Find the Best Things to Do in Angel Island
By Tom Molanphy
San Francisco Local Expert
About Angel Island
Photo courtesy of Tom Molanphy
Although it's close enough to be considered a neighborhood, Angel Island is a world away once you step off the boat. It may not have the famous Italian cuisine of North Beach, or the fabulous shopping of the Marina, or the hot nightlife of the Castro, but what other campsite in the world lets you fall asleep to the glow of the Golden Gate Bridge?
See & Do
Although the views and hiking around Angel Island draw visitors, the history behind the island is just as engaging. Be sure to visit the recently renovated Immigration Station Museum on your trip to Angel Island. Thousands of immigrants, mainly Chinese, were held here in the late 19th and early 20th century before either being allowed into the US or deported back home. Many detainees scrawled poetry into the walls of their holding cells.
Eat
If you don't have time to pack your own lunch, the Cove Cafe serves up simple but ample meals. The real treat on weekends is the live music, plus oysters from the bar that really makes you feel like you're on an island.
Shop
The Visitor Center itself can give you some sense of the once military strictness of the island, and one of the more memorable gifts here is the collection of Chinese poetry taken from the walls of detainee's cells. Along with Immigration Station, it's a great spot to discover the history of the island.