This is about the Pier 39 and Fishermans Wharf area of San Francisco. The Fishermans Wharf area is filled with many people bustling around trying to find such goods as freshly baked sourdough bread from Boudins Bakery, fresh clam chowder from the sidewalk restaurants, or trips out to the famous island prison, Alcatraz. Stop here a while and checkout the street performers. Look for the "Bush Man" while you traverse this area. He might just get you if you don't keep your eyes peeled.

From here you can access Pier 39, which is home to such sights as Forbes Island, and also see the Sea Lions that have adopted a part of the docks for their own place to sun themselves. You can also find many stores on Pier 39 and it pays to take your time walking around. You will not only use your sense of sight, but also your sense of smell as you walk down the pier. You can smell the salty air mixed with the smells of coffee, fresh bread, pretzels, cotton candy, etc. The pier is usually really busy, so unless you are a fan of crowds I wouldn't recommend this to you. If you are looking for a trinket from San Francisco, this is the place to shop.

For dinner I recommend going to Forbes Island. It is a small man-made island that is used as a restaurant. It is cozy and pretty romantic. Afterwards, you can watch the sea lions vying for places to sleep on the floating platforms nearby. For more information, check out www.pier39.com.

Pier 39 is a huge tourist destination. It's full of unique specialty shops and fantastic restaurants and is the hub for tours to Alcatraz and around the bay. There are also attractions, such as the hand-crafted Italian carousel and the Aquarium of the Bay, which has hundreds of feet of underwater tunnels showcasing the varieties of life in the San Francisco Bay, including sharks. I enjoy shopping there for gifts and decorations, such as the many black-and-white photos of San Francisco I have framed in my room. The restaurants mainly feature the delicious fresh seafood from the bay, but there is something for everyone if you look.

Don't miss the tour to Alcatraz. I've lived here all my life and just recently enjoyed the tour a couple years ago. Make sure you book tickets in advance, however. Your chances of acquiring tickets while in San Francisco are slim to none.

Also, check out the other tours around the bay and the dinner cruises. Some other attractions around Fisherman's Wharf include Ghiradelli Square, the Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not, the USS Pampanito submarine, and the USS Jeremiah O'Brien. You have to visit Fisherman's Wharf on your next trip here.

This was surprisingly one of our favorite parts of the trip to San Francisco. Adjacent to Pier 39 are about a hundred California sea lions that quite enjoy putting on a show. (They also draw a large crowd of onlookers.) When we were there in June, we saw a wide range of sea lions: about a dozen pups, a few large adults, and what looked like quite a few adolescents (although I'm certainly no expert - that was just the appearance). Supposedly, all of the Pier 39 sea lions are males.

It was fun watching the sea lions play 'king of the dock' and bump each other off into the water. A large bull seemed to enjoy barking at the tourists. The pups were content to curl up amongst themselves and sleep.

Next time we are in California, we will drive down the coast towards Carmel and hopefully see more sea lions in a more natural habitat than Pier 39.

Bay Cruise is good way to see the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, and the general San Francisco Bay Area when you have limited time, as it's a non-stop cruise. The cruise takes off from Pier 39, which like a lot of Fisherman's Wharf, is very touristy.

Inside and outside seating are both available on the cruise, and you can quench your thirst and hunger at the onboard snack bar. I suggest taking a cruise that sails during the sunset; the orange of the setting sun deepens the orange of the Golden Gate even more. I was able to take some excellent pictures.

For the $20 I paid, I was also able to see Coit Tower on top of Telegraph Hill, Ghirardelli Square, the Presidio, the Bay Bridge, and the sea lions on the pier - all from the bay. One day I'll go back and see all those places up close.

The cruise also provides a narrative, giving insight into the history of some of the landmarks you see from the boat.

I recommend the cruise if you have limited time. If you have abundant time, take a bike ride over the Golden Gate and the night tour on Alcatraz Island to get the best experiences.

Pier 39 is an easy two block walk east of Fisherman's Wharf at waters edge in San Francisco. It is a two level pier that is lined with 110 specialty shops, 11 dining restaurants, and street performers. There is a beautiful Venetian Carousel for the kids to enjoy while the adults rest their feet.

It is considered to be one of San Francisco's best attractions. It is a year round marketplace that has a noted festival party atmosphere. The shops are unique, you can spend a lot or nothing at all and still have a great time.

The views of the bay and back towards Fisherman's Wharf are magnificent. My personal favorite thing to do at Pier 39 is to watch the California sea lions where they have taken up permanent residence for the past 13 years at an area called K-Dock. You can watch their antics on the buoys and hear their barks to everyone's enjoyment. There are always a sizable number of them waiting to "perform" in their natural habitat for you.

Garage parking for Pier 39 is directly across the street from the plaza entrance and validation with a purchase at Pier 39 is available.