The Verdict · San Francisco · for the Bucket-list Checklister
Fine for beauty & photography, but it doesn't really hit what you're after.
The icons, efficiently. Crowds are just part of it.
About Bay Cruise (under the bridge)
A breezy, no-effort way to get the skyline, the bridge from below, and Alcatraz from the water in one hour. Touristy, but the photos are real and the kids stay happy.