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What a GREAT Weekend in SF. There ships available to explore. Everyone walking on the street was in a festive mood. Sailors and officers strolled on the Embarcadero. The music, dog walkers, little kids, sausage vendors and cruise ships were all there, people having fun. Restaurants were full and wonderful smells were in the air as we walked. The Ferry Building was jammed with happy people eating seafood, Humphrey Slocombe ice cream cones, French bread, olive oil, tacos, burgers- it's all there. Overhead, military jets were zooming, people would stop and point, going so fast from close and also in the hills, screaming along the Bay and pulling up then diving back down to earth. Spectacular stunts- how do they fly upside down or with wings almost touching. It was a spectacular weekend. Go Navy! The Fire department & EMT were here along with many city workers and PD- talking to kids, letting them explore the big trucks and rigs. Lots of fun people to meet (musicuans, artists, performers, kids playing, bubbles all over, streamers and everyone smiling. HINT: take public transit to get to a viewing spot like Embarcadero, Chrissy Field, fort Mason, Ghirardelli square Treasure Island and more..
Good show too bad blue angels weren't there other than that found a good parking spot near Crissy field with plenty of open space. Good view of golden gate and the air show at the same time
Okay seriously whats not to like here? I have not been to Fleet Week with my present photography kit for some time as it always occurred on my weekend to work. But a recent change of weekends mean I could go!!! Good god lets just keep politics out of it and lets take an opportunity to marvel at how awesome the people of our Armed Forces are. There are also civilian demonstrations as well. Then there is United. It is such fun to see a massive 777 bank and climb in such a manner. It was quite hot this year but the demonstrations were spectacular and free of the annoying over the top / loud announcer that so many feel the need to have. It also is over the bay and watching the boats before and during the demo is not a bad way to kill 4 hours. The event is free, but parking is not. Be prepared to either sell a kidney to park in a private lot, or walk (Which I did).
Jets getting 50 feet from my patio. Big navy ships you get to have a tour of. A man flying out of a plane and landing in the marina area with a parachute. Love it all! Men in uniforms!!! Oh my!!! Fleet week is a staple of San Francisco. It's always fun to watch. It can get loud when the blue angels perform their flying shows.
Playing Danger Zone from Top Gun! Can't miss this SF annual tradition. The only two times SF Fleet Week was canceled was due to the Government shutdown & Covid-19. I take the kids to some great vantage points between SF and Marin. It's something they will never forget. No other city will have this remarkable background with the Golden Gate Bridge + Pacific Ocean + incredible city views. October is our Indian Summer so the weather is always perfect with clear skies. And it's October baseball, let's go Giants! Although, some residents find it annoyingly loud, everyone must experience this magical moment in SF at least once in their lifetime. Plus, this event is completely FREE! This year's Fleet Week is more special & memorable due to SF being the only city hosting this spectacular event in-person due to high vaccination rate. All the other major cities either postponed or resorted to virtual celebrations. 'Til next time ~ flying high & see you on Yelp (SYOY)!
I've lived in the Bay Area my entire life. So, year after year, I can hear the Blue Angels zoom across the sky. I took it all for granted. Even when I was a small nugget of 7 years old, my parents took me to SF to be part of Fleet week... I was unimpressed, bored and ho-hum about the experience. Now that I'm hella old and was locked up in the house for most of year 2020, I can honestly say that Fleet Week is hella FUN! We came here on a Friday afternoon to watch the various airplanes fly across the sky performing stunts. OOh weeee. Wow weeee-O. Impressive. Oh so loud! Whaaaattt! These are the tiny screeches that came out of me. Marina area is chilly willy and windy. Make sure you bring a zipup puffy jacket with hoodie that scrunches up into your face. Then plop near the commentator and grass, look up, and enjoy.
We paid the big bucks for the Flight Deck experience. If you can afford it -- just under $500 per ticket! -- we recommend it at least once. You get a hassle-free front row seat to the parade of ships (on the first day) and all the air shows. There are plentiful small round tables with umbrellas to put up against the sun, and rows of chairs, though in the sun, right up against the water. It was cool to have an unobstructed view of all the events (except for one rude dude standing in front of a block of seats the whole time with huge personal camera equipment, grrr). You also get unlimited excellent food, snacks, and soft drinks (and maybe wine? Wine was available, but we don't drink and didn't notice if it was free.) food was and snacks were available all day, with friendly servers and no lines. There are also a few clean restrooms for the use of guests. And free in-and-out privileges with your wristband and Flight Deck lanyard and ID. We stayed in a hotel about half a mile away, so no parking hassles. The other paid seating option is "only" $145, but it's just a chair in the sun with no other benefits. But if these costs are out of the question, you can stand on the grass right behind the "flight deck" area and see most of the sights for free! Or go to Marina Green next door, also free. There are LOTS of food stands and also merchandise next to the grassy area, too.
