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Another great way to enjoy the Bay is to get out on a boat. You can do cruises or jump on a ferry to a destination like Tiburon or Sausalito, but since you're bound to be going to Alcatraz while in the city, enjoy the free scenery en route. Alcatraz itself is a fascinating day trip in its own right and whether you arrive on a foggy or sunny day, you'll be transported back in time to it illustrious past as home to famed criminals like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. As part of the National Park service, it is highly regulated and you're assured of a great value experience. It's best to purchase your tickets from the Blue & Gold booths close to Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf to avoid paying any kind of service fee. The round trip ferry ticket cost $16 but it includes your entrance and an audio headphone tour as well as many ranger activities you can take as you like. It's quite easy to spend an entire day there if you like historical guided walks and you should allow a minimum of four hours for the visit from Wharf to Wharf. Most find it fascinating. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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 Alcatraz by night by rsilva
Browsing the internet for information, I noticed that Blue&Gold fleet were offering a Night tour to Alcatraz. I thought it might be interesting to see it in a dark setting.
However, depending on the time of the year, this might not be possible as the Ferry returns at 7.50 p.m. and in May (when we were there) the sunset is after 8.00 pm, so as we were getting back, we got to enjoy the sunset from the ferry.
It was very nice to see Alcatraz, but it was always bright on the island.
I guess if you go a bit earlier or much later in the year, you might actually be able to do the actual "night" tour. In any case, it was well worth it.
Tip: Buy your tickets in advance as there are very few chances to get a ticket on the spot .
I got them through the Internet and then printed them out on the self-service machine on the Pier, using the credit card.
The picture was taken from the ferry as we were heading back. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41. http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/html/alcatraz_evening_schedule.htmlWebsite: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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The Alcatraz tour is one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco. This tiny "rock" in the middle of San Francisco Bay has had several "lives". First a military fortress, then more famously a prison, then the site of an Indian reclaimation and occupation. Today it's managed by the national park service. Thousands of visitors each day take the Blue and Gold fleet out to the island to take the tours.
Visitors have their choice between a naturalist guided tour (some led by former wardens), or the recorded headset, or simply strolling around on their own. I have taken the first two tours over the years and enjoyed them both. The recorded tour is enhanced by background sounds that make you feel you are walking through the rooms, corridors and into the cells while it was actually a prison.
Wandering around the exercise yard and looking over at the City, it's easy to see how frustrating it might have been to be a resident with one of the world's most amazing views in the world.
Every year the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon begins on "the rock". Hundreds of participants jump into the cold choppy waters and swim to shore. Makes you wonder why no one successfully escaped in the prison years.
Tip: Buy your tickets in advance. The tours are often sold out days in advance and waiting lines are always long. There are days and evening tours. Adult audio tours are $16.00. There are child and senior prices. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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 Cellhouse, Alcatraz, San
Francisco by cruisingbug
The tour doesn't have you stop in the recreation yard - you have to walk back after you've turned in your headset. So pause right after the dining hall part of the tour and step outside to avoid backtracking. There is a door from the recreation yard (why did they have a door? They weren't allowed out...I don't know) that leads out to the other side of the island for a view of the demolished guards' houses. You can also walk around to this part of the island if you turn right after exiting the tour.
After its use as a penitentiary, Alcatraz became surplus property and was seized by American Indians. They lived on the island for 19 months in the 1970s. As a National Park, the island is now home to hundreds of protected seagulls (bring a hat). One man standing in line with us thought that the Park Service was doing the island a disservice by not restoring it (which in fact they have plans to do). I believe it's fitting that the island is returning to a more natural state. The name "Alcatraz" was actually given to honor the island's first inhabitants - the birds.
