If you like the oceans and waterfront areas, then you ought to try out the Pier 39 in San Francisco. It offers the perfect setting for family fun, couples dining and for gang of friends to enjoy and excite themselves. There are very many attractions in the Pier 39 area. Here you can get a brief idea as to what to expect!

Adventurous sailing charts that can take you into the interesting water trip on the San Francisco bay area. The bay's aquarium in Pier 39 has the most astonishing varieties of sea animals on show. You can get the close look of the sharks, jelly fishes to the octopuses. There will also be special activities going on in the aquarium where you can interact with the sea animals by feeding them, seeing them do the tricks they have been taught etc.

If you like bike riding, then there is the bike rentals available there, which you can take to go along the bike path along the National Park through to the Golden Gate bridge. You will be ferried back to the other side!

There is the bungee-trampoline which can give you the excitement of seeing all the action going on below as you swing up through the air. Added to all these variety of entertainment there is also the infinite mirror maze and the rocketboat ride to get you pumped up to the maximum extent! This is why pier 39 remains one of the most attractive tourist locations in the San Francisco Bay area.

With beautiful views and so many attractions, there is no wonder why Pier 39 is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the United States. Adjacent to Fisherman's Wharf and along the San Francisco Bay, it is really a perfect blend of a shopping center and popular tourist attraction built on a pier in San Francisco.

There are two levels of Pier 39, with loads of attractions to explore including a variety of shops, a video arcade, street performances, an interpretive center for the Marine Mammal Center, the Aquarium of the Bay, virtual 3D rides and more. Whether for family fun, fantastic shopping or an up-close look at California's playful sea lions, Pier 39 is the place to be.

However, your visit to Pier 39 is never complete without a dining experience at the pier. San Francisco is a city known for its splendid eateries. Pier 39's restaurants strengthen that reputation and provide a wide variety of delicious cuisines. As an added bonus, most restaurants there have spectacular views of San Francisco Bay.

When it comes to dining at Pier 39, it occurs to someone that there is no dearth of fresh seafood. Actually, Pier 39 boasts 14 full-service on-site restaurants with more than 2,500 seats, serving an exclusive selection of seafood plus exotic cuisines like Italian and Japanese.

1) Crab House at Pier 39

Seafood lovers? Crab House at Pier 39 is just a great option to consider. Featuring unsurpassed views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf, it is really a romantic dining venue and also a great destination for large family-style gathering.

The restaurant is known for its mouth-watering, addictive crab menu, featuring the "Killer Crab", sizzling crab legs, crab chowder, crab Caesar, crab cakes and more. Located at the Level 2, the restaurant is open from 11:30am to 10pm. To learn more about its menu, visit this page:

Menu for Crab House at Pier 39

http://www.crabhouse39.com/menu.htm

2) Neptune's Seafood Restaurant

For a memorable dining experience at Pier 39, head to Neptune's Seafood Restaurant. Seated at the scenic tip of Pier 39, it offers the kind of waterfront setting for which San Francisco is famous. Four superb rooms all feature breathtaking views of San Diego Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and beyond.

Seated at the Level 2, at Beach Street and the Embarcadero, the Neptune's carries an exclusive menu with appetizers, soups, salads, grilled fresh fish and more. It has once been recognized as one of the top ten seafood restaurants in San Francisco. For more info, check this page:

Neptune's Seafood Restaurant

http://www.pier39restaurants.com/neptune_s_palace.htm

3) Forbes Island

Have you eaten underwater? Forbes Island gives you such an opportunity. It features a somewhat wacky island / boat that is moored inside the harbor break wall near the famous sea lions. This man-made island boasts an underwater bar, dining rooms with beautiful views of the bay, a lighthouse and a sandy beach.

Departing from Pier 39's West Marina at Gate H, there is a 27-passeger vessel will take you to the island. Once you are situated at Forbes Island, it is highly recommended to sample their classic upscale fare including the broccoli and shitake mushroom puff as well as filet mignon. To visit the restaurant, you need to call 415-951-4900 for reservations. For more info and details, click here:

Forbes Island

http://www.forbesisland.com/

4) Players Sports Grill & Arcade

Dine at Players Sports Grill & Arcade while enjoying entertainment. As the only arcade and sports grill in San Francisco, the Players takes up 12,000 square feet of dining, games, drinks and bay views at the bay end of Pier 39.

