San Francisco’s single most popular visitor allure is hands-down Fisherman’s Wharf, at the peninsula’s northeast corner. A bit of a touristy, carnival atmosphere, for sure – but undeniably fun, and just as undeniably a must for first-timers to the city. A central feature here is Pier 39, with buskers, myriad shops (don’t miss the original Ghirardelli Chocolate shop/café!) and restaurants (one of which, Forbes Island, is especially cool – on a converted houseboat boasting a lighthouse and even dining below the water line); rides including a two-storey carousel; and the Aquarium of the Bay; as an extra adorable bonus, in recent years, hundreds of the bay’s sea lions have taken to hanging out on some of the piers lower docks – a wonderful photo op, indeed! Other Wharf attractions include historic ships such as the 19th-century Balclutha and the World-War-II sub USS Pampanito; attractions such as a wax museum and a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! “odditorium”. And here is where you catch harbour cruises, including excursions to another huge visitor favourite, infamous Alcatraz island and prison.

Read more in my post San Francisco in an American Original.

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