A first time for us to splurge and purchased the Fleet Week Flight Deck tickets.... The complimentary reusable water bottles were nice! Food was good. The open bar was a nice touch.... Beer could have been a bit colder... :). The standing tables were a nice touch :) The views were amazing of the Bay! The air show viewing was perfect! We have always seen bits and pieces of the air show when down by the pier area.... This year was especially enjoyable! The "Caterered Too" business was used to provide the food and drinks. The food we saw on Friday 10/6 was Empanadas, Tostadas, Dim Sum, Ramen, Hamburgers, Brisket, etc. Staff were really great about picking up the used food containers, etc. Recycle bins were a nice touch. We look forward to next year!!
A word of caution to anyone planning to visit HMCS Regina, a Halifax-class frigate, during SF Fleet Week: the crew's organization was extremely disappointing. After waiting nearly three hours in line for a tour, I, along with over 80 others behind me, was turned away because they were closing. Despite knowing how many people were boarding each hour, they made no effort to inform those waiting that they wouldn't get in. The lack of communication and planning was frustrating. In comparison, the U.S. Navy ship tours were far more professional and well-organized. If you're attending, stick to the American ships--they're far more reliable.
The ships and helicopters are fun to explore and learn about! That being said, be prepared for long lines and waits to board. Fleet Week is a free to the public event where you can board and get a tour of naval/marine ships that currently are being used by the government. There's also an air show that flies from noon until 4pm. When we arrived at the Embarcadero area on Saturday around 10:30am, the line to board the ship snaked along the pier railings for a looooooong ways. The estimated wait time when we joined the end of the line was 2.5 hours. Guess how long we actually waited? Drumroll please.... . . . 3.5 hours! Wooooo! Yes, it was a long time waiting under the warm sun. Thankfully it wasn't too windy or hot. It might be strenuous for those who want to avoid standing on their feet for a long time. There were plenty of vendors pushing ice cream and snack carts up and down the lines, charging exorbitant prices but godsend if you were parched and dying of thirst or hunger waiting. Of course, there are also restaurants and other shops you can grab goodies from close by. Organizers definitely could have streamlined the tour more efficiently to also expedite wait times a bit better. Hopefully they put more thought into the tour path through the craft next year. There are many rules online that you should be sure to check out if you're interested in attending the event. Open toed shoes are highly discouraged and only small purses are allowed (no big bags or backpacks). No food or drinks are permitted, so you'd best scarf down whatever nomz you brought along to enjoy prior to reaching security check. At security check, they'll pass you through a metal detector and also scan any items you brought along with you. After that, you follow the designated path to a shaded tent area to wait for a group to form and a tour guide to come lead you in. The guided tour itself is wonderful. The ship I boarded allowed guests to take as many pictures as they wanted - just no videos. Make sure to adhere to this rule! A guy in my tour group got kicked out towards the start of the tour for not following rules. That really sucks, especially after a long 3.5 hour wait D: Don't be like that guy ;( There are plenty of touch-and-feel stations where you can try on gear and even hold military grade weapons (unloaded of course). The helicopters on board is also open for guests to climb in and explore. Not all areas are open for public exploration, but you do get to see a lot of awesome sights :) Highly recommend coming to Fleet Week (EARLY) at least once if you're ever in the area while the event is going on.
Fleet week has come and gone for 2018, if you missed this event it most likely will happen next year. I've gone many times and this year I did not really want to go. However, S really did want to go and was ready to leave early enough that we could get a parking place near where he wanted to view the show, complaining the whole way to San Francisco I went. Boy, am I glad I did. The show doesn't change must year-to-year. It is crowed, loud, exciting, and breathtaking. All the different planes flying by are amazing. The Blue Angels are the stars of the show. When they fly by in death deifying formations I find myself holding my breath admiring the skill, courage, and guts that the pilots must possess as they pass by. The show never gets old. We did not take part in any of the other activities like tours any of the ships that were open to the public. There is certainly enough going on that you could spend more than a day here.