The grill boasts a sports bar featuring living sports played on 20 HDTV screens, 16 taps of beer, a great bar menu, deli sandwiches and more. In addition, outside dining is also available in the Street Performers patio. The Players is open from 10am to midnight. Hours of operation may vary by season. You can find more info about the Players on this page:

Players Sports Grill & Arcade

http://www.playerssf.com/

5) Wipeout Bar & Grill

Treat yourself to an unforgettable dining at a unique California surf-themed restaurant - Wipeout Bar & Grill. It is a widely popular surfing restaurant in the area of the bay. With wide-open patio and outdoor bar, celebrity-signed surfboards, roaring fire and renowned signs, this exciting restaurant serves a variety of casual entrees from seafood to burgers.

Wipeout Bar & Grill

http://www.wipeoutbarandgrill.com/wipeout_pier39

Other restaurants at Pier 39 are also pretty good and worth a try, include:

- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market (Located: Building M, Level 2; Category: Seafood, Cajun / Creole, Southern)

- Eagle Cafe (Location: Building A, Level 2; Category: American, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch)

- Fog Harbor Fish House (Location: Building A, Level 2; Category: Seafood)

- Hana Zen Sushi and Yakitori Bar (Location: Building M, Level 2; Category: Japanese)

- Hard Rock Cafe (Location: Building Q, Level 1; Category: American)

- Luigi's Pizzeria (Location: Building M, Level 2; Category: Italian)

- Pier Market Seafood Restaurant (Location: Building F, Level 1; Category: Seafood)

- Sea Lion Cafe (Location: Building K, Level 2; Category: Seafood)

- Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant (Location: Building G, Level 2; Category: Italian, Seafood)

If you just want to refresh yourself with a cup of coffee or some snacks / sweet, there are also some cafes (like Boudin Bakery Cafe and Crepe Cafe) and snack & sweet treats (like Vlahos' Fruit Orchard and Mrs. Field's Cookies) at the Pier 39 to serve your needs. For more info, click here:

Eateries at Pier 39

http://www.pier39.com/Dining/casualeateries.htm

Snacks & Sweet Treats

http://www.pier39.com/Dining/snacks.htm

For visitors to Pier 39, it is advisable to make your first stop at the California Welcome Center on the second story. There you can rent strollers and get free maps, discount booklets and tons of visitor information. The friendly staff is available to give you insider's tips on touring Pier 39 and even on your trip to San Francisco.

The Pier 39 is a gorgeous shopping center located at a pier in San Francisco, in the historic Fisherman's Wharf district. It is claimed that this venue is the third most-popular tourist attraction in the United States. In deed, the Pier 39 is a tourist-mecca full of fun and excitement for people of all ages. With a diversity of free live performances to enjoy and various places to visit, tourists can spend an entire day at the Pier 39 being entertained.

This area is blessed with a large number of wonderful stores, one of a kind restaurants and great entertainment venues. Plus, you can even find an aquarium - the Aquarium of the Bay. The Pier 39 mostly appeals to enthusiastic shoppers from everywhere. However, there are still lots of people coming to the pier to catch a view of lovely California sea lions which are hauled out on docks on the marina.

As the premier tourist destination in the Bay Area, the Pier 39 offers not only numerous family-oriented attractions and unmatchable shopping, dining and entertainment options, but also incredible views of Angel Island, Alcatraz and the Bay Bridge and so on. If you are planning a trip to the Pier 39, do not miss your chance to enjoy the view of Alcatraz from the end of the pier, which is said to be one of the best views you can get from dry land.

More Related Information about the Pier 39

http://www.pier39.com/Attractions/index.htm

History of the Pier 39 on Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pier_39

The Pier 39 can be found at the edge of the Fisherman's Wharf district, in the vicinity of North Beach and Chinatown. Its physical address is: Pier 39, Beach Street & The Embarcadero, San Francisco, California. If you would like to send a mail, then remember that the inside address should be as follows: Pier 39, P.O. Box 193730, San Francisco, California 94119-3730.

