Embarcadero, San Francisco

You may know by now that the reason why this blog is called Memories of the Pacific is that every now and then there is a flashback post to my time living in the Bay Area, near San Francisco. I'm in love with this city for various reasons: the variety of neighborhoods, the stunning and colorful Victorian houses, the fact that it is small but you can find everything... If I had to design the perfect city, it would be based on the City by the Bay.

Today I want to take you to one of my favorite spots: the Embarcadero. It's an avenue that goes along the bay and it's a great place to spend some quality time. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and beautiful views. It's also a great place for jogging or simply going for a walk. I'm going to take you for a stroll stopping at the best places so you can feel as if you were there. Care to join me?

Let's start with the basics. Where are we and where are we heading to? 

The Embarcadero right-of-way begins at the intersection of Second and King Streets near AT&T Park -the San Francisco Giants stadium-, and travels north, passing under the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge (pictured below) and Pier 39, before ending at Pier 45.

One of my favorite views in all of San Francisco is the Bay Bridge lit up at dusk. It’s a magical sight!

You can also find some works of art along the way. This giant bow and arrow near the foot of the Bay Bridge is called Cupid's Span and was a gift from the Gap corporation to the city.

The Embarcadero continues north past the Ferry Building at Market Street. On weekends you can find one of the best farmer's markets where you can stock up on fresh fruit, veggies and flowers. I devoted a full post to the history behind this San Francisco landmark which you can read here. 

Pier 39 is a shopping center and popular tourist attraction. It's full of colorful sights. You can find famous all-American restaurants such as Hard Rock Cafe or Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. If you have dinner at the later, you will see gorgeous views of the bay at night.

Apart from all the shops and restaurants, the main attraction is the presence of numerous sea lions resting close-by. California sea lions have always been present in the Bay. They started to haul out on docks of Pier 39 as early as 1989.

From the pier one can also see, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you want to visit the famous prison you'll have to book in advance since most tours are sold out. It's not the most cheerful place to visit, but it's part of history. You can listen to a very interesting audio recording while walking along the cells. It includes the famous quote “If you break the rules, you go to prison. If you break the prison rules, you go to Alcatraz”. If you are a fan of the film Escape from Alcatraz, visiting it is a must.

Last but not least we arrive at Fisherman's Wharf. It is one of the busiest and best known tourist attractions in the western United States. Seafood restaurants are aplenty in the area and you can't leave without trying the most famous dish, clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl.

Hungry for more? Find other San Francisco posts here.

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Cristina xo