So now we moved away, and when I come back, I am indeed a tourist! So we indulged in the guilty pleasure of playing tourist and actually staying at the wharf on this visit.

There is a lot to do here. I admit that most of it is a bit touristy. You can visit things like the wax museum and the Believe it or Not Museum, or shop for every tacky San Francisco souvenir known to man. But the wharf does have other draws. The views from these piers are what made San Francisco famous. The seafood is still fresh and good here (although a bit overpriced).

My favorite thing at the wharf are the sea lions that made their home on the boat slips on Pier 39. The sea lions are here most of the winter and fill the many floating docks that fill this area. They yell, play, fight, and keep the visitors amused. In the summer, most of them return to the Channel Islands to breed. A few lazy stragglers remain, but only a handful are here in the summer. The best time to see these entertaining marine mammals is in the winter months.

I am not sure if it's worth it to stay on the wharf, like we did. The wharf at best will provide a day or two of entertainment. I think everyone should spend some time down here, especially if it's your first visit to San Francisco. However, if you are staying longer, I would suggest a more central location, like Union Square or Nob Hill, and taking the cable car to the wharf for a day.

Quick Tips:

The business that makes a killing on the wharf are the sweatshirt shops. You can always tell a tourist here by the guy getting on the bus with shorts and a tank top, holding his arms around him while he shivers. Save the money and bring your own sweatshirt; otherwise you will pay top dollar for one here.

Lunch can be pricey in the city. One of my favorite things to do for lunch is to go to the Ferry Building a shop for local bread, cheese, fruit, and even wine. Then take your lunch and find a place anywhere along the wharf or near the ferry docks. The views of Alcatraz, the bay, and Marin are worth a million dollars. You will have saved on lunch and eaten some top-quality, world-class food, and I promise you, you won't find a better view anywhere in the city!

Best Way To Get Around:

If you want to see a bit more of the area, take one of the ferry boats over to Marin and Suasalito. The ferries leave from the ferry building, which is a short walk from the wharf. These ferries still carry commuters to work, but are an excellent way to see what is across the bay.

Getting around San Francisco and the wharf is easy. Don't bother renting a car; you will be better off without it!

This was actually the first time I had ever stayed down on the Wharf and I admit I booked The Sheraton mainly for Starwood points.

When I first drove up, I have to admit I was underwhelmed. The hotel is a low, very modest four-story building. It looks more like a motor lodge. The lobby was a bit warmer with a fireplace and a long check-in desk. This is a popular hotel, and the lobby was packed with tourists and guests. Morning, noon and night the lobby seemed filled with people.

Our room was small, but comfortable. It had everything we needed. The Sheraton bed made up for a lot. It was thick, cozy and very comfortable. A blue duvet cover gave the room some much needed color.

Our side of the hotel was being worked on and there was scaffolding on the outside of our window, blocking the dull view of the office building next door. There are really no good views from this hotel. It's a block off the wharf, so don't expect to see boats bobbing in the water outside your room.

My one concern was that our window did not lock and would be easy to gain entry from the second floor with scaffolding up. I told the front desk, and they moved like lightning to get the problem fixed and seemed very concerned and sincerely sorry. They even gave me extra Starwood points for the trouble.

The staff was great. The hotel was packed and very busy. However not once did we ever sense any burn out or rudeness from the staff. Everyone from the maids to the valets always had a smile and a greeting. I am not sure how they do it, but the staff made you feel like a welcomed guest, even with this busy location.

I give the Sheraton high marks for making a somewhat plain hotel with small rooms and no views into a pleasant stay. They have tried to make the rooms comfortable, and the staff is first rate. If you have to stay at the wharf, this is a very good pick.

I was dining alone this night, and it was getting late. I knew exactly the meal I wanted: Crab Louis, sourdough bread, clam chowder, and a cold beer. Any one of the restaurants on Crab Alley would serve this traditional San Francisco dinner, but tonight I chose Fishermen's Grotto.

It was late and there were only a handful of diners. Only one waitress was still on duty. Although there were many empty tables, I was not seated near the window. Normally I would have asked for an open window seat, but tonight I just wanted to eat, and besides, it was dark. Normally I would advise you to sit upstairs, where the view is spectacular. On a clear day, you can clearly see the Golden Gate Bridge and can watch fishermen unloading today's catch.

