Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco is one of the most popular
tourist destinations in the world, well known for its historic waterfront,
delicious seafood and beautiful bay views. Though there are hardly any traces of
traditional waterfront life that once existed here, today Fisherman's Wharf has
been converted in to a open shopping mall besides the waterfront. Some boats
still operate from here but most of the fishing is done only to attract
customers. Stretching from Ghirardelli Square at the west end to PIER 39 at
the east, Fisherman's Wharf draws millions of customers to its lively and
mesmerizing atmosphere. Watching the California Sea Lions, Shopping, world class
dining, a long coastal row of seafood restaurants, street vendors, talented
street performers and beautiful bay views are some of the things that have made
Fisherman's Wharf a top attraction of San Francisco.
POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF FISHERMAN'S WHARF:
• Wax Museum
• Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum
• PIER 39
• Aquarium of the Bay
• Ghirardelli Square
POPULAR ACTIVITIES AT FISHERMAN'S WHARF:
• Food
• Shopping
• Street Performers / Free shows
• Fireworks
• Parking
Wax Museum:
The Wax Museum is a 100,000 square foot complex with galleries of celebrities, home to over 250 international personalities. Being one of the world's largest wax museums, it draws a huge number of tourists each year and is in the heart of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. It welcomes customers with colorful waving flags and is surrounded by a complex of gift shops and entertainment sites. There is a gift shop and a restaurant located within it and cameras are allowed. The Wax Museum is open daily from 10am to 9pm and there is plenty of parking available nearby.
Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum:
Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum is one of the most fascinating and fun place for children, youngsters as well as adults. It consists of 11 galleries that offer spectacles from a giant kaleidoscope to a two-headed calf, that are enough to satisfy its customers. One of the strange displays at the museum is a cable car made entirely out of some 28,000 matchsticks. The Museum has been able to maintain a balance between the shocking, the strange and the beautiful. Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum is open Sun - Thurs 10am to 10pm and on Fri & Sat 10 am to midnight. Admission fee is around $15 for adults and $9 for children.
PIER 39 (Very Famous):
Pier 39 is a collection of shops and restaurants with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and the San Francisco Bay. It is a 4 and a half acre waterfront complex located at Embarcadero and Beach street. It consists of over 100 stores and 20 restaurants and snack outlets. Pier 39 is always busy and has some of the best views of the Bay. Almost 600 Sea Lions reside on the floating docks adjacent to Pier 39. Watching these sea Lions lying in the sun and honking has become a very popular tourist attraction. Along with these there are swings and other fun things to do for children. Pier 39 is also one of the best places to enjoy the world famous street performers that bring laughter to thousands of visitors every day. You could also rent a boat or go kayaking at Pier 39 and enjoy the spectacular views of San Francisco city.
Aquarium of the Bay:
This is a new addition to Fisherman's Wharf and is a 1 million gallon attraction with over 20,000 incredible marine life including sharks, stingrays and much more. The tourists get a chance to enjoy this marine life through a moving footpath going through crystal clear acrylic tunnels. Admission fee is $ 15 for adults and $ 8 for children and senior citizens.
Ghirardelli Square:
Located at the west end of Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square is a collection of authentic restaurants, galleries and specialty shops. It is most popular for its chocolate shop/restaurant and its world famous hot fudge sundaes. There is also a live demonstration of chocolate making inside the Ghirardelli shop/cafe with original machines. Shopping and dining are the primary activities here. No trip to San Francisco is complete without the taste and aroma Ghirardelli chocolate and ice cream.
Food:
Fisherman's Wharf is well known for its restaurants and stands that serve fresh seafood, most popular amongst them is dungeness crab and clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl. Fisherman's Wharf also boasts a number of dining options ranging from sidewalk food stands to authentic Italian restaurants, cafes, Chinese restaurants, bars and grills.
Shopping:
Fisherman's Wharf is a shoppers paradise with an array of shops including art galleries, fine jewelry, clothing, excellent souvenirs, antiques and much more. The most popular shopping complexes at Fisherman's Wharf are - Pier 39, Ghirardelli square, the Cannery and the Anchorage. Most of these complexes are packed with small shops and a variety of restaurants and snack cafes. There are shops all along the Wharf and it is a very lively and busy place at all times of the year.
Street Performers:
Fisherman's Wharf is also popular for its street performances, some or the other performance is always going on throughout the Wharf. One of the most popular street performers is the "World Famous Bushman." He is a local street performer who sits behind bushes and startles pedestrians. He has become very popular over the years and has been performing on the street for almost 25 years. You will see crowds waiting to see the reaction of people that he startles. Over the years he has gained the title of "World Famous Bushman" and is absolutely harmless. Besides this there are several other performers like magicians, drummers, dancers, painters, jugglers, comedians and much more. These multi-talented tricksters entertain the visitors for free.
Fourth of July Fireworks:
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco is also very popular for its Fourth of July Fireworks, drawing millions of spectators each year. Fireworks start at 9:30 PM and are visible from most of the waterfront but Pier 39 is the most crowded area. It is a 21 minute display of elaborate fireworks that will leave you mesmerized. It is best to come early and to take the Bart, taxi or a cable car to get there or to walk down to the wharf, since getting a parking spot on that day is very difficult and driving takes a lot of time since the street is very crowded. Also one very romantic option is to take a firework cruise and enjoy dining, drinking and dancing on board while you watch the fireworks. It is recommended to get your reservation done in advance.
Parking
There are plenty of parking areas at Fisherman's wharf, you will see parking signs through out the Wharf but it is recommended not to drive to the Wharf, it is better to take a cable car or Bart if you are not from San Francisco since, these parking areas are highly priced, moreover the roads are crowded and there are too many internal roads that might confuse you.
