San Francisco Travel Journal

When visiting San Francisco, it is a must to experience the cable car, which has a history of over 140 years. This mode of transportation is specifically designed for San Francisco's steep, hilly terrain. Currently, the city still maintains three cable car lines, the most popular being the Powell-Hyde line, which starts near Union Square, passes through Chinatown and Lombard Street, and ends near Fisherman's Wharf. This route has the steepest grades, offering not only a roller-coaster thrill but also spectacular views of the dense and impressive buildings lining the steep slopes. We took a bus to Union Square area and, relying on vague memories from over a decade ago, found the starting point of the Powell-Hyde line. At this station, you can also see workers manually turning the cable car around on the track. If you want a seat, you need to queue. After reaching the terminal at Fisherman's Wharf, walk seven or eight minutes to Pier 39 to see sea lions and seagulls. Take a taxi or a bus (or a 30-minute walk) past 39 piers to Pier 1 Ferry Building, where you can board a ferry (around 20 minutes) to the USS Hornet. The USS Hornet is a retired U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that participated in the recovery mission of the Apollo command module. It is now a museum open to visitors. I wasn't interested; I mainly went along to accompany my child.