Fleet week is amazing. It draws a huge crowd. Plan accordingly and you'll have an awesome time. Take public transportation if possible. I took BART and felt stress free from driving and had a relaxing time. If you do drive, the parking rates from Pier 1 to Pier 39 range anywhere from $25 -$60. Avoid parking near Pier 39, alot going on there. They close the road down Fishermen Wharf towards the afternoon. If you want to tour the ships, get there early. If you just want to see the air shows, its starts from 12pm-4pm. Blue Angle starts from 3pm-4pm. The Blue Angles are amazing, reminds me of Top Gun. Best place to view is Hyde Street Beach, and it's free. A good guideline for finding a spot, as long as you can see Alcatraz Island, you should be able to get a good view. We got here early and spent the whole day doing tourist stuff. The thought of coming to Fleet week was scary, dealing with the crowd and traffic. Taking public transportation made it easy and a enjoying experience and would come back again! I recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
San Francisco's annual Fleet Week is a celebration that people from near and far look forward to attending. The weeklong events take place along the waterfront and draws in large crowds for the tour of ships, the parade of ships on Friday and especially on Saturday and Sunday for the Blue Angels air show. This year, I heard about the USS Zumwalt coming in for Fleet Week and wanted to tour the ship. On Wednesday, the lines were not long and bearable. The only negative was that you had to queue in line again before you can tour the next ship. The three ships docked at Pier 35 were the USS Zumwalt is one of three $4.2 bil Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers in the Navy. The USS Charleston is a recently commissioned littoral combat ship and the USS Princeton destroyer commissioned in 1989. It was cool that officers were the ones giving the tour of the ships. Due to the highly secret nature of the Zumwalt, no electronics/cameras were allowed on board. The airshow includes vintage planes and jets. The stars of the Friday thru Sunday air show are the Blue Angels, who conclude the airshow for the day with their fast, roaring flyovers and acrobatic maneuvers. Their precision flying is amazing. For some maneuvers. Their wings are only 18 inches apart. I'm glad I was able to partake in this year's Fleet Week celebrations. Check it out next year if you've never been to the festivities.
17 days ago
1 year ago
No Blue Angels and no fleet of US navy ships due to the government shutdown. But the show went on, the 2025 air show this past weekend featuring the Canadian Snowbirds and Patriots Jet Team instead, and the ARC Gloria of the Colombian Navy docked at Pier 15/17. Visitors were able to climb on board and tour the beautiful three-masted ship though there was quite a line for this which we opted not to wait in. It was still great to view up close. We also spent a couple hours enjoying the lively Fleet Fest at Fisherman's Wharf, with a car show, various vendor booths on site, waterfront views of ships passing by, and music filling the air. The live entertainment took place right next to the Skystar ferris wheel, with a Frank Sinatra impersonator performing on stage in the afternoon, followed by a free concert by Michelle Lambert, a folk-pop singer, songwriter, and musician, along with her band. It was great that from our seats in front of the stage, we could actually view the airshow too. I've enjoyed the Blue Angels' performance in past years, and I'm also familiar with how horrific traffic can be in the city during this event. This year, traffic was still bad, but not nightmarish like before, the federal shutdown probably contributing to this. The weather was perfect on Saturday, we got a lot of steps in walking around and along the Embarcadero, and we had a fun time in the laid back atmosphere with manageable crowds and positive vibes all around. read more
It just seemed quieter. No crazy loud Blue Angels weaving in between the skyscrapers of San Francisco, but fairly subdued exhaust of the Royal Canadian Snowbirds. And far off. The weather was great. Warm with blue skies. But everything about Fleet Week on Saturday seemed to be toned back a bit. No ear-piercing fly-bys rumbling your core. Just a calm and peaceful show off in the distance. The highlights of the day, then, went to the EV test track. It was small and you could take a number of EVs out, including a CyberTruck. The Nissan Ariya was cool and the Rivians took the cake this year. Fun day in the city, not too many (not enough) people and great weather. Need to bring back the crowds, the Blue Angels and the noise. read more
1 year ago
What a GREAT Weekend in SF. There ships available to explore. Everyone walking on the street was in a festive mood. Sailors and officers strolled on the Embarcadero. The music, dog walkers, little kids, sausage vendors and cruise ships were all there, people having fun. Restaurants were full and wonderful smells were in the air as we walked. The Ferry Building was jammed with happy people eating seafood, Humphrey Slocombe ice cream cones, French bread, olive oil, tacos, burgers- it's all there. Overhead, military jets were zooming, people would stop and point, going so fast from close and also in the hills, screaming along the Bay and pulling up then diving back down to earth. Spectacular stunts- how do they fly upside down or with wings almost touching. It was a spectacular weekend. Go Navy! The Fire department & EMT were here along with many city workers and PD- talking to kids, letting them explore the big trucks and rigs. Lots of fun people to meet (musicuans, artists, performers, kids playing, bubbles all over, streamers and everyone smiling. HINT: take public transit to get to a viewing spot like Embarcadero, Chrissy Field, fort Mason, Ghirardelli square Treasure Island and more.. read more
