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Tour >Boat
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Description and Basic Information ::
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During the early part of this century, San Francisco Bay harbored the world's largest ferry fleet. In their heyday, 50 great white arks - side-wheelers, stern wheelers and propeller-driven - crisscrossed the bay carrying 50 million passengers a year and a heavy complement of horses, drays, baggage carts and automobiles. The opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in 1936 and the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937 marked the beginning of the end of this romantic era.
Today, San Francisco and the North Bay are served by 18 ferries sailing under the ensigns of the Golden Gate Bridge District, the Red & White Fleet and the Blue & Gold Fleet. All are snug scenicruisers with food and drink bars, glassed-in observation areas and open promenade decks. This working fleet is augmented by all manner of pleasure craft operating on scheduled and charter runs. The return of reliable water transit has induced thousands of Marin County commuters to kick the car habit. One man’s commute is another man’s excursion, however, as the ferries and sightseeing boats offer a veritable raft of ship and shore options for the pleasure traveler. Besides the popular bay cruise, there’s sea kayaking and a variety of land and sea packages to Muir Woods, the wine country, and Marine World Africa USA. |
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:: San Francisco :: |
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