
San Francisco Fishermans Wharf ~ now one of the top tourist attractions and a place with history (and seafood!)
When you think of places to see in San Francisco, you think of Fisherman’s Wharf. Apart from being one of the top tourist destinations in SF, the bustling waterfront also has history.
The wharf and its surroundings have witnessed the influx of Italian fishermen who migrated to SF during the gold rush in the 1800s. They considered this time to be an opportune moment (thanks to the increasing population) to not only migrate but settle in the North Beach area (currently, Little Italy) just around the wharf and established their fishing trade. And you will see some of the names of the famous seafood eateries have an Italian name (example, Fisherman’s Grotto, Joe’s Crab shack, Louie Linguini’s in Monterey).
This is when the local Dungeness Crab became famous and was exported by these Italian immigrant fishermen.
The Fisherman wharf is still the harbor for fishing fleet although it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions.
The location of the Wharf blends in with Pier 39, another popular tourist destination. The sea lions at the colony at Pier 39 are truly a treat to watch.
The Boudin family came to realize that wild yeasts in the San Francisco air had imparted a unique sourness to their french bread. This gave rise to the famous ‘San Francisco Sourdough french bread’. The traditional recipe of baking fresh breads each day still lives on in the hands of expert bakers and a bit of the original ‘mother dough’ is present in each and every loaf till today.
To experience this destination to the fullest, plan for one whole day at San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf when you are in the city. The place is vibrant and colorful during summer with a lot of activities to do. Although another waterfront destination, Fisherman’s Wharf at SF keeps the San Francisco vibe alive!