| You may be traveling as a couple or as a family. | | | | touring companies are located near Pier 39, and |
| You may be teen-age or middle-age. You may | | | | both offer a variety of tours, starting with a |
| enjoy a peppy, "let's do everything!" type of | | | | simple one-hour "overview" tour of the bay and |
| trip...or prefer to relax while you're on vacation. No | | | | its islands. Other specialty tours are available, such |
| matter what your touring situation, you'll | | | | as sunset tours, multi-island tours, Golden Gate |
| undoubtedly find something to suit your interest | | | | Bridge tours, etc.One very popular tour is the |
| at San Francisco's delightful Pier 39.Pier 39 is a | | | | Alcatraz Prison Tour, which is offered only by the |
| shopping, dining and entertainment complex that | | | | Blue and Gold Fleet. You'll actually take a boat out |
| has dozens of options from which you can | | | | to "The Rock," debark, then walk among the |
| choose. However, even if you did nothing but sit | | | | same cell blocks which once housed |
| on a park bench at Pier 39, you'd have an | | | | maximum-security prisoners! This tour much in |
| enjoyable day. Pier 39 sits on the waterfront's | | | | demand, and spots are limited. If you'd like to go, |
| edge with a stunning view of both the city and | | | | make your reservations as soon as |
| the San Francisco Bay. You'll smell the salt air, | | | | possible---maybe even from home, before leaving |
| hear the squeal of sea gulls, watch ferries and | | | | on your vacation!After your San Francisco Bay |
| tour boats coming and going, and enjoy viewing a | | | | tour, you'll surely be hungry for lunch. Head back |
| resident colony of sea lions that calls the water | | | | to Pier 39 itself for a delicious seafood |
| around Pier 39 "home."In fact, spending some | | | | luncheon...which you'll find is the specialty of not |
| time admiring the view from a bayside bench | | | | one, but a NUMBER of Pier 39's restaurants! If |
| would make a great way to start off your day. | | | | you're not in the mood for seafood, don't worry. |
| You'll be facing so many options ahead for you, | | | | You'll find both American and Italian cuisine served |
| that you might need some time to decide! | | | | at Pier 39. One budget idea is to head to North |
| Several restaurants at Pier 39 are open for | | | | Shore Pizza, where one of their tasty extra-large |
| breakfast...and, of course, you'll dine with a view | | | | pizza pies will fill your entire family!After lunch, you |
| of the bay from your table. After your morning | | | | can spend time exploring the shops and activities |
| meal, there may still be a chill in the air; if so, why | | | | of Pier 39. You'll find over 100 specialty stores |
| not start by touring the "can't miss" Aquarium of | | | | which make for great browsing...and souvenir |
| the Bay.At San Francisco's Aquarium of the Bay, | | | | hunting! Younger kids will love riding on the |
| you'll enjoy attractive exhibits showcasing marine | | | | stunning double-decker carousel at the end of the |
| life from a variety of the ocean's zones. You'll be | | | | pier. Older kids can get lost for hours at the pier's |
| able to walk through TWO clear viewing tunnels, | | | | game arcade. For a bit wilder fun, your family can |
| where specimens will swim and slither to your left, | | | | jump on the "bungee trampoline," or sit in the |
| right, and above you. You'll see large tanks, small | | | | motion-movie ride...where your chairs will move in |
| tanks and touch tanks. You may attend | | | | synchronized timing with events in the film. You'll |
| informational programs, or simply ask as many | | | | feel like you're really IN the situations that the |
| questions as you like of the aquarium's staff. | | | | movie portrays!By the time evening comes, your |
| You're certain to leave with a renewed awe of | | | | group will leave tired, but happy. Getting home will |
| our swimming friends...and knowing more than | | | | be easy, too. To come and go from Pier 39, you |
| when you entered!As the day warms up, you | | | | can hop a ferry, board a bus, or catch the MUNI. |
| may wish to take a tour of the San Francisco | | | | Many folks simply walk to their cars...parked |
| Bay, which is easily arranged from the piers | | | | conveniently at the Pier 39 parking garage, just |
| adjacent to Pier 39. Budget travelers may enjoy | | | | across the street from all the action!Author Vicki |
| riding the ferry boats across the bay. There's no | | | | Funes is a California native and travel enthusiast. |
| narration aboard a ferry; but the "price is right," | | | | For further details about the San Francisco |
| and the ferries start running much earlier (and quit | | | | attractions discussed in this article--and to see |
| running much later) than the boats of nearby tour | | | | dozens more ideas for planning a fun California |
| companies.To enjoy a narrated tour, you may | | | | vacation--check out the "San Francisco Road Trip" |
| choose a voyage on either the "Red and White | | | | page of her website, "Family Vacation Getaways |
| Fleet" or the "Blue and Gold Fleet" boats. Both bay | | | | at Los Angeles Theme Parks. |