Tour San Francisco Bay

MainTour San Francisco California Vacation Adventure

[ Overview / Bridges / Islands / Alcatraz / Ferry Service / Wildlife Refuges / Tourism Services ]

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The Gardens of California
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Region Overview

San Francisco Bay is one of the largest natural deep-water harbors in the world. There are 22 islands and 5 major bridges. Entrance to the ocean is through the famous and scenic Golden Gate. The shoreline both north and south is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
The northern part of the harbor is seperately called San Pablo Bay. Primary tributaries to the bay are the Sacramento, Napa and Petaluma Rivers.
Best Bets for Tourists:
See the Bridges - Both the Golden Gate and the SF-Oakland Bay Bridges are ranked as the incredible engineering feats. Both also offer incredible panoramic views of the greater San Francisco Area.

Harbor Cruise - Get out on the water to enjoy another perspective of the San Fransico Bay.

Angel Island - Major Picnic and recreation area out in the water.

Alcatraz Island - This famous prison is today a very popular tourist attraction.

Famous Ship Tours - at the Embarcadero.

Tour Bay Bridges

Golden Gate is the main entrance to the majestic San Francisco Bay. The world famous Golden Gate Bridge was built (1933-37) across this entrance connecting US Hwy 101 from the city of San Francisco with Marin County to the north. The main span is 4,200 ft and total span is 9,266 ft. It is one of the largest single-span suspension bridges ever built. Two massive towers rise 746 feet above the water, the world's highest bridge towers. Clearance for water traffic is 220 feet which easily accomodates the largest ships in the world. A full-time painting crew constantly is at work to maintain the distinctive coat of international orange. Bridge toll is $3 for southbound traffic.
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is the main link between San Francisco and the East Bay Cities. The bridge (Hwy I-80) is 8.4 miles long (including approaches) of which 4.5 miles is over navigable water. The East and West spans connect to a double-deck tunnel running through Yerba Buena Island (which is a U.S. Coast Guard Station). This bridge was damaged and closed temporarily in the 1989 earthquake but has since been repaired. $2 Toll charge for westbound traffic only. Info (510)286-1148.
Three other big toll bridges span San Fransico Bay:
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Hwy I-580 in the north.
San Mateo Bridge SR-92 connects to Hayward in south.
Dumbarton Bridge SR-84 between Fremont and Menlo Park.

Tour Bay Islands

See below for the most famous island of all - Alcatraz.
Treasure Island, U.S. Navy Reservation in the middle of San Francisco Bay, is connected to causeway to Yerba Buena Island which is reached by the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Visitors can drive to this island to see the Treasure Island Museum [Notice: Closed indefinitely.]
Angel Island State Park is accessed only by Ferry Service from Tiburon (Marin Co.), Berkeley and the San Francisco Embarcadero. Angel Island has picnic facilities, beaches and hiking trails. The island was home to the Angel Island Immigration Station which processed thousands of Chinese immigrants 1910-40.

Harbor Bay Island is part of the city of Alameda and is accessed thru SR-260 tunnel. This island is home to N.A.S. Alameda which is also the port for large U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

Tour Alcatraz Island

Island located in San Francisco Bay is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Originally built as a Spanish Fortress, it served as a US Military prison (1859-1933) and as a federal maximum security penitentiary (1933-63). It was home to such notorious prisoners as Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and Robert Stroud (Birdman of Alcatraz).
Today it is a museum with a self-guiding trail, cellblock tour and special ranger programs.
Access to the island is by tour boats that depart from Pier 41 on Fisherman's Wharf daily 9:30 to 4:15. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.

Harbor Ferries and Cruise Tours

The Red and White Fleet 800-229-2784
Operates from Fisherman's Wharf with daily ferries and daytime cruises from Piers 41-43. Including:
The Alcatraz Tour
Sausalito Ferry
Tiburon Ferry - to Muir Woods, Sonoma and Napa

Vallejo Ferry 707-643-3779
Daily cruises across San Pablo Bay to Angel Island depart from the Vallejo Ferry building daily.

Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry (415)435-2131
Runs daily to Angel Island State Park

The Blue and Gold Fleet (415) 705-5444
Daily 75 minute cruises depart from Pier 39.

Hornblower Dining Yachts (415) 788-8866 (Ext 7)
Daily dinner and lunch cruises and weekend brunch cruises aboard the motor yacht California Hornblower depart from Pier 33 of the Embarcadero. This cruise inlcudes meals, live music and dancing. Reservations required.

Tour Wildlife Refuges

These locations are very good choices for Bird-watching and observing other regional Wildlife.
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located in the far north of the bay.
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located in the far south of the bay.
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