San Francisco Bay is one of the most inviting recreational areas in the United States. You can see bulky container ships moving slowly among the graceful sailboats that are racing each other from one point to another. Every portion of the bay has sweeping views of some portion of the city that the Gold Rush built.Â
Recently, I was able to get out on the water with some friends, and really began to appreciate all that the area has to offer. We went on one of the best ways to see it in comfort-The Oakland/Alameda Ferry. Whether you have a home in Oakland, or one in Alameda, it is just a short trip to their ferry terminal. We left from Alameda's terminal because the parking is often easier, and then, after a brief stop at Jack London Square to pick up more passengers, we were underway to San Francisco.
The ferry offers two full decks for viewing. It races along at good speed, and heads right under the Bay Bridge. Going under the bridge was a thrill for all the children on board, since they had never seen it from that viewpoint. It appears much larger and longer than it seems from the top deck while riding in a car.
Sooner than expected, we arrived at the historic Ferry Building. It has been completely updated, and offers foods, wines, cheeses, coffees, pastries, and restaurants of just about any type to encourage you to site down and eat and enjoy the amazing views, or just people watch. After a relaxing meal, we wandered all around lower Market Street looking at all the tourist attractions that surround the famous Vaillancourt Fountain in Embarcadero Plaza across from the Ferry Building.
We chose to head back before all the commuters would crowd on board, and the quick trip back was windy, choppy, and very typical for the day. We decided that we would make this a regular event, since it beats the traffic every time!
Posted by Bruce Wagg on
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