Some may call the interior dated; others may say it's retro. Whatever the case, it looks more like 1960 than 2005. The waitress was very pleasant and had a warm smile. She was friendly without being overbearing.

First, let me tell you the sourdough here is perfect. I don't know the reason, but the sourdough here in San Francisco tastes better than anywhere else in the world. Every meal starts out with a basket of fresh sourdough bread, and this alone is worth the price of the meal!

The Crab Louis here is made with local dungeons crab. It's full of crab meat and is served on lettuce with egg, then drenched in Thousand Island dressing, and I do mean drenched. Usually I ask for the dressing on the side, but this time I simply forgot to ask and the salad came drowning in dressing. This is the way they are made all over the wharf. It was delicious, but way too much for me to finish. The Grotto is not cheap (really, none of the wharf seafood places are), so be prepared to pay close to $40 for this simple meal of salad, soup, and beer! But then, can you really go to Fisherman's Wharf and not partake in the dungeons crab?

But as a tourist, I suddenly had time to take in the show. I took my kids on a whim. We did not have dinner plans, and as we walked by, I went up to the ticket window and got three tickets. I would not try this, as very often they are sold out, we were just very lucky. The show was starting in one hour and we had to rush back to our hotel to change, as they do have a dress code.

I had expected more of Circus Soliel experience, but it was not that at all. It was more a combination of cabaret, circus and vaudeville. It's billed as "Love, Chaos and Dinner" and that pretty much describes it.

You are seated in the large circus tent and the ticket price includes a lavish 5 course dinner.

The show plays out around you. Some of the wait staff my find themselves suspended on a highwire or singing a song. You never know what will happen next and often neither does the wait staff and performers and a lot is impromptu.

Joan Baez stars in the show as the Gypsy Contessa and keeps things moving. Her voice is still great, and she has a real stage presence. She alone was worth the price of the ticket! Much of the show was fun and full of humor, but there was also a lot of serious singing and songs.

It was fun, and the kids loved it. The show does run three hours, so it's not good for very young kids. The one warning I would give, is that if you are not the type of person who loves attention, this may not be the show for you, or at least don't sit in the first ring. A lot of dinner guests are pulled from the audience. I was sweating all night that somebody would be pulling me up on the stage and I was dreading it. Thankfully I was spared! The show last three hours, and there is plenty to see. The food was good, but honestly I was so into the show I paid very little attention to what was on my fork. I had the paella entree and I know I liked it, but I can barely remember it.

I highly recommend for a night out on the town in San Francisco you take in Teatro Zinanni. It indeed is a night of love, chaos, and dinner and even a little bit more.

The location has a rich history. It was a 1916 (post-earthquake) boardinghouse with a saloon on the first floor. It was called Buena Vista (Good View in Italian) and was a popular spot for workers in the near-by sardine canning factory. It was said they could have a drink here and watch for the fishing ships to come in.

Times moved forward and in 1952 the then owner Jack Koeppler was trying to perfect the recipe for a liquor coffee drink he had in the Shannon Airport - Irish Coffee. The problem was he could not get it right, the cream would not float, but would fall to the bottom. Finally, the solution was found - the cream had to be aged for 48 hours!

Today these tasty coffees are perfect. On this trip the kids had a sleep over and I headed to the Buena Vista. I sat at the bar and watched closely as the bartender made my coffee. He preheated the mug, added coffee, stirred in three sugar cubes, added a jigger of Irish Wiskey and then poured the aged whipped cream in over a spoon. Once again - it was perfect. I watched closely, but I still can't make one that tastes the same at home!

I can't think of place that says San Francisco more. You look out the window to the Golden Gate, the cable cars run right past the Buena Vista, you can see Alcatraz. The bartenders still wear white jackets and the waitress have been serving coffees here for years. I remember being here one rainy Sunday with a friend, just downing Irish Coffees. The fog was rolling in across the Golden Gate and a Cable Car rang it's bell as it glided past. I remember thinking, "this must the quintessential San Francisco moment."

The Buena Vista also serves food. I have had brunch here on Sunday and it was good, but the real centerpiece still are those outstanding Irish Coffees.

Don't miss the chance to have an Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista. It's a perfect walk from Fisherman's Wharf and I promise you the view and the perfect Irish coffee can't be beat.