-6pm; Winter hours: M-Th 9am-6pm, F-Su 9am-8pm. Admission $9 adults; discounts for children, seniors and active duty military.)

The Musee Mecanique (Travel Guide) houses one of the world’s largest privately owned collections of mechanically operated musical instruments and antique arcade machines. You’ll embark on a journey beginning at the turn of the century where hand cranked music boxes were all the rage to modern video arcade games of today.  My favorite is “Laffing Sal” with her bright red hair and loud boisterous laugh.  She might terrify some, but to me this paper mache girl is the perfect addition to any fun house.

So there you have it!  Cool fog.  Hot restaurants. Entertainment at every corner. This is what sets San Francisco apart from other cities and makes it a top tourist destination.  All of this and much more make Fisherman’s Wharf the place to be to experience quintessential San Francisco.

Wharf Pass 
Consider purchasing a Wharf Pass, a great money saving option, good for two days you have your choice of a double deck bus tour, boat cruise, Bay Aquarium, a cable car ride and more.  For just $61.00 Adult and $41.00 Child (5-11), the Wharf Pass is valid for entry to six of the best attractions on Fisherman’s Wharf.

Jump on a Cable Car
My first trip to San Francisco cable car drivers were on strike, my second trip they were not running due to the filming of a Rice-a-Roni commercial.  You better believe that on my third trip I traveled everywhere by cable car and to this day still can’t get enough.  The lines may be long, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  The turnaround for the Powell-Hyde Cable Car is located in Victoria Park across the street from Ghirardelli Square.  This is where it empties out making it a viable option for traveling from Fisherman’s Wharf to other neighborhoods.

After a busy day of exploring – make sure you have somewhere to call home at the end of the day! For short term rentals in San Francisco – check out our great listings!

Photos courtesy of flickr: Ghirardelli, Fisherman’s Wharf, Sea Lions, Cable Car