Your Guide to an SF Day Trip by Ferry: Explore the East Bay

Plan a great SF day trip by ferry! Enjoy scenic San Francisco Bay views and explore East Bay gems like Alameda's USS Hornet, bayfront walks, and more.

What's so great about the San Francisco to Alameda ferry? I have family in Alameda, California so visits to the East Bay are a regular occurrence when I'm in San Francisco. 

Traffic on the Bay Bridge can be a nightmare and BART is always a bit edgy so I jumped at the chance to try a new mode of transportation on this trip: the San Francisco Bay Ferry! 

The sun was shining and I was actually staying in the city so the ferry to Alameda was an ideal option for a day trip to the East Bay. 

Here's why I think taking the ferry across the San Francisco Bay makes for a great day trip to discover awesome things to do in Alameda and further afield in the East Bay. I think you'll find that this outing is especially ideal if you are visiting San Francisco with kids.

An Excuse to Visit The San Francisco Ferry Building

The San Francisco Bay Ferry departs from the Ferry Building in San Francisco, one of my favorite places in the city that hosts a farmers market twice a week. Even on non-market days, the Ferry Building is bustling with great shops and gourmet food outlets. 

How to Buy San Francisco to Alameda Ferry Tickets

Wander into the Ferry Building and buy your ticket (just $4.60 USD for a one way fare) at the Bay Crossings Store. Other options include using a Clipper card or using the San Francisco Bay Ferry Mobile App. 

Note that you can also buy tickets onboard the boat but this involves queuing inside the cabin and potentially missing the great views on the short ride across the Bay.

A Perfect View of the San Francisco Skyline

I boarded the ferry and found a seat at the back on the upper deck. As we pulled away from the Ferry Building, I was treated to picture-perfect views of the San Francisco skyline including classic icons like Coit Tower and the Transamerica Building.

See the Golden Gate Bridge and SF Bay Bridge in Perfect Alignment

From my vantage point on the upper deck on the way to Alameda, I stood up in awe as the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge lined up perfectly in our wake. There is no easy way to get this shot on land and was worth the 15 minute crossing by itself.

Catch a Glimpse of the Scale of Oakland's Port

As we approached Oakland Port, we got a close-up look at container ships being loaded and unloaded. From land in San Francisco, it's hard to appreciate just how massive these ships and the containers they carry are.

Spot Sea Vessels That Look Like They Are From Another Place or Time

I was also delighted to see a 3-masted sailboat on our approach to Alameda.

On my return trip, I saw a pirate ship (the only thing missing was a Jolly Roger) in the waters around Oakland. It was very cool to see these sea vessels that look like they are from another place and time.

SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Alameda for Christmas Did you know that Alameda has a great vibe at Christmastime? Californians seem to love Christmas light trails. Every year, the neighbors on Thompson Avenue in Alameda transform their street into Christmas Tree Lane.  Grab a cup of hot chocoldate and check out the heartwarming light displays. One home on Christmas Tree Lane even does a Nightmare Before Christmas light show every 15 minutes or so. If you brave the Alameda Ferry in December (or perhaps it's a better idea to drive in this case), definitely make time to visit Christmas Tree Lane and find out why Alameda is such a fantastic and family-friendly place to live.

Debark at One of Three Alameda Ferry Terminals

Did you know that there are now 3 ferry stops in Alameda? The ferry stops are:

• Main Street Alameda Ferry Terminal
• Alameda Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal
• Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal

Visit the USS Hornet Air-craft Carrier in Alameda

My sister-in-law and her family (including my young niece and nephew) picked me up at the Alameda Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal and we made our way to the USS Hornet air-craft carrier after lunch. 

The entry fee is a bit steep at $20 USD per person but it's fascinating to explore the ship and see the planes parked on top.

As you can see, the USS Hornet is massive!

Anchors aweigh!

Take a Walk on Harbor Bay Island

The Harbor Bay Island Ferry Terminal is an ideal stop if you want to take a walk along the shore. Harbor Bay Island is home to Oakland Airport but is still part of Alameda. 

We found the gravel path and views across the SF Bay toward the San Francisco skyline to be delightful on a summer's day. Staying close to the water is a great way to beat the heat.  

If you're visiting on the weekend and feeling hungry, head to Jim's on the Course for a casual brunch. I was particularly delighted by the specials. 

I tend to enjoy savory and sweet flavors for breakfast. Special #6 at Jim's came with eggs, bacon, and pancakes. I opted for chocolate chip pancakes for the perfect savory-sweet mix. 

Take a Detour to Oakland

If you have time for a little detour before returning to San Francisco or if you plan to return by BART considered checking out some of the cool things to do in Oakland like I did.

Mountain View Cemetery

Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland is another great place to take a quiet walk in the East Bay. The cemetery was designed by Frank Law Olmsted (best known for for influencing the architectural footprint of Buffalo, NY) in the mid-19th century. 

Here you'll find sweeping views over Oakland and San Francisco. Mountain View Cemetery simply lights up with fall foliage in November and early December. Bundle up as it can feel quite cold here in the winter.

A Winter Ladybug Hike

Looking for a unique nature experience in the East Bay in the winter? I went on the one-of-a-kind  ladybug hike near Oakland in early December. Located near the old church picnic spot in Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, this park becomes a haven for thousands and thousands of ladybugs in the winter (November to February).

These ladybugs are actually beetles. They gather here in winter aggregations to wait out the colder months. They are thought to be attracted to the area by scent markers left behind from previous visits to these ancestral hibernation grounds. 

While they spend spring and summer feeding on aphids, in the fall they catch prevailing winds to arrive at this winter spot, The ladybugs are typically found clustered beneath leaves, on signs, or clinging to fence posts, frequently near creeks.

Visiting in very early December, I found that this is definitely a phenomenon worth seeing. You can do a full loop hike starting from the Canyon meadow staging area, passing the old church picnic spot and circling around along the East ridge trail. 

The full loop took less than 2 hours and involved some up and down hills. I’d call it an intermediate level walk. The trail is well-marked and the ground is pretty even. 

If you're short on time or prefer a flatter walk, you can also simply walk out and back to the area where the ladybugs cluster, which takes less than 30 minutes.

It's a surprisingly cool hidden gem of a nature experience that added a special touch to one of my December visits to the East Bay!

Laze About with the Sea Lions on Pier 39 Upon Returning to San Francisco

The San Francisco Bay Ferry stops in two places in San Francisco: the Ferry Building where we departed and Pier 41. 

On my return, I decided to disembark at Pier 41 which is right next to San Francisco's tourist mecca: Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. I couldn't resist fighting through the crowds at Pier 39 to catch a glimpse of sea lions sunning themselves.

 

Take the Classic F-Market Line To Come Full Circle in San Francisco

My trip to the East Bay focused heavily on modes of transportation including the ferry and the aircraft carrier. From both the Ferry Building and Pier 41, you can easily catch a historic F Market street car to come full circle.

As you can see, I found the ferry boat ride from San Francisco to Alameda and back again to be a fun and relaxing day trip to explore an off-the-beaten-path part of the San Francisco Bay Area. I don't think I'll ever drive or take BART to Alameda again! 

SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Looking for other ideas for a day out in the San Francisco Bay Area? Why not: Go on a Bay Area birdwatching hike at various places in the South and East Bay? Go for a self-guided tour of Stanford University? Explore wine country with a day in Napa or even a weekend in Calistoga? Get off-the-beaten-track for wine tasting with a drive from San Francisco to Lodi?

Did you enjoy this post about taking the San Francisco to Alameda Ferry for a day out in the East Bay? Sharing is caring...