The tulips are in full bloom at PIER 39! These gorgeous flowers are the main attraction for PIER 39′s annual Tulipmania event, which begins tomorrow, February 16. Now, I love flowers and have a real appreciation for their beauty, but I am NO gardener. (My boss asked me to water his plants once while he was away and I managed to drown all but one of them. I thankfully still have my job.) When asked if I wanted to take the Tulipmania tour earlier today, I thought it would be pretty but wasn’t really sure if it was for me, since I am not planning on torturing the plant world by starting up my own garden anytime soon. I was pleasantly surprised! The tulips are beautiful and the care and logic that goes into each arrangement is fascinating. Did you know PIER 39 purchases 39,000 bulbs EACH YEAR?

Come discover the beauty for yourself this weekend. Guided tours with light refreshments begin daily at 10am or just come stroll the PIER at your own pace – there are planters filled with flowers all over!

Visit pier39.com for details.

My how times have changed!

No joke. GIANT turkey leg.

The Sausalito Art Festival is held each Labor Day weekend on the beautiful Sausalito waterfront. It hosts a variety of live bands, food, drinks, and specialty art from artists all across the U.S. What made this year so special was that the SAF (Sausalito Art Festival) celebrated its 60^thanniversary. That’s right, 60 YEARS. More than double my lifetime. Clearly, they must be doing something right. So to see what all the hype was about, last weekend a group of us decided to catch the Blue & Gold Fleet ferry from SF to the Festival. Super convenient, no one had to drive, and drinks were served onboard. Perfect. Here’s a little recap of our experience. When we arrived at the festival, we were greeted by men waving exceptionally large plastic turkey legs at us. A great way to start any day I think. After the pictures were taken, we moved on to beer, champagne, margaritas…let’s just say we had a BLAST. I even bought art!

Blue & Gold Fleet Ferry! Check the background

One thing that I particularly liked about the SAF, was that each food vendor was run by a different local charity in which all the proceeds made from the food went to. I never thought eating Fish & Chips would make me feel like I did a good deed, but then again life is full of surprises. Live music drifted throughout the festival at all times, making it the perfect setting to peruse the various art booths. When we had our fill, we caught the ferry back to SF, art and souvenir champagne flutes in tow. All in all it was a fantastic day and I would highly recommend it to anyone from all age groups. Be sure to mark your calendars for next Labor Day Weekend, for the 61^st Annual Sausalito Art Festival!

For those of you who don’t know, or didn’t take much of a liking to your history classes, this holiday celebrates America and our independence from Great Britain. Thanks to Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, we have what’s known as the Declaration of Independence, one of the most legendary historical documents in time which currently sits on display in the National Archives in Washington D.C.

So grab your stars and stripes, set sail and celebrate our independence with your friends and family on the water with us -where everything is better!

Happy Birthday America!

{Written by, Kelsey Barnes}

FATHER’S DAY!

The day when we celebrate the most influential men in our lives, whether it be dads, uncles, grandpas, or good friends. This year, instead of surprising dad with another tie or can of pink golf balls, why not give him the best gift of all – TIME WITH YOU! And even better yet, time with you as you are both zipping around the Bay on RocketBoat, or leisurely sailing underneath the Golden Gate Bridge while sipping nice, cool drinks (I hear the weather this weekend is going to be fantastic!) We even have souvenir photos available for sale as you disembark the boat so you can capture the special moment -and that RocketBoat hairdo – forever.

There’s no better way to say “I love you dad” than by spending quality time with him. So show your dad how much you care by letting him be a kid again at PIER 39. He deserves it!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY from Blue & Gold Fleet!

There are many festivities going on along the waterfront to mark this momentous anniversary, with the grandest being the fireworks display over the bridge on Sunday night. But why wait until nighttime when you can have an excuse to celebrate all day!
PIER 39 is offering fun and interactive entertainment beginning at 2pm on Sunday. And if you weren’t one of the lucky ones who scored a ticket to one of the Blue & Gold Fleet fireworks cruises, make sure to grab a hot chocolate and a spot at one of the PIER’s prime viewing locations.

Residents of the Bay Area – how many times have you celebrated just the fact that you live here?? This Thursday, May 10, gather together with your friends and family at PIER 39 as they celebrate YOU, the locals! Show your ID to receive 50% off food, drinks, merchandise and attractions from participating merchants – including 50% off special additional evening RocketBoat rides! (4:15pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7:15pm, weather permitting).

In addition, enjoy live entertainment by Alice Radio, the world-famous PIER 39 Street Performers and the lovable sea lions. Be sure to check out the LIVE broadcast of CBS 5’s “Eye on the Bay” including Thuy Vu, Brian Hackney and Marcus D.

Now, please pay attention to the important disclaimers below. Hope to see you all there!

If you reside within one of these following counties, you are eligible to receive the special 50% OFF savings for Local’s Night at PIER 39: Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus or Yolo.

*Must reside within Local Advantage region. Not valid with any other offer. Offers vary per merchant. Some restrictions apply. For all details and residency guidelines/restrictions, click here.

It’s our favorite time of the year again…RocketBoat season! RocketBoat is blasting back onto the Bay for Spring Break 2012, beginning March 28!  Here are some tips for the new or seasoned RocketBoat rider:

Tip #1: We always hope that the rain clouds steer clear of the Bay. But if it’s just a little drizzly, don’t let it get you down, you can still ride RocketBoat! Complementary (and fashionable!) ponchos are provided upon request.

Tip #2: With the purchase of a Bay Cruise ticket, you can ride RocketBoat for only $10.00 more. A great deal for those of you who can’t get enough of being out on the Bay!

Tip #3: If you want to get wet, sit in the BACK. The nose rides just a little bit higher, and RocketBoat goes so fast that the front misses the splashes, usually. It’s science.

Tip #4: Keep all personal belongings that you want to stay dry covered. We’ve seen a couple of waterlogged cameras. Don’t let it happen to you.

Tip #5: Sunglasses help to shield the wind from your face, but make sure you hold onto them tightly! They will be pretty hard to recover once those sea lions get a hold of them.

Tip #6: Girls – bring a hat or something to tie your long hair back with. And be careful when brushing your new RocketHairdo – it can get a wee bit tangled. Trust me on this.

Tip #7: Each captain decides where s/he wants to go, so each ride will be different!

Now you are all set for the most thrilling ride on SF Bay! Here is the schedule for all the lucky ones who will be in town for Spring Break:

After April 15, regular RocketBoat service will resume in May. Happy RocketBoat season!