THE FISHERMANS WHARF NEIGHBORHOOD

If you're busy watching the street performers strut their stuff, or you're buying lunch from the crab pots at Taylor & Jefferson, or you're shopping at PIER 39 or Ghirardelli Square, you probably haven't noticed the apartments and condominiums around Fishermans Wharf.

Take another look - they're not all vacation rentals!

But it's not just the people who live in the apartments and condos that make The Wharf a neighborhood - it's also the generations of Italians who still fish here commercially, who run the restaurants and the fish processing plants that were started by their grandfathers and great-grandfathers.

It's those who are carrying on the traditions that give Fisherman's Wharf the flavor of a San Francisco neighborhood.

WHAT DO THE LOCALS DO AT FISHERMAN'S WHARF?

Do they avoid the place like the plague? You might think so, but it's their neighborhood. And many of the elements of The Wharf that bring in the tourists - its history & character, its waterfront ambiance, the fresh seafood which gives the phrase "catch of the day" a whole new meaning - are also attractive to the local residents!

But does that mean they want to fight the crowds of tourists? Not on your life! So here are some of the things you'd do if you lived at The Wharf:

• Take the Port Walk - it's an opportunity to enjoy the waterfront sans the tourists, as most have not discovered this delightful stroll.

  Start at the Ferry Arch, following the signs that provide current and historic information about the Wharf, and end at the Hyde Street Pier. One of the most interesting stops is at the Fisherman's & Seaman's Chapel at Pier 45, where there is historical information available, and an annual service is held to honor the area's lost fishermen.

• Get up early and watch the fishing fleet come in with the day's catch - usually between 6 and 7 a.m. (Don't whine, the fishermen had to get up a lot earlier!) Depending on the season, there might be crab, salmon, shrimp, sand dabs, rock cod . . . smell the smells, listen to the men bantering with each other, ask them how the catch went.
• Visit Aquatic Park - read the paper with your morning coffee, bring a picnic lunch, walk your dog or jog along the beach, ride along the bike path, or join the Dolphin Club and swim (if you're brave enough for the cold, cold water).

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• Have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at one of the many fine eateries at The Wharf - just because they cater to the tourists doesn't mean they don't serve wonderful food!

• Scoma's, Alioto's, Torentino's are long-time favorites that bring the fresh catch in through the back door and cook it up for your pleasure.

The key to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is to get off the beaten track and seek out the oft-missed & best-kept secrets of the REAL Wharf!

Here are some more San Francisco Neighborhoods:

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