Boat and Bus Tour

On our second day to the city we took a boat tour of the bay.  We went under the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as a trip all the way around Alcatraz.  During the trip a we listened to a recorded narrative explaining the history of each of the bridges, Alcatraz and some history of the city as we traveled the bay from one side of the city to the other.  It was very interesting and we got some great pictures.

Below is the boat we took on the bay tour.

 

 

 

Leaving the docks at Pier 39.  You can see Alcatraz in the background.

 

More sea lions.

The Golden Gate Bridge. 

We were very fortunate that there was no fog that day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bay Bridge a double decker bridge and is the bridge that had a portion collapse during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake.

 

 

 

 

 A close-up look at traffic on the Bay Bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part of the city skyline.

 

 

 

 

We took a lot of pictures as we circled around Alcatraz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the Alcatraz tour boats at the dock.   Look at the number of people either waiting to get on the boat........or had just gotten off.  No wonder we couldn't get a ticket! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving Alcatraz. 

 

 

 

 

We saw the USA 76 Yacht that raced in the Americus Cup.

 

 

 

 

Coast Guard approved to hold 20 people.  You can charter a ride and sail around the bay!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another section of the city skyline.  It is so big you can hardly get the entire city in one shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coit Tower is to San Francisco as the Empire State Building is to New York City.  It has been an emblem of San Francisco's skyline since it's completion in 1933. 

It's observation deck can be reached by elevator once you purchase your ticket in the gift shop.  It provides a 360 degree view of the city and of the Golden Gate bridge and the Bay bridge.

 

 

 

 

This paddle wheel yacht can be booked for dinner on the bay. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The BIG BUS Tour:  

 

 

We decided that this was the best way to see all of the major points of interest in the city.   This was a Hop-On and Hop-Off tour, however, we stayed on for the entire ride.  After taking the tour we knew what areas we wanted to go back and visit during our week in the city.   Below is a picture of the Big Bus we took.

 

 The picture was taken earlier the same morning that we took our boat tour.  You can tell it was early because the top of the bus was not full!  Usually the top was always full.  Luckily there was still room on the top deck and we were able to sit up there on our tour.

 

 

 

 We are in Little Italy headed toward the Financial District in the heart of the city. 

 

 

 

 

 

Haight and Ashury  area is noted for it's role as a center of the 1960's hippy movement.

 

 

 

 

 The famous Haight and Ashbury intersection.

 

 

 

 

 

"Summer of Love"  1967

 

 

 

 

San Francisco City Hall building.

 

 

 

 

The Big Bus took us across the Golden Gate Bridge and back.  It was really fun to ride on the top of the bus over the bridge, but it was very windy and cool.  Had a totally new hairdo after that ride!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bus goes to a park on the north end of the bridge where you can get off for photos, bathroom break or just to look at the view of the bay and the city. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragon Gate at China Town....we came back the next day and walked down several of the streets in Chinatown.  Loved it!  See more in the next blog post.

 

 

 

 

 

Union Square -  this is a central location for shopping, hotels and theater district.  It got it's name for being used for rallies and support for the Union Army during the American Civil War.