July 2012 Hotel Manager's Picks | Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel

Greetings from Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco's #1 visitor destination. If you are planning an adventure to San Francisco in July, be prepared to experience a multitude of fun attractions, things to do and see, and places to dine and relax.

The July 4th weekend kicks off the summer season with a bang ... our annual fireworks celebration starts with free music at both Aquatic Park and Pier 39 including the music Mobility, The Air Force Band that takes the stage from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Then get ready to rock out to your favorite 80's hits with Tainted Love, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Fun events are scheduled for the kids at The Cannery, Anchorage and Ghirardelli Square, topped off with the ever popular Ghirardelli Chocolate Sundae Cart on the Square featuring their famous ice cream sundaes.

Plan on setting sail with both the Blue & Gold and Red & White Fleets to celebrate this Independence Day. Enjoy breathtaking views of the city skyline while turning your sights toward the sky to watch San Francisco's 4th of July fireworks display from the best view on the Bay!

One of the busiest and well known attractions in North America, Fisherman's Wharf is best known for being the location of Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the Cannery, Ghirardelli Square, a Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, the Musée Mécanique, the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, Forbes Island and restaurants and stands that serve fresh seafood, most notably Dungeness crab and clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl.

Some of our restaurants, like Pompeii's and Alioto's #8, go back for three generations of the same family ownership. Nearby Pier 45 has a chapel in memory of the "Lost Fishermen" of San Francisco and Northern California.

To help plan your stay, visit our Local Events page on our website for details of some of the more interesting events that are happening in San Francisco this month. Regardless of what you have planned, enjoy visiting our beautiful city.

What's your favorite spot in San Francisco? Let us know at sheratonsf@ihrco.com or Share on Facebook.

Happy Travels ... Craig Schwan, General Manager

4th of July Fireworks
Start planning now for viewing the best fireworks display in the San Francisco Bay Area. Fisherman's Wharf is San Francisco's premier spot to celebrate America's Independence Day holiday.

Visitors enjoy free, fabulous entertainment throughout the Wharf, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display over San Francisco Bay. For details of the program, see above. All of the major venues throughout the wharf have special events and attractions planned for the entire family.

Plan the perfect getaway to San Francisco over 4th of July, or just escape for a couple days at Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf. Save 15% off (with rates starting from $169 per night) when you stay June 29 - July 8. Book online, or call 866-716-8123 to reserve your stay as these rates are going fast!

Original Joe's - North Beach
Original Joe’s is the quintessential, classic San Francisco dining experience, now reincarnated! A fabric of the City for 75 years, this famous Italian eaterie is located in the heart of the historic and majestic North Beach, a mecca for natives, tourists, and culinary aficionados alike.
 
Lumbering out of the darkness of the great depression, Original Joe’s opened its doors in 1937, growing from a 14-stool counter, to one of San Francisco’s culinary landmarks.

Three generations later and counting, the original owners' family ensures that classic Italian-American cooking with healthy portions and reasonable prices are prepared behind its iconic counter, exhibition style, for all to see.

Original Joe’s is the oldest of all existing Joe’s restaurants in the country and is the innovator of what is now nationally known as the “Joe’s Concept”. With its signature red leather booths, legendary smooth cocktails, and renowned Italian American menu, Joe’s has come to signify its own Northern Californian category of food and symbolizes classic Italian American comfort food at its finest.

Located on Union Street at Columbus. For reservations and information call: (415) 775-4877.

GoCar Tours - The Cure for the Common Tour
Want to experience the San Francisco most visitors never see? Fold up your map, put away the guidebook and jump into a GoCar. Zip all over town while this little yellow car takes you on a GPS-guided tour of San Francisco.

Your clever talking car navigates and shows you the way - but that's not all. As you enjoy the drive, it takes you to all the best sights and tells the stories that bring this unique city to life.

This summer, GoCar Tours is introducing a new GoCar Sport, with an increased engine size, more fuel efficiency, more comfortable seats, upgraded suspension and a sporty new look!

On Beach Street at Fisherman's Wharf only two blocks from the hotel. For information and reservations call: (800) 914-6227.

Afternoon Sailing Adventure on San Francisco Bay
Take a romantic sailing adventure on San Francisco Bay aboard the 1891 National Landmark scow schooner Alma. Relax, feel the waves, breathe salt air, handle the lines and learn the stories.

Before highways and bridges, hundreds of scow schooners like Alma plied San Francisco Bay, hauling goods as the “flatbed trucks” of their day. The last of her kind, the 60-foot Alma will transport you to a long
ago era on this unique educational program with the National Park Service.

Join National Park Service rangers to haul line, raise sails, and immerse yourself in history. Take in dazzling views and California history: Native Americans,Spanish explorers, the Gold Rush, lighthouses, the Barbary Coast, Fisherman’s Wharf, earthquakes, fires, shipbuilding, and more.

For Reservations and Information call (415) 447-5000 or purchase tickets same day only, at the Hyde St. Pier ticket booth (booth opens at 9:30am daily) at Fisherman's Wharf.

American Idiot at the Orpheum Theatre
Direct from Broadway, the smash-hit musical American Idiot tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia.

Their quest for meaning in a post 9-11 world leads them on an exhilarating journey. Through incredible spectacle, thrilling performances and with the hope embodied by a new generation, American Idiot ignited Broadway with a dynamic jolt when it opened.

Now playing at the Orpheum Theatre. For further information and to purchase tickets, call: (888) 746-1799.

Walt Disney Family Museum
Celebrating their third anniversary, the Walt Disney Family Museum's three historic buildings within the nearby Presidio houses 10 galleries devoted to the inspiring story of Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Disneyland and the global yet distinctly American company that bears his name.

Disney's story is impressively portrayed through drawings, storyboards, the narrow-gauge train built for Disneyland along with film clips, concept art, scripts, musical scores and cameras used by Disney and his staff.

Using a mix of historic materials and artifacts, Disney's achievements really comes to life through innovative displays that include listening stations, interactive media, and more than 200 video monitors. Much of the material is being generously lent by the Walt Disney Company and private collectors.

Located at the nearby Presidio. For information and tickets call (415) 345-6893.