During the 19th century, San Francisco’s waterfront buzzed with life day and night. Wooden fishing boats manned by dauntless crews of Chinese and Italian immigrants would set off early for the plentiful fishing grounds of the ocean, returning a few hours later, their holds groaning with oysters, crabs and shrimps, ready to sell from the many stalls that lined the wharf. This colourful spectacle has long since been superseded by more modern methods of commercial fishing, but at Fisherman’s Wharf you can still feast on freshly caught seafood and enjoy the special atmosphere of the city’s famous waterfront.Fisherman’s Wharf extends from Ghirardelli Square, the former home of the eponymous chocolate company, to Pier 39, famous for its friendly and vociferous sea lion colony. Visitors flock here to enjoy the street entertainers, snack on tasty clam chowder, hunt for souvenirs or eat at one of the excellent seafood restaurants that keep faith with the area’s origins.One of the more unusual attractions is the Musée Mécanique, which houses a display of over 300 mechanical machines rescued from penny arcades by Ed Zelinsky, and is still owned and managed by his son. Entry to the museum is free but, in the spirit of its collection, visitors pay to play the games, some of which date back to the 1920s. The wharf is also home to the San Francisco branch of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and the USS Pampanito, a World War II submarine now converted into a popular museum.No visit to Fisherman’s Wharf would be complete without sampling some of the produce for which the area is famous. Munch a tasty crab sandwich while you stroll along the pier, or take time to peruse the fishy delicacies on the menu and admire the view from a window table at one of the upmarket seafood restaurants overlooking the bay.It is possible to park near the wharf, but it can work out expensive if you are planning an extended stay. Most people opt for public transport to reach the area and then explore on foot. For an authentic taste of the past, take the Powell/Mason Cable Car –these traditional trams are still one of San Francisco’s most iconic sights and serve many of the city centre’s main attractions.