109253 4 Location 547046 <p>Fisherman's Wharf is a long waterfront strip made up of piers, docks and dozens of shops and restaurants in San Francisco.</p><p>The Wharf is a popular tourist destination, and for good reason. Pier 39 has a carousel, arcade and restaurants right by the bayside (where sea lions are its neighbors). The Cannery is a collection of old buildings across the inside of the area, where live music and events can be enjoyed. Ghirardelli Square has more upscale restaurants, and is famous for its chocolate production (you can buy a great hot fudge sundae here). The Anchorage has a plaza overlooking the bay and many shops and more restaurants to enjoy. The Wax Museum houses impressive sculptures of people ranging from Nelson Mandela to Angelina Jolie. If all that doesn't appeal to you, you can still take a tour across the bay. Ferries go across to Alcatraz and Angel Island just about every day.</p><p>My impression is of a somewhat overloaded tourist destination. If the street performers (dancing the robot, standing like manequins or lunging at people through fake bushes), smell, and tacky souveneir shops don't bother you, the massive summer crowds will. Locals, visitors, tourists and hoses-drawn carriages are all over the place (I feel bad for the horses). Still, there's enough room to move around...just be courteous and things should be fine.</p><p>Seafood vendors are spread across the Wharf, all selling overpriced clam chowder and crab meat. I've tried some samples, and while the meat is delicious, why would I pay $20 for a crab here when I could get one for half that price at the local supermarket? I guess it's part of the flavor of the experience, though.</p><p>One thing I can say about the Wharf is that it's never boring. Even if you can't find things to do here (impossible), you can always head a few blocks north and go to Chinatown, or east to the small downtown parks, where fairs and other events often take place. Exploring San Francisco on a warm summer afternoon is pretty much a mandatory California experience, so be sure to try it out at least once while visiting the area.</p> 2005-08-05T05:12:17-07:00 816283651 2005-07-22T17:00:00-07:00 0 -9223372036854775790 146715 534141 109253 0 137070 0.122019481681482 2005-07-22T17:00:00-07:00 Published Endless possibilities 101.0 2006-03-22T02:20:52-08:00 90346 0