The Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf
Ranked 1st best street in Fisherman's Wharf
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Great for
- Shopping Options
- Eating Out
- Neighborly Spirit
- Parks & Recreation
- Safe & Sound
Not great for
- Parking
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Tourists
Got a burning question? Why not ask the locals! Simply ask your question below
Reviews
The Embarcadero
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Eating Out
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
"Good for Tourists"
Given that there is no true spot to review the ferry cruises around the bay, this seems to be the best spot for this, given that this is where they depart from. While this is not something that I would necessarily recommend for locals, it is a nice way for tourists to see the bay and experience some fantastic San Francisco views.
The narration of the cruise is a little cheesy - one part Disney world, one part old cartoon - but it is still fun, and you can avoid the speakers by sitting on the side of the boat. The ferry takes you under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz and back to the pier in an hour. It's a cool view that, as they boast on the loudspeaker "no commuter gets to see."
Would I recommend doing this with a bunch of local friends? At $24/head, probably not. But if you have some visitors coming in from out of town, it is a lot of fun.
The narration of the cruise is a little cheesy - one part Disney world, one part old cartoon - but it is still fun, and you can avoid the speakers by sitting on the side of the boat. The ferry takes you under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz and back to the pier in an hour. It's a cool view that, as they boast on the loudspeaker "no commuter gets to see."
Would I recommend doing this with a bunch of local friends? At $24/head, probably not. But if you have some visitors coming in from out of town, it is a lot of fun.
Pros
- A must for tourists
- Great for people watching
- Beautiful views
Cons
- Horribly overpriced
- Not much parking
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Tourists
The Embarcadero
"One of the most famous places of San Francisco"
One thing I can say about Pier 39 is that you never get bored when you're there. There are many attractions that will draw your attention, such as the sea food restaurants, arcade, etc. Pier 39 is located at the Embarcadero and Beach Street. The place is great to hang out with friends by hanging out at the arcade or spending time with family looking at the different wildlife located in the pier. Many people actually go fishing in this area when it is the right season and sometimes the catches aren't half bad. There are a variety of fish that can be found here in the bay area. Overall, this place is a fantastic way to have fun on a nice and sunny day.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
The Embarcadero
"One of San Francisco's most famous and loved spots!"
Pier 39 is one of San Francisco’s most famous tourist spots, and even locals like me love this Pier 39. It seems as if going down to Pier 39 never gets old. What makes Pier 39 special from the other piers are the stores, shops, restaurants and various other establishments on 39. It is in a way, a tourist heaven. Restaurants ranging from Bubba Gump’s to McDonalds are all over The Pier. Some of my favorites are Joe’s Crab Shack and Alioto’s for some amazing seafood!
There is plenty to do on the pier. You can take a boat to visit Alcatraz jail, tour the wax museum, or play at the arcade on the pier. My favorite place on the pier as a child was the Ferris Wheel. Although, it may be a good 5-7 years before I’ve been there, I still have vivid memories. There are hundreds of stores but pretty much all of them are very tourist orientated.
Parking at Pier 39 isn’t necessarily easy, but if you are willing to pay for a garage, it’s not too bad. I’d recommend taking the famous F-Train for the nice trolley ride. If you ever get bored of Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf is a short walk away!
There is plenty to do on the pier. You can take a boat to visit Alcatraz jail, tour the wax museum, or play at the arcade on the pier. My favorite place on the pier as a child was the Ferris Wheel. Although, it may be a good 5-7 years before I’ve been there, I still have vivid memories. There are hundreds of stores but pretty much all of them are very tourist orientated.
Parking at Pier 39 isn’t necessarily easy, but if you are willing to pay for a garage, it’s not too bad. I’d recommend taking the famous F-Train for the nice trolley ride. If you ever get bored of Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf is a short walk away!
The Embarcadero
"The Aquarium of the Bay is a Great Bayside Attraction"
If you are looking for a real San Fransisco Bay Attraction that captures that natural beauty of the bay and the hustle and bustle of the city the Aquarium of the Bay is the attraction for you. This is a pretty cool experience; you and your children get to walk through clear acrylic tunnels lying underneath the Bay. The unusual perspective gives you a close-up view of marine life, including the sharks, eels, fish, and other creatures that live in the San Francisco Bay. The aquarium also offers birthday parties and sleepovers.
You begin with a walk through an aquarium display featuring more color than you might expect to find beneath the Bay: bright orange fish and steel blue ones, anemones in sherbet hues of pink, green, purple, and yellow, and anchovies flashing by in a circle of silver. This area also boasts Bay babies - with small rays and sharks, and bottom dwellers busy burying themselves in the sand.
Next, an elevator and interpretive naturalist take you down to the main exhibit as you "dive" from the surface to beneath the Bay, where you can either ride on the moving walkway through the tunnel, or chase your kids as they try to follow one of the many sharks swimming above. When you've had your fill of sea stars, wolf eels and kelp forest, take the elevator back to the surface, where sand and a boardwalk lead to three touch pools. Here, kids get a chance to touch small sharks, bat rays, and sea stars, and ask questions of the knowledgeable guides posted poolside.
You begin with a walk through an aquarium display featuring more color than you might expect to find beneath the Bay: bright orange fish and steel blue ones, anemones in sherbet hues of pink, green, purple, and yellow, and anchovies flashing by in a circle of silver. This area also boasts Bay babies - with small rays and sharks, and bottom dwellers busy burying themselves in the sand.
Next, an elevator and interpretive naturalist take you down to the main exhibit as you "dive" from the surface to beneath the Bay, where you can either ride on the moving walkway through the tunnel, or chase your kids as they try to follow one of the many sharks swimming above. When you've had your fill of sea stars, wolf eels and kelp forest, take the elevator back to the surface, where sand and a boardwalk lead to three touch pools. Here, kids get a chance to touch small sharks, bat rays, and sea stars, and ask questions of the knowledgeable guides posted poolside.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
