If the sea lions are around, you will hear them long before you see them when heading out to Pier 39 in San Francisco. Usually when I’ve visited here the wharves have been full of critters jockeying for position but on this particular trip, they weren’t as numerous. The ones there, though, were still fun to watch. Seagulls, cormorants and pelicans often keep them company and I’ve seen Western Grebes swimming around the waters and Black-crowned Night Herons fishing at the foot of piers.
Click on the image to enter a 360° image that will allow you to look around. Behind you as you are looking at the sea lions is Fisherman’s Wharf, which means this can be a pretty busy place. If you don’t want to have to jockey for position yourself, getting here early isn’t a bad idea. By the time the swarms of other tourists arrive, you can be sitting enjoying a cup of coffee or a delicious snack from one of the many restaurants located here.