Fisherman's Wharf - a busy waterfront stop- is a long coastal stretch of eating joints, hawkers, gift stores and great seafood eateries. This place started blooming from the Californian Gold Rush days until the turn of the century, when the city's fishing fleet was composed of lateen-rigged sailboats known as "feluccas", copies of the crafts the Italian fisherman used in their native land. Having no luck in the quest for gold, the Italian immigrants were much more skillful in the business of seafood. Today, the grandsons and great-grandsons of these past generations of hardworking folk operate the fishing fleet and many of the Wharf's internationally acclaimed restaurants.

Fisherman's Wharf is located on the north side of San Francisco and is made up of a number of piers that extend into the Bay. One of the best reasons to visit Fisherman's Wharf is to board the ferry out to Alcatraz, which we consider one of San Francisco's top attractions. But while you are at the waterfront, be sure to take some time to enjoy the sights this part of town offers.

Fisherman's Wharf is easily communicable through the famous street cable car. The picturesque Marin County is connected from the dock through ferry ride. There are a lot many things to be done, if you have a mind to freak out.

Things to do at the Wharf

Shopping
The area surrounding Fisherman's Wharf offers plenty of shopping opportunities. If you can't evoke of much of interest in the T-shirt shops and souvenir stands that are clustered around Pier 41 and Pier 43 1/2, walk a bit further and you are more likely to find something that interests you. Pier 39 and Ghiradelli Square both have a variety of specialty shops worth pursuing. And if you stop by The Cannery, in addition to finding stores with unique wares, you can also visit the Museum of the City of San Francisco, a small gallery that exhibits items related to San Francisco's history and culture.

Where to Eat!
Strolling around Fisherman's Wharf always keeps your appetite on. Abundance of restaurants, steaming with mouth-watering seafood it is virtually impossible to visit Wharf without grabbing a bite to eat. A bowl of clam chowder served San Francisco-style in a bowl of sourdough bread; taste of the huge Dungeness crabs sold at many of the outdoor food stands are just too tempting to resist.

Street Performers
One of the real pleasures of a visit to Fisherman's Wharf is the variety of free entertainment. You will come across all kinds of street performers, from musicians to mimes to escape artists. These performers offer their talents to passersby hoping that they might grab a dollar or two for their act.

Sea Lions
The Californian Sea Lions that abandoned Seal Rocks and began to frequent Pier 39 following the 1989 earthquake are known for their playfulness and intelligence. Energetic and noisy, Sea Lions spend 10 months of the year (September through June) basking on the docks or playing in the waters nearby, and then head south to breed in July and August. To learn fun facts about the sea lions attend one of the Marine Mammal Center (MMC) talk session.

Fishermen's Chapel
The Fishermen's and Seamen's Memorial Chapel, adjacent to Pier 45, holds a diverse collection of plaques, banners and flags that represent the diverse religions that use the turn-of-the-century-style building. The chapel also serves as the site of a ten-minute slide presentation about the Wharf, the first part of the guided walking tours hosted by the Fisherman's Wharf Historical Society and historian Alessandro Baccari.

Parking & Mini Bus
Parking can be difficult in The Wharf with its limited hourly spots. On the street, pay attention to the signs and curb colors. Curb wheels on hills - wheels into the curb when parking downhill and out for uphill. Pedestrians and Cable Cars have the right of way.

HOW TO GET TO 'FISHERAMNS WHARF'

Once you arrive at San Francisco or Oakland International Airports, your transportation options include rental cars, limousines, shuttle service, taxi's and our famous BART (from Oakland). Fisherman's Wharf is 20 miles north from both airports.

GETTING AROUND
You can easily walk to all Fisherman's Wharf attractions, restaurants and shopping centers. If you're so inclined, pedicabs, horse drawn carriages or the F-line streetcar will escort you to your destination. Taxis, limousines, cable cars, rental car agencies and city buses meet all other transportation needs.