IF YOU G O

WHERE TO STAY

Argonaut Hotel 495 Jefferson St. ■ argonauthotel.com Among hotels within walking distance of Pier 33 is the Argonaut, near Pier 39. The boutique hotel in the former Haslett Warehouse has a nautical decor. The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park visitor centre may be entered from the hotel lobby. Room rates begin at about US$389 a night.

WHERE TO EAT

Ferry Building 1 Ferry Building ■ ferrybuildingmarketplace.com The landmark building, at the foot of Market Street, is within walking distance of the Alcatraz Cruises ferry dock. Its clock tower makes it easily recognizable to visitors. Since its restoration in 2003, the 1898 building has been a bustling marketplace and transportation hub. It now is an emporium of stands offering pastries, coffee, cheeses, juices and chocolate. There also are sit-down restaurants and shops selling many artisanal products. Among the dine-in spots is Hog Island Oyster Company (hogislandoysters.com), which is popular, in part, for its water view. Small plates there average US$14. A bowl of rich clam chowder costs US$14. The signature Hog Island Sweetwater oysters, raw and shucked to order, are sold individually or on plates of six (US$18), 12 (US$33) or 24 (US$62).

WHAT TO DO

Alcatraz Island Access via Pier 33, ■ the Embarcadero nps.gov/alca/index.htm This infamous island, a former military installation and federal penitentiary, lies in San Francisco Bay, just 1.6 km (one mile) from the mainland. Alcatraz Island is open all year except on the U.S. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. In addition to the gardens, available tours include the Alcatraz cellhouse audio tour, which offers recordings in a variety of languages. The island is reached via a 15- to 20-minute ride on the Alcatraz Cruises ferry. Round-trip ferry tickets for the early bird tours and day tour for adults cost US$37.25; US$23 for children ages five to 11; free for younger children. It’s recommended to purchase ferry tickets several weeks in advance. Departures begin at 8:45 a.m. daily. INFORMATION sftravel.com