| The 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed most of San | | | | to the island prison of Alcatraz. However these get |
| Francisco, so what you see today is all relatively 'new'. | | | | booked up well in advance especially during summer, |
| The climate is more like that of England than Southern | | | | so it pays to book ahead of your visit. It was a |
| California, but expect more sunshine!Everyone's | | | | maximum security prison from 1934 to 1963. Now it is |
| favourite, San Francisco has much to offer the tourist | | | | part of the Golden Gate National Recreation area and |
| with world famous landmarks against a beautiful | | | | popular with the tourists.Pier 39 |
| background of natural beauty.Golden Gate Bridge | | | | Two blocks from Fisherman's Wharf is the closest |
| The world-famous bridge connects San Francisco to | | | | you can get to Alcatraz without getting on a boat. |
| the southern tip of Marin County.A triumph of | | | | Aside from its shops and restaurants there is a noisy |
| engineering, the bridge is 90ft wide and 1.2 miles long, | | | | sea lion colony in winter months on floating docks |
| spanning 220ft above the sea. The twin towers are | | | | nearby.F Line Streetcars |
| 500ft above the road surface and 80,000 miles of | | | | Of all things associated with San Francisco, the |
| cable was used in construction the suspension cables. | | | | cable-car system is one of the best-known in the |
| It was constructed between January 1933 and April | | | | world. The F-line connects Fisherman's Wharf with |
| 1937.Fisherman's Wharf | | | | Upper Market, carrying around 20,000 people per |
| Once just home to the fishing industry, the area has | | | | day.Adult fares are a flat $3 each way.Union Square |
| been developed into an area of shops & restaurants, | | | | One of the top 4 US shopping areas by volume and |
| although fishing is still represented. The Cannery at the | | | | served by the F-Line streetcars.Tony works for |
| western end of the wharf was once the largest | | | | Strathlorn Travel who specialise in travel for the |
| peach cannery in the world, owned by Del Monte. It is | | | | independent traveller to the USA, Canada, Australia |
| now home to many shops and restaurants.Alcatraz | | | | and other worldwide destinations. |
| Boat tours leave from the Eastern end of the wharf | | | | |