1 year ago
Good show too bad blue angels weren't there other than that found a good parking spot near Crissy field with plenty of open space. Good view of golden gate and the air show at the same time read more
Okay seriously whats not to like here? I have not been to Fleet Week with my present photography kit for some time as it always occurred on my weekend to work. But a recent change of weekends mean I could go!!! Good god lets just keep politics out of it and lets take an opportunity to marvel at how awesome the people of our Armed Forces are. There are also civilian demonstrations as well. Then there is United. It is such fun to see a massive 777 bank and climb in such a manner. It was quite hot this year but the demonstrations were spectacular and free of the annoying over the top / loud announcer that so many feel the need to have. It also is over the bay and watching the boats before and during the demo is not a bad way to kill 4 hours. The event is free, but parking is not. Be prepared to either sell a kidney to park in a private lot, or walk (Which I did). read more
Jets getting 50 feet from my patio. Big navy ships you get to have a tour of. A man flying out of a plane and landing in the marina area with a parachute. Love it all! Men in uniforms!!! Oh my!!! Fleet week is a staple of San Francisco. It's always fun to watch. It can get loud when the blue angels perform their flying shows. read more
5 years ago
Playing Danger Zone from Top Gun! Can't miss this SF annual tradition. The only two times SF Fleet Week was canceled was due to the Government shutdown & Covid-19. I take the kids to some great vantage points between SF and Marin. It's something they will never forget. No other city will have this remarkable background with the Golden Gate Bridge + Pacific Ocean + incredible city views. October is our Indian Summer so the weather is always perfect with clear skies. And it's October baseball, let's go Giants! Although, some residents find it annoyingly loud, everyone must experience this magical moment in SF at least once in their lifetime. Plus, this event is completely FREE! This year's Fleet Week is more special & memorable due to SF being the only city hosting this spectacular event in-person due to high vaccination rate. All the other major cities either postponed or resorted to virtual celebrations. 'Til next time ~ flying high & see you on Yelp (SYOY)! read more
I've lived in the Bay Area my entire life. So, year after year, I can hear the Blue Angels zoom across the sky. I took it all for granted. Even when I was a small nugget of 7 years old, my parents took me to SF to be part of Fleet week... I was unimpressed, bored and ho-hum about the experience. Now that I'm hella old and was locked up in the house for most of year 2020, I can honestly say that Fleet Week is hella FUN! We came here on a Friday afternoon to watch the various airplanes fly across the sky performing stunts. OOh weeee. Wow weeee-O. Impressive. Oh so loud! Whaaaattt! These are the tiny screeches that came out of me. Marina area is chilly willy and windy. Make sure you bring a zipup puffy jacket with hoodie that scrunches up into your face. Then plop near the commentator and grass, look up, and enjoy. read more
2 years ago
We paid the big bucks for the Flight Deck experience. If you can afford it -- just under $500 per ticket! -- we recommend it at least once. You get a hassle-free front row seat to the parade of ships (on the first day) and all the air shows. There are plentiful small round tables with umbrellas to put up against the sun, and rows of chairs, though in the sun, right up against the water. It was cool to have an unobstructed view of all the events (except for one rude dude standing in front of a block of seats the whole time with huge personal camera equipment, grrr). You also get unlimited excellent food, snacks, and soft drinks (and maybe wine? Wine was available, but we don't drink and didn't notice if it was free.) food was and snacks were available all day, with friendly servers and no lines. There are also a few clean restrooms for the use of guests. And free in-and-out privileges with your wristband and Flight Deck lanyard and ID. We stayed in a hotel about half a mile away, so no parking hassles. The other paid seating option is "only" $145, but it's just a chair in the sun with no other benefits. But if these costs are out of the question, you can stand on the grass right behind the "flight deck" area and see most of the sights for free! Or go to Marina Green next door, also free. There are LOTS of food stands and also merchandise next to the grassy area, too. read more
3 years ago
A first time for us to splurge and purchased the Fleet Week Flight Deck tickets.... The complimentary reusable water bottles were nice! Food was good. The open bar was a nice touch.... Beer could have been a bit colder... :). The standing tables were a nice touch :) The views were amazing of the Bay! The air show viewing was perfect! We have always seen bits and pieces of the air show when down by the pier area.... This year was especially enjoyable! The "Caterered Too" business was used to provide the food and drinks. The food we saw on Friday 10/6 was Empanadas, Tostadas, Dim Sum, Ramen, Hamburgers, Brisket, etc. Staff were really great about picking up the used food containers, etc. Recycle bins were a nice touch. We look forward to next year!! read more
2 years ago
