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Pier 39 was opened in 1978 as an entertainment, dining and shopping venue and has attracted thousands of visitors since its inception.
It has also attracted something else.
Sea Lions.
While sea lions have always been present in San Francisco Bay, they have only become a tourist attraction since 1989. Having always been seen on Seal Rock, the majority of the population has decided to change their location and starting lounging on the docks of Pier 39, where it is speculated that they feel safer.
Though the sea lions only appear seasonally, due to their migration habits, the best time to see them is during the spring, usually between February until June or July when they leave to seek out their food sources.
When they can be found at Pier 39, they are a source of pure entertainment for visitors with their playful antics. I enjoyed sitting on the platforms installed to provide optimum viewing of the large creatures which can weigh up to half a ton. They are known for their intelligence, playfulness and noisy barking but despite the fact that thousands of people come to see them every day, they usually avoid humans.
After you enjoy your free show at Pier 39, take some time to walk around, enjoy a great meal, buy some souvenirs and check out some of the performers that put on frequent shows on the premises.
No matter what you end up doing at Pier 39, however, you will always hear the blubbery creatures barking in the distance, so don’t feel bad if you have to go check them out one more time!
I did!
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Pier 39
- https://www.pier39.com/
- Address: The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133
- Hours: 1000-2200, daily
- Admission: free
- Getting There: