My View of SF by Purdy28
ALCATRAZ ISLAND & STATE PENITENTUARY This is the most popular visitor attraction within the city. Once the world renowned and notorious prison known to all as the Rock. Thought to be inescapable ? in fact although attempts have been made it is unknown if those actually made it to the free world or drown in the bay.
To get to Alcatraz l had to pre book tickets ? it really is that popular an attraction. To do so go to www.blueandgoldfleet.com ? this is the only tour company running scheduled ferries from Fisherman?s Wharf to the Island. Our tour cost $16 each and this included an audio tour of the cell house. I would recommend this great tour. You follow the lines of your feet and listen to former prisoners and wardens talk about ?The Rock?.There are also trips out of town ? we took a wine country tour ? with Tower Towers (www.towertours.com) out to Napa Valley and Sonoma Valleys. We visited 3 wineries ? Madonna, Viansam and Cline ? none which l had heard off ? but l drank and tasted the wines. Lunch was in the town of Sonoma ? this is somewhere l would like to visit for longer than an hour ? its very picturesque ? craft and antique shops, wine shops selling the local produce and lovely restaurants.