Date: 12 Dec 2009 Saturday
08:45 AM Oh Taxi!
We hopped onto the Green Cab! Our initial plan was to walk all the way to The San Francisco Visitor Information Center. According to Google Map, the walk is estimated to take us 30 – 40 mins. We were unsure of the accuracy of Google Map due to the earlier experience.
A – Chinatown, San Francisco
B – The San Francisco Visitor Information Center
Total driving distance 1.8 km
08:50 AM The San Francisco Visitor Information Center
The cab dropped us off and we didn’t see The San Francisco Information Center anywhere. Initially I thought we were at the wrong place but we found the center after getting directions from locals there.
We were too early – a few more mins before it opens at 9 AM.
We waited at one of the 3 turntables for the Historic Cable Car. We watched them rotate the Cable Cars into the different tracks using the turntable.
Rotating the Cable Car after pushing it onto the turntable.
Pushing the Cable Car onto the opposite track from the turntable.
09:05 AM Collecting our Go San Francisco Cards
Lots of different pamphlets on San Francisco’s places of interest.
A – The San Francisco Visitor Information Center
B – GoCar Tours Union Square
Total walking distance 0.4 km
We spent the next hour walking to and fro the The San Francisco Information Center and GoCar Tours Union Square. We had wanted to collect our Historic Cable Car tickets and also to rent the GoCar. We could rent the GoCar free for ½ hour with our Go San Francisco Card. BUT but but, the store was closed due to the rain! 🙁 It was supposed to open at 9 AM. We gave up after returning and checking a few times.
The GoCar (found on google)… isn’t it cute? The GoCar is a GPS-guided, talking tour vehicle.
10:00 AM Westfield San Francisco Center
We walked to Westfield San Francisco Center, just opposite of The San Francisco Information Center to collect our Historic Cable Car tickets.
Westfield San Francisco Center Concierge Desk
Our Historic Cable Car tickets
Shopped in Westfield for a moment before heading for Fisherman’s Wharf.
Checking the schedule for the day.
10:40 AM Historic Cable Car Ride
A – Powell & Market Street Terminal
B – Hyde & Beach Street Terminal
The Powell – Hyde line runs north and steeply uphill from the Powell & Market Street Terminal, before crossing the California Street line at the crest of the hill. Downhill from this crest it turns left and uphill again along Jackson Street to a crest at Hyde Street. Here it turns right and steeply downhill along Hyde Street to the Hyde & Beach Street Terminal.
Cable Car rotating to the opposite direction while we waited for it at Powell & Market Street Station.
The gripman and his lever that actuate the grip and various brakes.
Going up the steep hill
Lombard Street
11:05 AM Hyde and Beach Terminal
We arrived at Hyde and Beach Terminal. Took some photos with the Cable Car before going off.
11:10 AM Fisherman’s Wharf
A – Hyde & Beach Street Terminal
B – San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park
C – Pier 43½
D – Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf
Total walking distance 1.0 km
Walked to Pier 43½ Grayline Ticket Office Fisherman’s Wharf to collect our tickets for the Grayline Skyview Tour.
11:30 AM The Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf
Titanic
Prince Charles
Prince Philip & Queen Elizabeth II
Diana, Princess of Wales
Albert Einstein
Galileo Galilei & Sir Isaac Newton
Judaism
Taoism
Buddhism
Confucianism
The Last Supper
Pinkie
The Blue Boy
American Gothic
Triple Self Portrait
Grande Odalisque
JR on an electric chair
Alice in Wonderland
12:05 PM Aquarium of the Bay at PIER 39
On the way to Pier 39.
A – Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf
B – Pier 39
Total walking distance 0.4 km
Bay Pipefish (Syngnathinae)
Chinchilla
African Pygmy Hedgehog
Coastal California Tide Pool
Pink-Toed Tarantula
13:00 PM Grayline Trolley Tour
After visiting Aquarium of the Bay, we went shopping at “Only In San Francisco” store for ½ hour before our Trolley Tour.
A – Pier 39
B – Pier 41 Grayline Booth for Trolley Tour
Total walking distance 0.3 km
We walked over to Pier 41 Grayline Booth for the Trolley Tour. The Trolley Tour will drive through San Francisco’s most scenic neighborhoods, including Fisherman’s Wharf, Downtown, Union Square, Chinatown, the Financial District, North Beach and the Ferry Building.
Painted ladies
Look at the parked cars on the hill.
This white house belongs to Danielle Steel.
Union Square
14:05 PM Lunch at McDonald’s
We were famished by the time we completed the Trolley Tour.
A – Pier 41 Grayline Booth for Trolley Tour
B – McDonald’s
Total walking distance 0.1 km
Our Angus Mushrooms Burger. One word – YUMMY! Why couldn’t we have this in Singapore?
14:30 PM Golden Gate Bay Cruise
A – McDonald’s
B – Pier 43½ Fisherman’s Wharf, Red & White Booth
Total walking distance 0.4 km
The Golden Gate Bay Cruise is a 1 hour tour which departs from Fisherman’s Wharf and cruise along the North Beach shoreline past Aquatic Park, Hyde Street Pier, and the ships of the National Maritime Historic Park. Also, it will sail past the Marin Country town of Sausalito, Angel Island State Park and the infamous island of Alcatraz.
Audio narration of the tour
We went into the open area of the ship to enjoy the cold breeze and to take photos.
The Golden Gate Bridge
Brrrrrrrrr…. It was too cold for me to stay outdoor. We went back indoors to stay out of the cold.
The infamous island of Alcatraz