A word of caution to anyone planning to visit HMCS Regina, a Halifax-class frigate, during SF Fleet Week: the crew's organization was extremely disappointing. After waiting nearly three hours in line for a tour, I, along with over 80 others behind me, was turned away because they were closing. Despite knowing how many people were boarding each hour, they made no effort to inform those waiting that they wouldn't get in. The lack of communication and planning was frustrating. In comparison, the U.S. Navy ship tours were far more professional and well-organized. If you're attending, stick to the American ships--they're far more reliable. read more
7 years ago
The ships and helicopters are fun to explore and learn about! That being said, be prepared for long lines and waits to board. Fleet Week is a free to the public event where you can board and get a tour of naval/marine ships that currently are being used by the government. There's also an air show that flies from noon until 4pm. When we arrived at the Embarcadero area on Saturday around 10:30am, the line to board the ship snaked along the pier railings for a looooooong ways. The estimated wait time when we joined the end of the line was 2.5 hours. Guess how long we actually waited? Drumroll please.... . . . 3.5 hours! Wooooo! Yes, it was a long time waiting under the warm sun. Thankfully it wasn't too windy or hot. It might be strenuous for those who want to avoid standing on their feet for a long time. There were plenty of vendors pushing ice cream and snack carts up and down the lines, charging exorbitant prices but godsend if you were parched and dying of thirst or hunger waiting. Of course, there are also restaurants and other shops you can grab goodies from close by. Organizers definitely could have streamlined the tour more efficiently to also expedite wait times a bit better. Hopefully they put more thought into the tour path through the craft next year. There are many rules online that you should be sure to check out if you're interested in attending the event. Open toed shoes are highly discouraged and only small purses are allowed (no big bags or backpacks). No food or drinks are permitted, so you'd best scarf down whatever nomz you brought along to enjoy prior to reaching security check. At security check, they'll pass you through a metal detector and also scan any items you brought along with you. After that, you follow the designated path to a shaded tent area to wait for a group to form and a tour guide to come lead you in. The guided tour itself is wonderful. The ship I boarded allowed guests to take as many pictures as they wanted - just no videos. Make sure to adhere to this rule! A guy in my tour group got kicked out towards the start of the tour for not following rules. That really sucks, especially after a long 3.5 hour wait D: Don't be like that guy ;( There are plenty of touch-and-feel stations where you can try on gear and even hold military grade weapons (unloaded of course). The helicopters on board is also open for guests to climb in and explore. Not all areas are open for public exploration, but you do get to see a lot of awesome sights :) Highly recommend coming to Fleet Week (EARLY) at least once if you're ever in the area while the event is going on. read more
Fleet week has come and gone for 2018, if you missed this event it most likely will happen next year. I've gone many times and this year I did not really want to go. However, S really did want to go and was ready to leave early enough that we could get a parking place near where he wanted to view the show, complaining the whole way to San Francisco I went. Boy, am I glad I did. The show doesn't change must year-to-year. It is crowed, loud, exciting, and breathtaking. All the different planes flying by are amazing. The Blue Angels are the stars of the show. When they fly by in death deifying formations I find myself holding my breath admiring the skill, courage, and guts that the pilots must possess as they pass by. The show never gets old. We did not take part in any of the other activities like tours any of the ships that were open to the public. There is certainly enough going on that you could spend more than a day here. read more
Fleet week is amazing. It draws a huge crowd. Plan accordingly and you'll have an awesome time. Take public transportation if possible. I took BART and felt stress free from driving and had a relaxing time. If you do drive, the parking rates from Pier 1 to Pier 39 range anywhere from $25 -$60. Avoid parking near Pier 39, alot going on there. They close the road down Fishermen Wharf towards the afternoon. If you want to tour the ships, get there early. If you just want to see the air shows, its starts from 12pm-4pm. Blue Angle starts from 3pm-4pm. The Blue Angles are amazing, reminds me of Top Gun. Best place to view is Hyde Street Beach, and it's free. A good guideline for finding a spot, as long as you can see Alcatraz Island, you should be able to get a good view. We got here early and spent the whole day doing tourist stuff. The thought of coming to Fleet week was scary, dealing with the crowd and traffic. Taking public transportation made it easy and a enjoying experience and would come back again! I recommend checking it out if you haven't already. read more
