Time for a few details from Hyde Street Pier. This pier is one of the first ones you pass when you walk from the end of the Powell-Hyde cable car line and walk down Fisherman’s Wharf. If you turn your attention away from the souvenir shops you might notice the grand old sailing ship by the pier, but not that many knows this is a museum.

The pier hosts a range of historic ships and is a national historical park. You can walk around the pier for free and if you want to board the ships, it’s free for kids under 16 and only $5 for adults – good for seven days. Now that is a good deal! Here’s the website: http://www.maritime.org/hours.htm

A useful tip: there are free public toilets here – a rare thing at Fisherman’s Wharf.