Situated on the northernmost point of the San Francisco peninsula, the Pier 39 is surrounded by plenty of area attractions and fabulous venues for visitors to enhance their experience. For those who might be interested in things to see and places to go in the neighborhood of the pier, a couple of maps would be very useful. From a map, you can locate your favorite places and get the best route for you to get there with ease.

Well, if you like, you can take advantage of the following maps to learn more about the attractions around the Pier 39. Chances are pretty good that you will find out several places that interest you.

Map of the Pier 39 from Google Maps

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Pier+39+San+Francisco

Google Maps is always the best choice for visitors to explore destinations located across the world before their trips. It would be able to offer accurate and complete information about most of the attractions in the world. Plus, it also acts as an unparalleled resource for visitor's reviews and details regarding nearby hotels and more.

Region Map of the Pier 39

http://www.pier39.com/LocateUs/regionalinformation.htm

The second map comes from the official website of the Pier 39. It gives you a view of this region, including East Bay, South Bay and Napa Valley. If you like, you can download this map from the website and print it out. A PDF Map of the Pier 39 is available on the following page: http://www.pier39.com/UserFiles/File/Locator_Map.pdf.

Maps of the Pier 39 really make it much easier for you to find out interesting places in this area as well as route for you to get there. However, if you are going to drive to the Pier by yourself, helpful maps are not the only thing you need. Exact driving directions are also kind of necessary. Before you set out, let's browse through a couple of referable driving directions to the Pier 39.

1) From East Bay

Visitors coming from East Bay will be suggested to proceed toward west on Interstate 80 and then pass through the Bay Bridge. When you see the Fremont Exit on your right hand, take it. Continue in right lane until you come across Folsom Street. Make a left turn onto Folsom Street and stay straight. Then bear to the left onto The Embarcadero and keep proceeding to arrive at the Pier 39.

You can also choose to take the Bay Bridge to San Francisco. Remember to stay straight to the left after passing through Treasure Island. When you arrive at the Harrison/Embarcadero Exit, take it. Proceed to the end of the off-ramp and then make a right turn onto Harrison Boulevard. Continue on Harrison Boulevard for nearly three blocks and turn left on The Embarcadero. Stay on The Embarcadero along the water for tow miles. The Pier 39 would be on your immediate right.

2) From South Bay

Those driving from South Bay need to head north on Highway 101 and then turn onto Highway 80 East. Follow Highway 80 East to Fourth Street and then take the exit. Stay straight in right lane and then bear left onto Bryant Street. Keep proceeding on Bryant Street until you see The Embarcadero. Make a left turn on The Embarcadero and continue straight on The Embarcadero to get to the Pier 39.

It is also a good idea for you to take Highway 280 North. Follow Highway 280 North to the King Street Exit and then turn onto King Street. Keep straight on King Street until it becomes The Embarcadero. Continue on The Embarcadero and you can reach the Pier 39 within minutes.

3) From North Bay

If you are driving from North Bay, then it would be necessary to follow Highway 101 South to reach the Golden Gate Bridge. Pass through the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the Toll Plaza. Once you arrive at the Lombard Street Exit, take it and stay in right lane. Continue on Lombard Street until you come across Van Ness Avenue. Bear to the left onto Van Ness Avenue and stay straight. Proceed for about three blocks and then you will reach Bay Street. Turn onto Bay Street and continue. As you see The Embarcadero, make a left turn. Follow The Embarcadero to the Pier 39.

As a former commercial pier, Pier 39 is a popular tourist attraction currently. Located on San Francisco's Bay, the pier has wonderful waterfront attractions and activities for visitors. Dining, shopping, live entertainment and sea lions abound on the pier. It seems to appeal mostly to shoppers and souvenir-seekers. But everyone to the pier enjoys the sea lions camped out in the West Marina of the pier.

Sea Lions are not enough. Pier 39 is home to a wide array of other attractions. The Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco Carousel, Frequent Flyers and Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze are built on the pier. Pier 39 also invites you to enjoy wonderful street performances and virtual 4D rides. Plus the various shops and restaurants make the pier a premiere shopping and entertainment center.

As Pier 39 is not a gated tourist attraction, the admission is free! But there's a fee needed for each individual attraction on the pier, like the Aquarium of the Bay, the Carousel and other places. Admission fees vary with each attraction. You can visit their websites to find out the specific admissions. Pier 39 offers several ways for visitors to save in 2011. Careful visitors can find many types of coupons for shops, restaurants and attractions on Pier 39. There're several sources for Pier 39 coupons.

