San Francisco's Pier 39 is a world unto itself. This 45-acre waterfront complex is a gathering place for both locals and visitors to the Bay Area.
Located two blocks east of the famous Fisherman's Warf, Pier 39 is the spot that attracted sea lions after the 1990 Loma Prieta earthquake. With abundant herring in the bay and the marina's protective environment, the sea lion population has grown to over 300.
Now there is a plethora of activities with one-of-a-kind shops, 14 full-service restaurants, and water activities that share the pier with the boisterous and barking sea lions.
Entertainment and Shows
The entertainment begins at the entrance to the waterfront with musicians. The Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Stage continues the free enchantment with jugglers, magicians, tricksters, and comedians. Many people love to simply spend time with the sea lions that have learned to call Pier 39 home.
The Aquarium of the Bay is located on the second floor of the waterfront and is connected to The Bay Theater where guests can be entertained and educated at the same time by award-winning documentaries, spectacular ocean films, and animated short films. All proceeds from ticket sales support conservation work led by Aquarium of the Bay and the Bay Institute. The aquarium is a wonder in itself with a huge clear tube that visitors walk through surrounded by a wide array of aquatic life including sting rays, sharks, and jellyfish. There is also a colony of three North American River Otters in a recreation of their natural habitat. A special interactive climate change exhibit presentation is at the PG&E lab.
Water Activities
There are several options for viewing the bay and lovely San Francisco waterfront area by boat.
The Rocket Boat takes visitors on a 30-minute thrill ride full of spirals, twists, and turns. The Blue and Gold Fleet's famous one-hour bay cruise glides along the waterfront past the sea lions, under the Golden Gate Bridge by Sausalito, then around Alcatraz and Angel Islands.
There are ferry rides, catamaran cruises, racing cup boat cruises, wine tasting cruises, and an all-day whale-watching tour to choose from.
Land Based Activities
The famous San Francisco Carousel is a splendid work of art. It was hand-crafted in Italy and is the only carousel in the United States to have fine artistic renderings of its own home city. Visitors can ride sea dragons, sea lions, dolphins, as well as horses on this very special carousel.
Visitors can rent bicycles and participate in bicycle tours that span miles, ending with a ferry ride back to the waterfront. There is a bungee trampoline that will safely send you 20 feet high as well as a one-of-its-kind rollercoaster ride and interactive shooting gallery combination that is sure to make a life-long memory. Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze takes visitors through the most challenging series of hallways and rooms, and the Players Sports & Grille Arcade offers 12,000 square feet of video and pinball games, dining, and drinks at the Luau Lounge.
Pier 39 is certainly a whale of a place to spend time when visiting the lovely city of San Francisco.
