San Francisco 8/02

This was my dream city and so when I got the chance to visit, I was ecstatic. Everything was so beautiful and clean. We took a boat ride that circle around the Alcatraz Island and went underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. It was amazing to see the structures of the bridge while we were under it. Then, we hung out on the Fisherman's Wharf markets where we had excellent seafood and New England clam chowder in a bread bowl.

Quick Tips:

Make sure you visit the Fishman's Wharf because this place has everything from fine dinning to tourist attractions. Although the food is a little pricey, but it's worth it. As you know, San Francisco is not a cheap place to live, so be prepared to spend some money when you get there.

Best Way To Get Around:

We rented a car because we love to travel. We drove to all the nearby towns such as San Jose, Santa Cruz, Sausalito, and Half Moon Bay(this is up in the mountains where you can look down to see the Pacific Ocean). In Santa Cruz, we saw a lot of surfers and the town is so peaceful that I want to move there and learn to surf all day.

This place is the spot to be when you are looking for great seafood, boat rides to the Alcatraz Island and under the Golden Gate Bridge, and other attractions. They still have the old cable cars running above ground. They cost about $1.40 for a ride. We visited the Ghirardelli Square where you can find the best chocolate there. We brought half a pound of milk chocolate and it melts in your mouth. Also, you will see the oldest fire truck in this area, which was restored to become a public attraction site.

The rich history of Alcatraz during the penitentiary years and many of the inmates who called "the Rock" home. From the mid-1930s until the mid-1960s, Alcatraz was America's premier maximum-security prison, the final stop for the nation's most incorrigible inmates. Today, Alcatraz is a place of contradictions, with a grim past and an enduring future as one of San Francisco's most prominent landmarks and tourist attractions.

Alcatraz tour boat leaves from Fisherman's Wharf. Order tickets ahead of time (Internet reservations are not available). There is often a very long wait and trips are sometimes sold out for the entire day. Also be sure to try the Dungeness crabs (the huge crabs caught near Alaska) and clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at restaurants on Fisherman's Wharf (always bring a sweater or jacket!). The Alcatraz tour is self-guided and visitors rent a personal headset with recorded tour information. When it's over, you can try a cup of Irish coffee in a restaurant near the cable car stop.