Meh. Skip Ripley's, and, really, skip anything Pier 39ish or Fisherman's Wharf-y, except you really should see the Musée Mechanique at Pier 45 (warning: at least one page on the MM website has sound, and anyone who's been there before can guess exactly what sound it is).

If you're hell-bent on chocolate (and if not, why not?), Scharffen Berger over in Berkeley has factory tours and is much tastier than Ghirardelli.

Angel Island I know nothing about, 'cept it's pretty.

I'd really like to go to the Musee Mechanique, if it works out schedule-wise.

Angel Island was the West Coast Ellis Island, according to the Alcatraz Tour people...the Asian people came in there. What? I'm the family internet "Expert"

I like Angel Island - my maternal great grandfather & familly lived there for a while, I think when it was a naval station. My great grandmother usd to row around it. And I think my dad was processed there when he immigrated. So it's fun for the whole family, as long as the family is, you know, mine.

Anyway, it's mostly a park with pretty nature and very pleasant, but nothing spectacular and not broody at all. Much as I like it, I wouldn't really recommend a visit if you have time constraints. If you have an extra week in SF, taking a day to go picnic would be reasonable.

I would like to do something sea-related, if possible. I miss the sea. Boat trips? Ferries? Something along those lines would be cool.

the Musée Mechanique at Pier 45 (warning: at least one page on the MM website has sound, and anyone who's been there before can guess exactly what sound it is).

Gah. Shudder. Euw. I run past that thing almost every day, and it still gives me a wiggins.

(I do actually like Fisherman's Wharf, but I'm not there as a tourist, I'm there to use the tourists as a human obstacle course during my run. Plus, I get to see Alcatraz. Pretty.)

The localistas will, of course, be around early, and this localista has made sure she's available for the hanging out with Buffistae. So.

I'm all about the available, although there will obviously be stuff I need to be doing at various points.

I used to adore the Musee Mechanique (the old one was further into the Wharf's side streets, not on a pier), but that's because it had a shitload of real pinball machines.

Fay, take a ferry ride from SF to Larkspur, in Marin, or just over to Sausalito. There are boat tours, as well, but they aren't cheap.

If you're coming on the Alcatraz thing, doesn't that start (and hopefully finish) with a ferry ride of some sort?

Has anyone made plans for Monday night?

Just chiming in to mention that I too will be around on Friday, and most of Monday (flying in Thursday night, leaving Monday late afternoon), and will be very interested in any and all proposed wandering. I haven't been to the bay area in something like 15 years, which is crazy considering that I love it there.

And to throw a big batch of ~ma at deb's Nic.