What the Hell is there to do on Treasure Island in San Francisco???
We recently visited Treasure Island in San Francisco to see what there is to offer??
Treasure Island has some incredible history. That is first. The island is man made. Back in the 1930’s, the city wanted to host its third Worlds Fair, just to get people out of the Great Depression! As the city administrators mulled over venues, places different from the previous world’s fair, the thought of Yerba Buena Island, but quickly figured out that the island was too small. In the meantime, the construction of the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge were near completion, so, showing off these marvels of engineering was keen to the city as well.
Also, San Francisco wanted a second airport. Mills Field was the only airport/airfield at the time, sitting where SFO currently lies, and plane travel in the United States was getting more and more popular in the 1930’s.
Mills Field, the first airport or airfield in San Francisco, which lies on the current grounds of SFO.
Then President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was on board of hosting this worlds fair, and gave the okay for the federal government to build an island, an island that would become, Treasure Island. Then WWII ramped up, and FDR had to move all his attention to the war. The Worlds Fair went on, labeled the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939 to 1940.
After the fair was over, the Navy took over the island. In 1997, the Navy left the island leaving Treasure Island to the city. Lots of families lived on the island, and still do.
The history is great, but what is there to see in 2024?
We planned on visiting 5 restaurants, distilleries, and a wine tasting room. We got to 4 of them.
Mersea Restaurant Bar and Venue
Treecraft Distillery
Treasure Island Wines
Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery
Aracely Cafe
All of these venues were fantastic! Was fun to listen to the purveyors and their history as well as their thoughts on the future of Treasure Island. PLEASE WATCH OUR YOU TUBE VIDEO in the link to get a full recap of all the venues (except, we didn’t make it to Aracely’s Cafe, but we do cover it).
Treasure Fest is a monthly event that happens on the last weekend of each month. It’s a weekend full of vendors, food, live music and arts. It seems to be very well received and it shows Bay Area folks, that Treasure Island is making an “effort” to keep the island’s vitality in store.
Treasure Island may be a bit “confusing”
In reading comments from our YouTube video, and online in chatrooms, there are a number of locals who have no idea what lies on the island. Some even commute over the Bay Bridge, daily, and drive right past the island and have never stopped!
Treasure Island is a hodgepodge of old, somewhat dilapidated buildings, historical buildings, new construction, orange cones, “Detour” signage, and palm trees.
“Gentrification” worries island residents, but, one recent completed project was affordable housing for veterans and some residents.
The future of Treasure Island is actually quite fascinating to see what does and does not get completed in my lifetime.
Again, the future is complicated, but for NOW, 2024, it’s worth spending the day on the island and grabbing some lunch, visiting the distilleries and wineries, having dinner, and enjoying the fresh breezes from the Bay. The future is what it is.
Getting to the Island
You can certainly drive to the island. Parking is Free, and there’s plenty of parking. Whatever mapping app you use, it will get you there. If it’s been awhile since you visited, it’s a bit different because of all the construction.
If coming from San Francisco, you can take a ferry to the island. Just navigate your way to the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero and for $10, you can get a round trip.