FISHERMAN'S WHARF. Like the cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf is quintessential San Francisco. It's often the first destination for tourists, and its particular brand of energy mixes newcomer excitement, retail kitsch, a strong maritime heritage and a vibrant West Coast welcome. Fisherman's Wharf invites passers-by to sample Dungeness crab and clam chowder, to cruise the Bay, to pick up requisite souvenir t-shirts, and best of all to soak in the temperate sunshine or marvel at the fog as it rolls in across the water. While it's likely not the most sublime experience you'll have, Fisherman's Wharf is definitely an unmissable opportunity to see local color, commerce and cool.