San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf
Jan 30th, 2008, 01:58 PM
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San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf
I hadn't been to Fisherman's Wharf in a while but my wife was attending a seminar at a nearby hotel last month so the kids and I hung around the Wharf, killing some time. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the sites, the talent, the food, and the great atmosphere. It may be bit more touristy than some of the other neighborhoods in The City but it didn’t feel too congested. We wound up taking a trip over to Alcatraz and did one of those tape-recorder tours. Again, a touristy thing to do but hey tourists just seek out the most interesting and well-known attractions in a city, right? Oh, and if you go, don’t forget to check out the barking Sea-lions lounging about off Pier 39. Totally ntertaining AND free. We absolutely loved all the seafood available including an excellent seafood restaurant called Scoma’s. Highly recommended! There’s a great arcade on Pier 39 that the kid’s loved –couldn’t get them to leave -- and a merry-go-round nearby. Some really cool museums, delicious clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls…this place has it all!
Jan 30th, 2008, 02:14 PM
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SAB, what are you on about? Are you implying this first-time poster has an ulterior motive, name it: he is evil and wants to lure unsuspecting tourists into a trap; or he somehow has a financial interest in an entire area and is shilling for it? What???
I understand suspecting the motives of someone who extols or trashes a specific business, but an area? You've gone mental.
I understand suspecting the motives of someone who extols or trashes a specific business, but an area? You've gone mental.
Jan 30th, 2008, 02:23 PM
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Funny, I was just checking to see if anyone had some advice/insight about The Wharf... not quite sure what this "suspicion" is all about but personally I appreciate the write up. Going to check out the wharf, alcatraz, etc. for sure when I'm there in a few weeks. so..Thanks Steve!
Jan 30th, 2008, 02:57 PM
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And the Ripley's "Believe or Not" museum, and the Wax Museum (last time I passed by they had a Britany Spears wax figure outside) and the McDos, and the Hooters, and the T-shirt shops, and the cheap luggage stores, and the trinket shops.
Fun, fun, fun.....
Stu Dudley
Fun, fun, fun.....
Stu Dudley
Jan 30th, 2008, 02:57 PM
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SteveGar1, I agree with you that Fisherman's Wharf is fun ... It's not the main reason I'd go back to SF, but we enjoyed our time there, the clam chowder and the barking sea lions. There isn't a SF neighborhood we visited that I didn't like something about. 
Jan 30th, 2008, 06:43 PM
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I think the wharf is fun. I don't think that anyone is missing anything in particular if the don't go there, but I always enjoyed it. When I lived in Marin, my husband and I, on a nice day, would often go into the wharf on a Sunday and just "mess around", or if not that, then Golden Gate Park.
Having said that, if someone asked me if it was a MUST do, I'd say no, especially if they had limited time in the City.
Having said that, if someone asked me if it was a MUST do, I'd say no, especially if they had limited time in the City.
)
Jan 30th, 2008, 09:19 PM
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Sigh!
Never has one area generated so much controversy!
I can think of at least a half dozen things that i like to do at Fisherman's Wharf and its environs.
FW isn't JUST the tacky shops and the Bushman. LOL!
Hi, artlover! Greetings from Bangkok!
Never has one area generated so much controversy!
I can think of at least a half dozen things that i like to do at Fisherman's Wharf and its environs.
FW isn't JUST the tacky shops and the Bushman. LOL!
Hi, artlover! Greetings from Bangkok!
Jan 31st, 2008, 05:36 AM
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"Never has one area generated so much controversy!"
Oh no? Guess you've never read all the posts anti or pro Times Square in New York City? Much the same type of argument, particularly between visitors and locals.
The bottom line is -- why WOULD locals want to do something so touristy, especially considering they've certainly done it already at least once? But why WOULDN'T tourists want to do something so touristy? Doesn't seem like such a complicated question at all to me.
Jan 31st, 2008, 07:54 AM
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Doesn't seem like a tough question to me either. Locals WOULDN'T go there. Tourists would, and I don't think thats so awful. To each his own.
The disturbing thing to me about the comments sometimes made in regard to Fisherman's Wharf is that they seem to infer that those who choose to visit the wharf (and end up enjoying it) are somehow themselves tacky, cheap and trinkety.
The disturbing thing to me about the comments sometimes made in regard to Fisherman's Wharf is that they seem to infer that those who choose to visit the wharf (and end up enjoying it) are somehow themselves tacky, cheap and trinkety.
Jan 31st, 2008, 08:03 AM
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I took my "kids" (age 19 & 25) for Christmas and we stayed a couple of nights in Fisherman's Wharf. We had a blast. By the way we used the 'gosanfrancisco' card and many of the attractions were included, Alcatraz, hop on/off bus, Wax museum, a harbor cruise, etc.
Jan 31st, 2008, 08:31 AM
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patrick: I hardly ever go to Times Square in NYC, preferring Upper manhattan - Lincoln center and the Museums are more my pace, so don't know anything about the "controversies" on Times Square - and don't want to. Broadway shows just haven't become my cuppa.
As for the locals vs tourists distinction, you may have a point there. However, as resident of the Bay Area, I'll confess to liking certain things about Fisherman's Wharf.
1) As artlover had mentioned - the Chocolate Factory. I'm a CF junkie.
2) The Maritime Museum, particularly the ships that are docked there on the pier. It's the only Maritime Museum in the US with "live" ships and boats on display in the water.
3) The art galleries - just to peek.
4) The shoreline just behind the Maritime Museum and below Fort Mason - so calming just to sit and watch the waves lap ashore.
5) Best of all, the little Catholic chapel dedicated to the Sailors and Fishermen lost at sea.
As for the locals vs tourists distinction, you may have a point there. However, as resident of the Bay Area, I'll confess to liking certain things about Fisherman's Wharf.
1) As artlover had mentioned - the Chocolate Factory. I'm a CF junkie.
2) The Maritime Museum, particularly the ships that are docked there on the pier. It's the only Maritime Museum in the US with "live" ships and boats on display in the water.
3) The art galleries - just to peek.
4) The shoreline just behind the Maritime Museum and below Fort Mason - so calming just to sit and watch the waves lap ashore.
5) Best of all, the little Catholic chapel dedicated to the Sailors and Fishermen lost at sea.
Jan 31st, 2008, 10:55 AM
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easy-t,
I also love the Maritime Museum. Especially the exhibit showing the teeny wooden boat that was sailed across the Pacific by a Japanese sailor in the '60s. But somehow I just don't consider that stretch of the shore as being part of Fisherman's Wharf. It's the hardcore stretch with all the other tacky diversions at which I hurl the ephithet Fisherman's Barf.
I also love the Maritime Museum. Especially the exhibit showing the teeny wooden boat that was sailed across the Pacific by a Japanese sailor in the '60s. But somehow I just don't consider that stretch of the shore as being part of Fisherman's Wharf. It's the hardcore stretch with all the other tacky diversions at which I hurl the ephithet Fisherman's Barf.
