NorCal Adventures: Pier 39 in SF

Me, Carlos, & Erik
Doesn't it look like Carlos is my boyfriend and E photo-bombed? LOL
Yes, that's Alcatraz behind us.

Almost 2 months ago (Jan. 7), E and I went into San Francisco (for the first time since moving here) to see our friend, Carlos, who was visiting with his family. It was so great to see a friend from NYC and it was a great study break/ excuse to see the great city of San Francisco. It was a little embarrassing to admit that we hadn't gotten up that way yet seeing as we are so close (40 minute drive close).

So, here's one little site from that site-seeing trip. Pier 39. According to my handy little "fascinating facts" book (btw, it does not even come close to comparing to Inside the Apple.  I would love to write a similar book about San Francisco. There should be a book that thorough yet approachable about every city. The Inside the Apple may even be a book that has "changed my life" status.), "[s]hortly after the 1989 earthquake, most of San Francisco's seal lion population moved from Seal Rocks just beyond the Cliff House to take up residence at Pier 39 on the bay." (no page citation because the book is neither in a discernible order (alphabetical by location is dumb if you don't know what you are looking at!) nor is it paginated). What's really cool is that we were randomly there during the most populous time for the sea lions.  In January, it gets up to 600 sea lions whereas in June/July, they almost disappear when they head south to breed.

Pier 39 draws about 10 million visitors a year and became really popular starting in 1990.

It was cool to hear the sea lions bark and to watch them fight.  The older (we're guessing they were older because they were bigger) sea lions chilled out while the young ones yelled and wrestled each other into the water.

This is hard to believe, but according the book, Pier 39 is the 3rd most popular destination in the country behind Disney World and Disneyland.  Really?! That just doesn't sound possible.

The merchants on the pier were originally wary of the "polluting" sea lions but from the looks of it, they appear to be over that.

SF from the pier.