Browse through the "Special Offers" on the official website of Pier 39. It's one of the best and most reliable sources of coupons for Pier 39. Now, several available coupons and discounts can really get you big savings.

- Fun Pack

The Pier 39 Fun Pack is packed with various coupons and discount offers for many of the attractions, shops, restaurants and entertainment within the pier. To receive the free Fun Pack, you need to download and get the printable coupon. The coupon is redeemable at the California Welcome Center on the second floor of Pier 39. You can take the first staircase on the left and go to the second floor. Then you just walk straight ahead and the California Welcome Center is on your left side. Please notice that the coupon is good through December 31, 2011 and one coupon is limited to one person. It cannot be used together with any other offer.

Print Free Fun Pack

http://www.pier39.com/funpack.html

- Local Advantage

Local residents are entitled to enjoy the Local Advantage, which is available by email. You need to sign up with your name, zip code and email to receive the monthly enewsletter. Now Kids Eat & Play Free is offered. With the purchase of an adult entree or attraction ticket at the participating locations, you can receive a child's entree or attraction ticket for free. Plus two-hour free parking in the Pier 39 Parking Garage is offered as well. The special offer is valid through June 30, 2011. But two hours free parking expires by May 31, 2011. You need to print the coupon and present it at the time of purchase. Proof of local residency is also required.

Download the Coupon

http://www.pier39.com/LocalAdvantage

Map West is one of the largest local websites for coupons and discount offers in the city of San Diego. You can completely rely on it to find the latest discount coupons for attractions and activities on Pier 39. Currently, many coupons are good for attractions and restaurants on Pier 39.

- Aquarium of the Bay

The printable coupon enables you to save $2 off adult ticket and $1 off child or senior ticket. The coupon is valid through December 31, 2011.

- Blazing Saddles Bicycles Rental & Tours

Come to Pier 39 and bike the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and Tiburon. Then you can return on ferry. No matter you're a beginner or advanced rider, biking the bridge will bring you much fun. With this printable coupon, you can save $5 off the daily bike rental rate. There's another coupon for electric bike rentals. It can save you $10 off the rental rate for an electric bike.

- Blue & Gold Fleet

As the major ferry service provider on San Francisco Bay, Blue & Gold Fleet offers several cruises from Pier 39, including Bay Cruise Adventure, RocketBoat, Escape from the Rock and Angel Island. You'll always love the valuable opportunities to enjoy the city's spectacular views and neighboring marine gorgeousness. Mapwest.com has a printable coupon that can save you $4 off adult ticket for bay cruise and you can also save $4 off RocketBoat rides.

- Turbo Ride 4D on PIER 39

Just imagine riding the 4D movies. The whole family can have a thrilling adventure at Turbo Ride 4D. It's located directly across from the Carousel. With this printable coupon, you can save $3 off the Best Value Pass.

- Gray Line San Francisco Sightseeing Tours

A fleet of trolleys are offered for visitors to take one-hour city tours, including charters and shuttle service. The tours are usually half/full day guided tours in the city and Northern California. You can both take city tours and motorized cable car tours. You're able to save $5 off San Francisco sightseeing tours with the presentation of this coupon.

- Players Sports Grill & Arcade

It's the only arcade and sports grill in San Francisco. The Players Arcade is situated at the Bay end of Pier 39, featuring 12,000 sq ft of dining, drinks, games and bay views. The menu highlights many delicious dishes, like the Home of the Club Burger, San Francisco Cobb Salad and the French Dip and more. Print the coupon and present it for your purchase. You can buy one entree and get one free.

Coupons on Map West

http://www.mapwest.com/cgi-bin/couponsearch.cgi?category=1

Lastly, you can turn to the 2011 San Francisco Entertainment Book, which is just sold at $15. The book contains various 2-for-1 and 50% off coupons for restaurants, attractions, shopping and services etc in the city. You can get considerable savings on Pier 39 with this book. Free admission to the Aquarium of the Bay is available with the coupon. Buy One Get One Free is offered for city sightseeing San Francisco. You can also save 50% off Gray Line Tours on Pier 39. Many other coupons and discounts are also available for the shops and restaurants on Pier 39. To learn more info, please click the following website.

