Golden Gate Bridge

This iconic bridge connects San Francisco to Northern California and is a fabulous sight, both from a distance and up close. There are various tours and an exhibition, but I just like to go out onto the Bridge and enjoy being on an engineering marvel. If you get a fog free day head straight for the bridge – you can see a long way!

Fisherman’s Wharf and the view of the Bay

Sea Lions at Pier 39, San Francisco, California

Fisherman’s Wharf is one of my favourite places in San Francisco, entirely due to the resident sea lion population at Pier 39. On my first visit to San Francisco I had no idea they were there. We were doing the standard tourist wandering about and I saw a sign ‘sea lions this way’. I expected it to be part of an aquarium or something and was delighted when I walked round the corner and saw, heard and smelled a mass of jostling sea lions on what used to be part of a marina. Actually the seeing and hearing are very cool but the smell is somewhat less desirable. You do get used to it after a bit…..

Apart from the sea lions, Fisherman’s Wharf has shops, restaurants, street performance and sometimes live music. There is an aquarium, a Ripley’s Believe it or not and there is still some commercial fishing one out of the Wharf. It is a great place to amble around, eat an ice cream and be a tourist.

Alcatraz

View of Alcatraz Island, San Francisco

The island prison in San Francisco bay is fabulously atmospheric. The tour is lots of fun and the boat trip allows for great views of the Bay. The boat leaves from Fisherman’s Wharf and you can take various trips of different durations. It is worth booking your trip in advance as popular sailings do get booked up. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes with a grip as some of the footing on the island is uneven and even if the day is lovely when you set off, bring layers including a waterproof jacket as it can get chilly in the wind and if the fog comes in.