San Francisco's annual Fleet Week is a celebration that people from near and far look forward to attending. The weeklong events take place along the waterfront and draws in large crowds for the tour of ships, the parade of ships on Friday and especially on Saturday and Sunday for the Blue Angels air show. This year, I heard about the USS Zumwalt coming in for Fleet Week and wanted to tour the ship. On Wednesday, the lines were not long and bearable. The only negative was that you had to queue in line again before you can tour the next ship. The three ships docked at Pier 35 were the USS Zumwalt is one of three $4.2 bil Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers in the Navy. The USS Charleston is a recently commissioned littoral combat ship and the USS Princeton destroyer commissioned in 1989. It was cool that officers were the ones giving the tour of the ships. Due to the highly secret nature of the Zumwalt, no electronics/cameras were allowed on board. The airshow includes vintage planes and jets. The stars of the Friday thru Sunday air show are the Blue Angels, who conclude the airshow for the day with their fast, roaring flyovers and acrobatic maneuvers. Their precision flying is amazing. For some maneuvers. Their wings are only 18 inches apart. I'm glad I was able to partake in this year's Fleet Week celebrations. Check it out next year if you've never been to the festivities. read more
2 years ago
Super Fun event in San Francisco for a first timer. We were there on the final day and got to see an endless parade of planes and jets literally right in front of us doing maneuvers and tricks that were simply amazing. We had a great view, and one of our friends had an apartment directly facing the bay and Alcatraz island and the view was amazing. From the intro, to the commercial jet doing banking maneuvers, to the finale of the Blue Angels, the entire show was mesmerizing! It was so awesome to the the exact precision of these pilots who have dedicated their lives to flying and can show us their skills up close and personal. Truly a sight to behold. read more
3 years ago
When I was a wee lad with a pocket protector and a pencil box, I would go to school wearing my plaid short-sleeve shirt with the fruit loop in the back and my "Husky"-sized corduroy pants that would whistle when I walked. In Social Studies class, as I was raising my hand in a fit of euphoria over knowing the capital of Monaco (note - it's Monaco), the fire drill bell would ring unexpectedly, and Mrs. Boren would lead us in a single file to the hallway for all of us to "Duck and Cover".... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW4s7TETtJA&mode=related&search= Well, that's what I feel like doing every time I hear the Blue Angels roaring by the office building. I figure those Russkies have finally made a comeback and are spreading the red menace to our fine shores of liberty and justice for all. But my testosterone gets the best of me every time the Blue Angels zoom by with their chest-pounding firepower accelerating with glass-shattering speed. What a rush it must be to conquer the skies and yet manage the expert coordination that allows for those amazing formations. On Sunday, I managed to squeeze myself into the world's most crowded F-Line streetcar and head over to Pier 39 to see some of the air show from the pedestrian walkway. While some of my view was hidden by the garage, I was still able to enjoy the more daring acrobatics amid the throngs of people along the wharf. I am genuinely moved by the power of aviation. When I see the Blue Angels go up, I flashback to when the local TV channel would sign-off for the night. Before playing the Star-Spangled Banner, they would show a clip of a fighter jet in flight above the clouds as someone with a really low voice would recite John McGee's epic poem, "High Flight"... "Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or ever eagle flew -- And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God." read more
7 years ago
First time actually making the trek across the bay for Fleet Week and it was a super experience. It is a bit of a trek from Bart but count it as your work out and check that box. The best views are ones where you can see the Bay Bridge and Alcatraz around Ft Mason. From 1 pm to 4 pm there are about 10 different mini shows with different planes. If you sit in the Marina area there is an announcer that tells about the planes, what they are doing and some history. While we were walking to Ft Mason we encountered the parade and got to waive to the Mayor. There are also bands, a dog show (to display training) and other fun things to do. Oh and food trucks, lots and lots of food trucks! read more
Show - 4 stars Weather - 1 star I blame the weather for ruining what could be, a great day. Arrived (Saturday) around 10am to get good parking. It was cold, foggy and overcast, but I was hoping that it would burn off later in the day. We got sandwiches and then went to find a spot to sit down for the show. The boat parade was rather slow and uneventful. The Coast Guard (helicopter) demonstration looked very cool, but it was done so far away from the shore that it could barely be seen. The Air Show was great in the beginning, but fell flat and was rather boring for the majority of the time. Then finally, the Blue Angels came out to do their show. They did a few passes and then disappeared behind the tall city buildings. Due to the lack of transitions between each show, we (and the rest of the crowd) had no idea if they had momentarily gone out of site or if the show was over. After waiting for about 10 minutes (everyone staring up at the sky, wondering what was happening), we came to the decision that the show was over. It was only once we had gotten back to the car and turned on the radio that we learned the show had been cancelled due to the fog. I have a feeling that the show would have been amazing. Unfortunately, due to the bad weather, I was left feeling rather disappointed. read more
8 years ago
Great way to watch an air show! Lots of people on foot along the waterfront. Plenty of open space to grab some lawn and watch the show. Three days in a row of the same show ensures the crowds aren't overwhelming. I can recommend the road going up the hillside west of the Maritime Museum as a good shady spot to have a good view of the display axis. The combination of watching an air show with the occasional whiff of dope smoke wafting past is surreal. read more
