We arrived in San Francisco with just 24 hours to enjoy the city. That's not nearly enough, but we had a cruise ship to catch the next afternoon. With that in mind and so much available to see, we made sure we snagged a hotel by the Bay so we could take in all the Embarcadero and Fisherman's Wharf area neighborhoods offer.
Plus, it was Mrs. In The Loop's birthday, and we had to pick an appropriate spot to celebrate. What better for a woman who loves seafood than to give her a prime pick from all the fabulous eateries stocked with fresh catches from the nearby waters.
We had a good time, eating, exploring, snapping pictures of all the sights, and we even got in a long run on the pedestrian and runner-friendly Embarcadero along the water. We've outlined the best destinations if you're going to be passing through for one day in San Francisco at the waterfront.
Visit Alcatraz. The famous now-closed prison for hardened criminals sits 1.5 miles offshore on Alcatraz Island, which can be viewed along the Embarcadero. Ferries by Alcatraz Cruises operate at Pier 33. Tours during the day are always crowded. Try a night tour instead. The 2.5-hour outings depart at 5:50 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday. These slots are less crowded, allowing the guides to give more personal attention and detailed info to visitors.
Dive into seafood. Head over to Fisherman's Wharf for fresh lobster, mussels, fish and crab pots. Colleen loved her cioppino (a seafood stew) for her birthday dinner at Alioto's, which has a wonderful view of the sunset from its spot near the harbor.
Run the Embarcadero. You know how we love to stay active on our travels. The Embarcadero is a delight for runners, bikers and walkers. And we saw plenty in the early hours the morning we were there. The wide pathway follows the Bay for about five miles, heading south from Fisherman's Wharf to just past AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants major league baseball team. It's a pleasant route, and you'll pass a variety of historic pier buildings, restaurants, the fun and wacky Exploratorium science and art museum and my favorite spot: Pier 39.
Thanks for reading.
JR