San Francisco Entertainment Book

http://www.entertainment-savings-offers.com/san-francisco/book

Ranking as the third most visited tourist attraction in the US, Pier 39 is definitely an ideal blending of a shopping center and popular scenic spot, which is built on a pier in the city of San Francisco. Pier 39 has a hive of terrific activities with shops, restaurants, lively street performers and many others. San Francisco's Pier 39 is the right place for endless pier fun.

One of the most dominant features of the pier is the two-level carousel, which sits towards the end of the pier. It's a popular family tourist spot for families with children. Pier 39 also has fantastic views of Angel Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can easily take a ferry across the bay to Tiburon or Alcatraz. Besides, Blue & Gold Fleet's bay cruises depart from Pier 39.

The pier lies at the edge of the Fisherman's Wharf district. It's located close to Chinatown, the Embarcadero and the North Beach. You can have access to the area through the historic F Market streetcars easily. Of course, you can drive to the pier as you do not need to worry about parking on the pier upon arrival. Pier 39 provides diverse parking options and services.

Convenient visitor parking is available in the Pier 39 Parking Garage. The garage is situated directly across the street from the Entrance Plaza. The Pier 39 Garage is open to the public 24 hours a day, Monday through Sunday. It provides 500 parking spaces and has height clearance of 6 ft 8 inches. The garage charges an hourly rate of $6 on weekdays and the rate is $7 per hour on weekends. The maximum daily parking rate is $35 in a week.

The parking garage accepts validations from full service restaurants on Pier 39. Restaurant patrons who dine at one of the restaurants for lunch can get 1 hour free validated parking. If you dine for dinner after 6 pm, you can receive up to 2 hours free validated parking.

Pier 39 also features motorcoach parking. Motorcoaches are required to pick up and drop off in the passenger and taxi loading zone that is located at the entrance to the pier. You can park your motorbus on a space available basis. Please note that tour bus parking is not available on Piers 30/31 any more because of structural problems.

Short-term motorcoach parking is allowed near Fisherman's Wharf. Twenty-minute tour bus parking is allowed on the following spots:

- The west side of Manson Street south of Beach Street.

- The west and east sides of Hyde Street between Beach Street and Jefferson Street.

- The east side of Columbus Avenue north of N Point Street.

- The north side of Bay Street between Jones Street and Taylor Street. Motorcoach parking is not available between 4 pm and 6 pm from Monday to Friday.

Oversized vehicles and overnight parking are permitted in the AT&T Park motorcoach parking lot. It's situated on the west side of Terry Francois Blvd, just opposite Piers 48/50 and it's adjacent to AT&T Park Parking Lot A. When there's any event at AT&T Park, you need to pay $50 per day. The parking rate is $35 on non-event days. As there're no on-site machines, you need to pay your parking fees at Impark's office or through phone with a credit card. The parking lot does not offer reservations and parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you need more parking info, please call Impark at 4150227-0114 ext. 21. Please call during business hours from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays.

Two other overnight motorcoach parking options include:

- Overnight parking is permitted at Pier 30, which is located on the Embarcadero between Bryant Street and Brannan Street just south of the Bay Bridge. Parking fees are needed. The private parking lot is owned and operated by Imperial Parking. Please call 415-227-0114 for further info.

- There're three spaces for overnight parking at Union Square and South of Market. You can find it on Mint Street just between Mission Street and Jessie Street. Overnight parking is free of charge there.

Addition parking spaces are scattered in the nearby area of Pier 39. Opt for the most convenient parking options for your visit.

1) 2210 Stockton Street Parking Garage

This is an underground parking garage with height restrictions of 6′4″. The parking garage is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The maximum parking rate is $12 each day. If you're frequent visitors, purchase monthly parking with a fee of $150 per month. You can also choose unreserved monthly parking at the rate of $170. Please be aware that monthly parking is only valid on weekdays. There's a special offer for early birds - $8/day. Various payment methods are accepted, including coins, bills and cards.