4 years ago
FLEET WEEK RULES!! ITS JUST ENTERTAINMENT. POO POO ON THE AMERICA HATERS. Your plethora of criticisms, as follows: - glorification of war - fuel guzzling planes - flaunting genitalia/ sexual compensation - it hurts our animals' ears - dangerous machines - bastion of left wing, anti-war sentiment - we are supposed to be flower children ...are just plain tired and old. Get a new dogma already. This one is broke. read more
I hate crowds and used to avoid Fleet Week. Now after seeing the Blue Angels perform for the first time I am kicking myself for missing them so many times before! Their precision flying is awe inspiring. Blue Angels we salute you! Part of the trick of watching the air show is knowing where to go to get a good view of their aerobatics without having to camp out with millions of other spectators. You would obviously get a great view from the GGB or the marina area around Fort Mason, but you would have to fight the crowds and be there hours in advance. What I finally figured out is you can get great viewing with minimal crowding at Treasure Island! The jets literally flew over TI multiple times - it is kind of their turning point when making passes over the GGB and Bay Bridge. Because of the multiple passes I managed to get several great shots of the planes and loaded a couple onto Yelp. I do believe we will make a tradition out of Fleet Week from now on! read more
10 years ago
Get there EARLY! Parking is really hard to find. Regardless of where you go or if it's free or not. I prefer Crissy Field East Beach. Usually little ones are only amused for a tiny bit with the airshow so being at the beach adds extra excitement for them. read more
18 years ago
What: - Flight Show More Info: - Check out the Fleet Week schedule here http://www.fleetweek.us/page_events.html The Fleet Week in San Francisco is normally scheduled for 5 days around Columbus Day to celebrate the military attainment. The 2012 Fleet Week was held from October 4 - October 8 and we tagged a few friends along with us to see the show on a Saturday. As it was the same day that the Hardly Strictly BlueGrass Festival was held, we knew that driving to the city would be an egregious blunder. After parking the car at Daly City BART station (parking is free during weekends), we took the bus to the Golden Gate Visitor Center. We were just on time for the Blue Angels Show at 3pm. We spread out towels and comfortably seated ourselves on a grass patch next to the Visitor Center. The place was packed like sardines. Blue Angels - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XrxA_2ayhDwJPlwEieJLqQ?select=dg2OSawSrPqwNiVsy-i7Qg#dg2OSawSrPqwNiVsy-i7Qg As long as one is along the Northern waterfront, one can see a disrupted view of the flight show and a slew of places along the coast offer prime vantage points. This was my first time watching air shows in person and I was happily gaping at the way the flights soared majestically above the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay. I was amazed at the top-notch performance. Golden Gate Bridge in the backdrop - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XrxA_2ayhDwJPlwEieJLqQ?select=dg2OSawSrPqwNiVsy-i7Qg#N3s_OCZw-gVMu7WZhlVN3A During certain moments, the flights went very closely above our heads, deafening my ears for a few seconds. The kids around starting weeping and little dogs started running around in apprehension. Zipping through the air - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XrxA_2ayhDwJPlwEieJLqQ?select=dg2OSawSrPqwNiVsy-i7Qg#tKdeI9-ixtTAB8t8dhtL6Q If I decide to return for the 2013 Fleet Week, I would most likely hike to Mt. Livermore, the tall peak in Angel Island to see the air show. The Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline as the backdrop would probably provide a unique vantage point. Another excellent vantage point would be the Treasure Island. Blue Angels behind the Golden Gate - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XrxA_2ayhDwJPlwEieJLqQ?select=dg2OSawSrPqwNiVsy-i7Qg#sqyCO2FjiEfwIBAtc10hnw Blue Angels - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XrxA_2ayhDwJPlwEieJLqQ?select=dg2OSawSrPqwNiVsy-i7Qg#hbgrP3PD7HPMBOH0HJ82qA Blue Angels - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XrxA_2ayhDwJPlwEieJLqQ?select=dg2OSawSrPqwNiVsy-i7Qg#fF9l8fRH9dUNQ8vHd9s9FQ Blue Angels - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XrxA_2ayhDwJPlwEieJLqQ?select=dg2OSawSrPqwNiVsy-i7Qg#Tvd5n4sXeAI-9aZPDXf9EQ Tips: - The city gets insanely crowded, take the public transportation - Airshow is visible from anywhere along the waterfront - Find a vantage point with the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop (Angel Island and Treasure Island would be excellent vantage points) read more
19 years ago
Words cannot express the excitement and sheer AWESOMENESS of this event. So I will let the pictures speak for themselves (Courtesy of San and Wendy who graciously provided them- THANK YOU)! PS- And THANK YOU to the PCNC for the Cruise around the Bay. read more
17 years ago
