Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the San Fran-
cisco Bay to the north and east, San Francisco possesses a
rich seafaring past.
It became a trading post in the early 1800s and
harbored hundreds of ships after the discovery of gold. During 20th-
century global conflicts, the city served as an embarkation point for
Pacific-bound servicemen. Take 4 to 5 hours to enjoy this scenic walk
through history, and don't forget to bring a sweater. If your schedule
allows, take this tour on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday morning,
when the thrice-weekly Farmers Market, a San Francisco favorite,
takes place at your first stop—the Ferry Building Marketplace.
START:
Ferry Building (at the Embarcadero & Misson St.). Streetcar: F to
Ferry Terminal. Bus 2, 7, 14, 21, 66, or 71 to Steuart & Market sts.
1
★★
Ferry Building Market-
place.
Stroll through this gourmet
market inside the
Ferry Building
(p 15, bullet
2
), where tenants sell
the best of Northern California's
bounty, from bread, pastries, and
cheese to chocolate, gourmet
coffee, tea, and sushi. Then head
outside to watch the ferries depart
to Angel Island, Marin County, Oak-
land, and Alameda. Before the Bay
and Golden Gate bridges were
constructed, the ferry system
included hundreds of boats shut-
tling both people and goods. If you
are lucky enough to be here during
the alfresco
Ferry Plaza Farmers
Market
(Tues & Thurs 10am-2pm;
Sat 8am-2pm, just outside the main
doors of the marketplace; for more
details, see p 15, bullet
3
),
you'll
want to add an extra hour to mingle
with the locals and check out the
stands hawking fine produce, flow-
ers, and readymade snacks by local
restaurants.
@
25 min. 1 Ferry Build-
ing (at the Embarcadero & Mission
St.) Streetcar: F to Ferry Terminal.
Bus: 2, 7, 14, 21, 66, or 71 to Steuart
& Market sts. After you explore the
marketplace, hop on the F streetcar
westbound towards Fisherman's
Wharf. Exit at Jones and Beach sts.,
and walk two blocks to Pier 45. Note:
Be sure to have your camera out—
the streetcar ride takes you along the
scenic waterfront.
Fresh produce and flowers at the Ferry
Plaza Farmers Market.
2
SS Jeremiah O'Brien.
During
World War II, the U.S. ramped up pro-
duction of warships, revolutionizing
building methods by prefabricating
several parts at a time in various
shipyards. The new technique
allowed the U.S. to make ships faster
than Germany could sink them. One
such “Liberty Ship” was the
O'Brien,
which participated in both the 1944
D-Day invasion and the anniversary
celebrations 50 years later. You can
