Fisherman's Wharf is San Francisco's most popular destination. A long coastal row of seafood restaurants, street vendors, and souvenir stores is combined with a major fishing pier. The wharf can be reached by cable car from Union Square. Most ferry rides take off from here to scenic Marin County. While popular, you may want to avoid a stay of over a few hours in Fisherman's Wharf if you dislike crowds and "tourist traps". However, Fisherman's Wharf is great for a 1-2 hour (daytime) stop for fresh sourdough, seafood, and souvenirs for your friends back home. I also love riding on the $25 charter sail boats that leave from the wharf.

This place really sucks, but you'll go anyway-- I guarantee it. Everybody who visits wants to come to this San Francisco landmark gone sour. The best thing is the sea lions on the side of a vile mall called Pier 39. There are a zillion sea lions and they bark and make noise a lot. It's cool (the sea lions). But this area (the wharf) teems with tourists, crowds, rip-off artists, flim-flam's, scams, and those people who offer to write you a ticket for having the best smile. Hold onto your wallet here and get out quick.