Ok... Its true that Fleet week has lost A LOT from years past! Unlike the old days (2006) when I would sacrifice my Saturday morning and stake out the Golden Gate Bridge to watch a FULL SCALE United States Navy Carrier Battle group sail under the bridge. Now the United States Navy barely sends one ship to fleet week, while the Canadians send three to four ships... Yes! There are more foreign navy ships at a United States Fleet week event than American ships. WTF!!! The weather didn't cooperate with the fleet this year. The Blue Angels performed for only 2 minutes Saturday before heading back to SFO due to fog covering the Golden Gate bridge. However, the same Blue Angels would perform the next day when the weather was actually WORSE than the day they stopped their performance... I guess a few drinks by the Sailor boys in North Beach gave them some "liquid courage." lol And for whatever reason, every jet the United States Air Force sent to the airshow this year only did one fly-by and went home! Guess those gas prices are hitting the military harder than we thought. And don't get me started about the Sea Scouts!!!! The Sea Scouts rolled by aquatic park Saturday in whale boats begging taxpayers to help save the program. However, the crowd at Aquatic park would soon be laughing their heads off when one of the Sea Scouts whale boats capsized throwing about 30 scouts into the water... Yet,despite the bad weather caused by an incoming Typhoon. The two minute Angels show. The lack of a fleet. And the constant chatter of "9-11" guy screaming to the world his 9/11 conspiracy theories, Fleet week is still the best FREE outdoor during the fall in the Bay Area. Maybe Obama can get the Navy to show up next year... lol read more
18 years ago
My roommate has a frat brother who flies with the Blue Angels (actually he's the navigator, but lets not get too picky). Anyways, we got a major hookup with lots of free passes and drinks and shizzle. It rocked. Great weather and another great SF weekend. Sweet. Can't wait for next years . . . read more
12 years ago
I am sure glad the we finally were able to have back our US Navy Blue Angels, flying for fleet week this year. We have been going each and every year since 2006, and this year was still some of the best flying we have seen. I was disappointed that even our Commander and Chief was in town and could not stay to support our military personal. We did not see many US Navy ship, as back in the day we would see a whole battle carrier group. Now we have more ship from our friends of the Canadian Navy, however very nice to have them in town. We sent eh fog was being to come in on Saturday of Fleet Week, we did not mind as we placed ourselves close to pier 39, so we were not in the middle of the fog, but far enough to enjoy all the show plane. Yes, we could see the US Navy Blue Angels were trying to make sure they got their show in, since Friday's practice was cancelled due to fog. Now we were not disappointed with the show and of course they still had time to bring out Fat Albert and the United 747. Ok, my last comment about this, yes traffic is horrible when come to an event like this, you really only have two options take mass transit or get a hotel room for the weekend. We took the train this year as we do each and every year, so we just had to do a lot of walking which we do enjoy and having lunch and dinner in the city to let the crowds thin down is great too. Looking forward to next year and enjoy some of the pictures I took at our location, and feel free to comment on them. read more
Fleet week is worth checking out if you happened to be in the city that weekend. The pier will be pretty crowded and parking and driving in proximity will be difficult. Use public transport if possible. You will save a lot of time, money and energy. It is hard to not get into any political or controversial discussion when talking about fleet week. Regardless of the spirit and origin of this event, I would say the Blue Angels air show is still pretty cool if you have never seen it before. It does get repetitive and annoying after a while though. The whole area will be really noisy because of the sonic bomb. Stay away from this event If loud noises bother you. Any restaurants at the Pier with windows looking out the dock would be good spots to sit down and watch the air show. Last time I was just hanging out in Chowders at Pier 39. The view was fabulous. read more
8 years ago
Blue Angels air show was nice. I do empthasize with some reviewers complaining about the noise and comments about better ways to spend tax $. However, this is probably the closest some of us might get to seeing brilliant naval pilots in action or seeing the insides of combat ships so I think it is worth it. Now for the not so fun parts- parking sucks. Be prepared to shell out $40.00; even then you may not find a spot (we got there only around 1 pm.). We drove around for a quite a bit and luckily found a 2 hr free parking spot on one 9f the cross streets. We watched the Blue Angels from Pier 35 ; the view was fine as all of the action is up in the sky anyways. Based on other reviews, perhaps watching from Chrissy field would be better with the bridge as the backdrop. But, if also want to see the naval ships, then I suggest going to one of the Piers. There were about 4 ships docked on different piers. We wanted to see USS Manchester on pier 35 but the line was so long and we would have had to wait for at least an hour or more so we skipped it. If you want to tour the ships and see the Blue Angels in action, it might be a good idea to get there in the morning. We just watched air show from 3 to 4.30 pm and left. The entire event is free. The events and their times vary from day to day so check out the events schedule beforehand. read more
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Howdy, Yelp Friends! Anyone have a boating company (of any type) recommendation that does excursions specifically for watching the Air Show during Fleet Week? Or even a few nice bars or restaurants with awesome vantage points? Thanks! ;-)
I literally just posted about my awesome experience with Sailing Fearless out of Sausalito. It's completely personalized service, gorgeous sailboat, fun captain. He is doing special charters for Fleet Week- I don't know think it's on his website,…
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