I took a spontaneous, last minute solo vacation (I’m kinda known for those) to San Francisco. This was the quickest turnaround of them all, with me flying out less than 60 hours after booking. Armed with five days, a rental car, and only one thing planned (more on that soon), I set off to create-my-own adventure.
A man at the rental company recommended I visit Pier 39, so I programmed my GPS to head that way. It didn’t look like much from the front, but when I walked onto that pier I felt like I’d wondered into a different world. The carnival facade had me staring in amazement, feeling like a little kid again. There was a carousel, arcade, magic shop, and more. It was so nostalgic I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d been here before. There were an astounding number of shops on the pier (over 50 in total!) — all of them boutique and highly specialized. There was even a store selling nothing but socks!
It was pretty chilly down by the water, something I finally admitted after walking around for about an hour. I shopped those boutiques and outfitted myself with something warmer. Here I am (later) sporting my new San Francisco jacket and California shades.
While I was shopping I heard the sound of barking and got super excited. If there were sea lions somewhere, I could probably see them, being on a pier and all. And I didn’t have to look too far, because turns out Pier 39 is a refuge and is famous for the piles of sea lions that hang out on its docks. The marine animals started arriving after the Bay area was hit with a major earthquake in 1989, and within a year, the population had grown to more than 300.
Psst… turn your sound on for this video
This part of the pier also boasts a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the SkyStar Wheel, which is temporarily located in Fisherman’s Wharf.
I was so entranced by the sea lions that I didn’t even notice the Golden Gate bridge in the background. I caught my first glimpse of the orange-steeled masterpiece from the pier.
Pier 39 also offers a view of the Bay Bridge that takes you to Oakland. Although it isn’t orange, it’s just as architecturally stunning as the Golden Gate bridge.
There’s one more well known landmark visible from the pier — Alcatraz Island. I took a behind-the-scenes tour of the prison the next day, which you can read about here.
The harbors surrounding the pier are just as picturesque as the rest of the city. I spent 4 hours exploring before I finally got tired enough that I had to call it a day.
From sea lions to arcades, carousels, crime, and political history — grand architecture and natural beauty all come together in this place. There’s something entirely magical about a visit to Pier 39.
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