San Francisco
SF Maritime NHP
Ships and the sea are very much a part of the history of San Francisco. SF Maritime National Historical Park along the waterfront has a visitor center with fascinating exhibits, sandy beach and grass at Aquatic Park.
Tip: Hyde Street Pier with historic ships is closed.
Visitor Center
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In the visitor center, check out ships models of schooners, whaling boats, schooners, ferries, tugs and clippers ships, the sparkling Fresnel lens from Farallon Island lighthouse, and wreck of a full-size fishing boat that washed up on the rocks, plus a map of shipwrecks outside the Golden Gate.
"A Walk Along the Waterfront" re-creates scenes of the San Francisco waterfront - from the first Native Americans in tule boats, to fur traders, Gold Rush ships (including artifacts from a buied ship), fisherman in Italian feluccas, and great steamships of the early 20th century.
The Visitor Center museum is free and open daily.
Hyde Street Pier
The historic ships are moved to another location while the pier is completely rebuilt.
In the meantime, here's a video of the ship Balclutha.
Aquatic Park
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The Aquatic Park has a
sand beach
and calm water. It's the perfect place for kids to dig in the sand, or wade (but the water's always cold, even in summer). There's a small green park too, with park benches where parents can sit back and relax, while the kids run around.