2) Pier 35 - Bay Street/the Embarcadero

The parking lot on Pier 35 is about 5 minutes from Pier 39. The lot can hold 100 vehicles and features motorcycle spaces. It's accessible 24 hours a day from Monday to Sunday. On weekdays, the lot charges a maximum parking rate of $20 per day. Overnight parking is permitted at the lot. If you enter after 5 pm, the evening rate is $10. Monthly parking is also available at the lot at a charge of $225. If you enter by 9 am and exit before 7 pm, you can enjoy the early bird special rate of $10.

The parking lot has different parking rates on weekends. Daytime parking will cost you $25 while evening parking needs $10. You must enter the lot before 5 pm on weekends. To learn more parking info, please call 415-277-0400.

3) Wharf Garage - 350 Beach Street

The Wharf Garage is about 7 minutes from the Pier 39. Its height clearance is 6′3″. The garage is accessible 24 hours a day from Monday to Sunday. The hourly parking rate is $4 with the maximum daytime parking rate of $15. Monthly parking costs $120 on weekdays only. Unreserved monthly parking is also available at $150. Early birds can grasp special offers of $8. Motorcycle parking at the garage costs $5.

More Nearby Parking Options

http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/pier_39

Pier 39 has a whole range of very interesting restaurants that you must dine in while visiting San Francisco. The Pier 39 is referred to as San Francisco's premier bay attraction and is a popular destination for many tourists who frequently hang out here. This lively marketplace has some amazing restaurants that you must dine in for a good gourmet experience. Make sure to book San Francisco hotels and motels near Pier 39 for an interesting time.

Restaurants

Take a look at the list of restaurants in Pier 39.

1) Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant and Market
2) Eagle Cafe
3) Forbes Island
4) Hard Rock Cafe
5) Fog Harbor Fish House
6) Crab House at PIER 39
7) North Beach Pizza
8 ) Sea Lion Cafe
9) Wipeout Bar & Grill
10) Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant

http://www.pier39.com/Dining/Restaurants/index.htm

On the Menu

Restaurants at Pier 39 have a pretty interesting menu because each restaurant has a gourmet style and a unique menu. Most of these restaurants serve lunch and dinner; some are cafes that are ideal for sipping a cuppa while others prefer Italian cuisine for serious foodaholics. It doesn't really matter what your taste palate is because most of these restaurants have amazing food on offer that will tantalize your taste buds. Take a look at their menu guide to know what sumptuous meals are on offer.

http://www.pier39.com/UserFiles/File/P39Sampmenuguide08.pdf

Sweet Tooth

There is also tremendous scope for the sweet lovers to enjoy in some serious sweet binging.

http://www.pier39.com/Dining/casualeateries.htm

Pier 39 is just an ordinary pier but on the pier there are many San Francisco tourist attractions like shopping centers etc. Here you can shop till you drop, you can eat from the finest restaurants and you can entertain yourself at the complex meant for entertainment. If you want peace and solitude you can do nothing the entire day, just sit on the bench quietly and observe the splendid nature around you. Since it is a pier it is on the edge of the water hence the minute you reach there, your sense of smell will find salt around you. You can also find the sea gulls playing in the sea joyfully enjoying themselves and the boats that come and go to the pier. There are a lot of sea lions there. You can actually touch and look at them as much as you please. All in all the experience would take you a lot more close to nature.

Pier 39 is at the end of fisherman's Wharf and can be found easily from the F market.

Reviews about the pier

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60713-d102779-Reviews-Pier_39-San_Francisco_California.html

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/california/san-francisco/review-118182.html

http://www.sanfrancisco-hotels-ca.com/hotels/pier-39.html

http://www.schmap.com/sanfrancisco/pier39/

http://www.pier-39.co.uk/review.htm

You don't have to worry about the parking; it is easily available with reasonable rates like $7 for each hour. The place is a tourist friendly place and even allows pets.

You should keep in mind that among some reviews there are bad ones that will discourage you from going there, however you should apply a little bit of your own logic and check if the place offers what you want to see and then decide on whether you want to go there or not. The place can be both heaven and hell. It depends on the likes of the tourists and what the place has to offer. So if you are in for anything mentioned above and in the sites provided, you can surely have a look. You don't have anything to lose.

http://www.visitcwc.com/destinations/sanfrancisco/faq.php

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/California/San_Francisco-755471/Tourist_Traps-San_Francisco-Pier_39-BR-1.html