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I Tried “Budget Yachting” in San Francisco. The Viral Trend Was Not What I Expected.

A boat cruise — with a bar — for under $30

Thomas Smith
Bay Area Telegraph
7 min readJan 7, 2025

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Photos credit the author.

Following a viral trend, I took my family “budget yachting” in San Francisco, and it was nothing like I expected.

So-called “budget yachting” has been making the rounds on TikTok and other social media platforms.

The trend is simple and inexpensive. The idea is to drive to Oakland, Larkspur, or another bayside location in the San Francisco Bay Area, park your car, and hop on one of the Bay Area’s commuter ferries.

The catch is that you do this not to travel to work, but just for fun.

In an era where even a simple activity like going to a movie can cost you $100 in the Bay Area, influencers have highlighted “budget yachting” as a fun and inexpensive alternative.

Booking a formal cruise around the Bay on a tourist boat can cost hundreds, or even thousands, for a bid family. In contrast, riding the ferry costs just $8 per adult each way, with kids 4 and under riding for free-a massive bargain for a cruise around the Bay.

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Bay Area Telegraph
Bay Area Telegraph

Published in Bay Area Telegraph

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Thomas Smith
Thomas Smith

Written by Thomas Smith

CEO of Gado Images | Content Consultant | Covers tech, food, AI & photography | http://bayareatelegraph.com & http://nofrillsinfluencer.com | tom@gadoimages.com

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