4 Days in San Francisco

During our retirement trip we spent 4 days in the beautiful city of San Francisco.  We had been there once before, but only for a couple of days and it wasn't nearly enough time for us to see everything.  So, when the first cruise ended in San Francisco we decided to take full advantage.

After disembarking from the cruise, we went straight to our hotel to drop off our luggage.  Fortunately, our room was ready and we were able to check in early.  The hotel we booked was the Riu Fisherman's Wharf.  The location was great for us - close to everything, but far enough from the activity to be quiet.  We aren't hard to please.  Our main criteria are cleanliness, comfort, updated, and good value for money.  This hotel checked all the boxes. The hotel had plenty of amenities but we didn't use of any of them, as we were out most of the time we were there.  The exception, however, was the outdoor seating areas with fireplaces.  It was nice to return in the evening and enjoy the warmth of the fire.

 After settling in, we headed to one of San Francisco's most famous landmarks - Lombard Street. This street is known as the crookedest street in the world, with eight hairpin turns down its steep one-block section. It is flanked by beautifully landscaped homes, making it one of the city's most photographed streets. 

The following day, we spent down by Fisherman's Wharf.  Fisherman’s Wharf is a popular waterfront district in San Francisco. Many years ago this area was a fishing and shipping hub but has since become a major tourist area with shopping, restaurants and attractions. We didn't have an agenda that day so we simply wandered, taking in the beautiful views of Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city skyline.

We spent quite a bit of time at Pier 39. The pier has many shops and restaurants, along with a carousel. We enjoyed lingering over lunch, soaking in the atmosphere.

Of course, we had to visit Pier 39's most famous residents - the large colony of sea lions that have lived there since 1990.  

On the third day, we had booked a tour of Alcatraz Island.  We had been looking forward to doing this for quite some time.

Alcatraz is situated in San Francisco Bay. It was once a military fortification and a lighthouse. In 1934, it was transformed into a federal prison.  It gained the reputation of being inescapable, due to the strong currents in the bay and housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.  The prison closed in 1963, and the island has since become a popular tourist destination.

the shower room

the clothing issue room - inmates could exchange their dirty clothes for clean and new inmates would be issued their uniforms

It was a fascinating place to tour. After taking the ferry from San Francisco, we climbed the steep hill and entered the prison. We began in the cellhouse shower room where we were given a very informative audio guide to listen to as we walked through the cell blocks.  Sprinkled throughout the audio guide, we heard from former

 inmates and guards who provided tales of life on the inside. 

cell block

a cell

the kitchen

administrative office

recreation yard

I can only imagine how torturous it must have been to be locked up in Alcatraz with the bustling city just across the bay. Prisoners could see and hear city life that was just beyond reach. Walking around the gardens and trails, and seeing the beautiful views had a completely different feel from inside the walls of the prison.

the Warden's house

inside the Warden's house

the officer's club

the view of the city

We were captivated from the time we landed on the island to the time we left.  Alcatraz is a fascinating place.  One day I would love to go back and do some of the other tours they offer.

On our last day in San Francisco we visited Muir Woods National Monument to see the giant redwood trees. Muir Woods is just north of San Francisco and is known for it's towering redwood trees.  It was an incredible feeling walking the paths through these massive trees - some of which were 300 ft. tall and over 1000 years old.

We ended our last day in San Francisco by going to see the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. No visit to San Francisco is complete without seeing this world famous suspension bridge.