Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39

PIER 39 (Fisherman's Wharf)

A pier where dozens of sea lions pile up on wooden rafts

Hours

Pier open all day; most shops 10am–8pm

Tickets

Free

Address

The pier at The Embarcadero and Beach Street; the sea lions are on K-Dock, on the west side

Stand at the rail on the west side of Pier 39 and the smell and the barking reach you first. Sea lions sprawl over the floating rafts in heaps, and every so often one gets shoved into the water and a squabble breaks out. They've hung around since about 1990, and watching them costs nothing. The pier itself is souvenir shops, restaurants and a carousel; walk west into Fisherman's Wharf for crab stands and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls.