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Next to Pier 39
San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: 1-888-732-3483
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Right next door to the Pier 39 is the Aquarium of the Bay, an attraction dedicated to the rich aquatic life of San Francisco Bay. The marine exhibits here are divided into four sections. First, “Discover the Bay” introduces visitors to the diversity of the area, featuring over a thousand different creatures. Second, patrons can go “Under the Bay,” via this three-hundred foot clear acrylic tunnel that gives them a down-under look at these fascinating denizens of the deep. Back on the surface, “Touch the Bay” allows youngsters to pet a starfish or ray swimming in the shallows. And finally, the aquarium’s “Save the Bay” exhibit gives valuable information on what we all can do to preserve the Bay and its precious resources.
Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Tours
Pier 39 Marine Terminal
San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: 415-705-8200
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Leaving Pier 39 on a regular basis are the tour boats of the Blue and Gold Fleet. A favorite cruise for many visitors is the one-hour narrated tour of the Bay, which passes by all the sights, and passes under the glorious Golden Gate Bridge. Recently, the Blue and Gold Fleet has added an "Escape from the Rock" tour, a ninety-minute excursion which concentrates on the lore and legends of the notorious Alcatraz Island.
Exploratorium/Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-563-7337
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The dome of the Palace of Fine Arts building looms large on the Western Edge of the Marina District. This ode to antiquity is the only structure remaining from the 1915 Panama Pacific Exhibition, and the building itself was completely rebuilt in the 1960s. However, it’s not the architecture that draws most folks to this area. Instead, it’s the goings on at the Exploratorium right next door. This science museum has got to be one of the best places for families in the entire city. In fact, a major science magazine recently rated the Exploratorium as the best museum of its kind in the entire world. This huge facility houses over 700 interactive displays and exhibits, all designed to bring the physical world to life for its visitors. It's not exactly the kind of experimentation that San Francisco is most famous for, but it’s pretty trippy, nevertheless.
Jefferson St. & Taylor St.
San Francisco, CA 94133
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Yes, it’s touristy, and yes, it’s crassly commercial, but you know the deal, you can’t go to San Francisco and not go to Fisherman’s Wharf. There aren’t many genuine fishermen left here anymore, but there are boat tours that leave the wharf on a regular basis, and it’s still tough to beat the clam chowder and fresh seafood at the stands and restaurants that crowd the pier. Other highlights include the cornucopia of small shops and stands that sell pretty much anything to pretty much anybody. And even though natives might love to whine about it, truth is, everybody likes it here, at least a little.
Pier 39
Beach Street & The Embarcadero Marine Terminal
San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: 415-705-5500
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Pier 39 is one of the most popular attractions near Fisherman's Wharf. Every year, this multi-faceted complex pulls in millions of visitors, drawn by its mix of shopping, entertainment and nostalgia. The Pier has been in operation since the late 1970s and has grown to feature over a hundred shops and restaurants. Though the human traffic here is considerable, the most celebrated visitors to Pier 39 are the hundreds of Sea Lions that crowd the docks right off the pier. For the better part of two decades, these creatures have called Pier 39 home, and from the looks of things, they don’t seem like they’re going anywhere anytime soon.
Yerba Buena Gardens/Center for the Arts
Around 4th & Howard
San Francisco, CA 94103
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Here's a great place for a mid-day break. Built on top of and alongside the huge Moscone Convention Center, Yerba Buena offers a number of attractions, all within walking distance. The lovely fountain in Yerba Buena Gardens is the perfect spot for brown baggers to have a lunch break. This urban oasis gives visitors a quiet place to take in the view of some of San Francisco’s most distinctive architecture. Just across the pedestrian bridge over Howard Street are two more favorites for families. First, there’s an authentic turn-of-the century carousel, which for sixty years was located at the city’s Playland-at-the-Beach amusement park. On the other end of the time/space continuum is the modern and interactive Zeum, which gives kids and their families a hands-on introduction to technology and the arts.