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This may be the best $5 you can spend in San Francisco

FYI — A map of the locations mentioned in this blog post is here:  Treasure Island Google MyMap!

San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the US. But this city also has an often-overlooked experience $5 and that delivers joy every time. Allow me to introduce you to the Treasure Island Ferry.

 Launched in 2022, the ferry offers a quick, 8-minute trip across the bay, whisking you from the historic Ferry Building to the burgeoning downtown of Treasure Island, right in front of the Treasure Island Museum. Instead of taking a bus or driving, you could spend a few minutes on the water, feeling the wind in your hair and appreciating the San Francisco skyline. 

The ferry ride is enchanting, and then there's also so much to do on Treasure Island. Here are five fantastic ways to make the most of your time there:
  
Eat
Treasure Island has a number of delicious restaurants. I like walking to brunch and dining at the outdoor areas at Aracely Cafe (1 mile from the ferry terminal) and Mersea (0.7 miles from the ferry terminal). The Gold Bar Distillery also boasts that its grilled cheese is “world-famous.” I tend to eat (and drink) at the Gold Bar Distillery more at night as it’s close to the ferry.
Drink
Wine drinkers can head to Treasure Island Wines at 995 9th Street at Avenue 1. The tasting room is open on Saturdays and Sundays between 1-5 pm. For cocktails, Aracely and Mersea mentioned above have a full bar. Right across from the ferry, you can head to 1 Avenue of the Palms and the Gold Bar Distillery (also mentioned above) for a robust menu featuring their whiskey and Pacific Coast Spirits. You can also take an interactive cocktail class there. 
 
Hike
It’s easy to take an urban hike to scenic spots on adjacent Yerba Buena Island. Two exciting spots with 360-degree views are Panorama Park, with the 69-foot-tall Point of Infinity sculpture by Hiroshi Sugimoto, and Signal Point Park, which has wooden benches made from salvaged eucalyptus wood from construction projects across the island.

 

Learn 
The Treasure Island Museum is at 1 Avenue of the Palms (in the Treasure Island Administration building where you also find Gold Bar Distillery). Here you’ll see the 251-foot-long mural depicting themes from the Navy and Marine Corps since 1813. They also offer occasional events, but don’t expect an exhibit every day. Prefer to learn outdoors? Follow their outdoor guided tour.
Enjoy the beach
Dog-friendly Clipper Cove beach is a narrow stretch of sand where you can swim, kayak, or picnic. You can walk to the beach from the ferry or park in this lot. The beach's name comes from the clippers (flying boats) that would depart and land during the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition. 

Ferry logistics: 

  • Pick up the Ferry from Gate B on the north side of Treasure Island.
  • Tickets are $5 and can be purchased on the Treasure Island website or the Treasure Island Ferry app (iOS and Android).
  • Tickets are first-come, first-served, and the ferry fits 48 people, so you may want to line up early to ensure you get a spot.
  • If you are bringing a bike, there are limited bike spots (~6 or so), so you’ll definitely want to arrive early to make sure you have a spot. 
To see a map featuring all of these spots, check out this Google MyMap! 

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