VERY IMPORTANT: Buy your tickets at least two weeks in advance. We went to Alcatraz in July. Those unlucky tourists who weren't in the know came to buy tickets that day and found none were available until August! Apparently some tour groups have same-day tickets but best not to take chances. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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 Broadway. by K.Knight
It is a eerie feeling to walk the corridors at night after the sun has gone down. Leave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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Alcatraz is an enjoyable attraction that is rich in history. The Rock is most famous for its use as a prison, but the history of the island is far more extensive. It housed the first lighthouse on the West Coast. It served as a Civil War era garrison and defended the bay with over 100 cannons. When the fortress became obsolete, the military continued to use the site as a military prison. Eventually in 1934 it became a maximum-security federal penitentiary that welcomed guests like Al Capone. The prison closed in 1963 due to the high operational costs. Only one person was known to have escaped, and he was captured clinging to a rock at Fort Point below the Golden Gate Bridge. One escape attempt was immortalized in the 1979 Clint Eastwood film “Escape from Alcatraz.” The actual prisoners whose story the film was based upon were never found, but were believed to have drowned in the attempt. After the prison closed it became abandoned. In 1969, a group of Native American protesters seized and occupied the island. The occupation lasted until 1971. After the occupation, the island was again abandoned. But now Alcatraz is administered by the National Park Service.
You need to arrive by ferry. You can wander about the island. The cellhouse tour is self guided, but they give you an audio player and headphones that lead you around the old cells, complete with narrative from former guards and inmates. The views from Alcatraz are fantastic.
If you have ever wondered where seagulls come from you can find out on Alcatraz. The island, with no native predators, is a natural breading ground for the birds. When I visited, mother seagulls nesting with their young were abundant on the island.
The tours are only available through Hornblower Cruises. It is imperative that you purchase your tickets IN ADVANCE as the tours sell out. You can purchase tickets on-line, in person at the ticket office at Pier 33, or by phone. Phone: (415) 981-7625Directions: The dock for the ferry service is located at Pier 33 on The Embarcadero and is well served by the historic F-Line streetcars. Web site for Ferry Service: http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/Website: http://www.nps.gov/alca/
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The rich history of Alcatraz during the penitentiary years and many of the inmates who called "the Rock" home. From the mid-1930s until the mid-1960s, Alcatraz was America's premier maximum-security prison, the final stop for the nation's most incorrigible inmates. Today, Alcatraz is a place of contradictions, with a grim past and an enduring future as one of San Francisco's most prominent landmarks and tourist attractions.
the island of Alcatraz is a world unto itself. Isolation, one of the constants of island life for any inhabitant - soldier, guard, prisoner, bird or plant - is a recurrent theme in the unfolding history of Alcatraz. The island offers a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison. Visitors can explore the remnants of the prison, and learn about the Native American occupation of 1969 - 1971, early military fortifications and the West Coast's first (and oldest operating) lighthouse.
Alcatraz tour boat leaves from Fisherman's Wharf. Order tickets ahead of time (Internet reservations are not available). There is often a very long wait and trips are sometimes sold out for the entire day.The Alcatraz tour is self-guided and visitors rent a personal headset with recorded tour information. Day tours start at $24.50 and Night tours at $ 31.50 Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz Other Contact: (415) 981-7625
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 Alcatraz Island by K.KnightLeave a Comment Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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 by madamx
Even though you are welcome to wander freely in the park (it is maintained by the National Park Service), take advantage of the audio tour that is narrated by ex-convicts. Alcatraz started as a military fort in 1853, and was known as a prison from the very beginning, but even more so in the 1930's when it became a high-profile maximum security prison. Park wardens also offer extra tours and give insight into many of the areas that aren't covered by the audiio tour. I would recommend at least 3 hours to fully explore Alcatraz. Take note that many of the buildings are in disrepair and you can generally only go into the main cell house for safety reasons. Take snacks and drinks, as they are not available on the island.
Alcatraz is a evolving ecological preserve as well, and there are many native as well as foreign plants that were brought with imported soil. Inmate gardeners planted vegetable and flower gardens and in time the untended plants have taken over slopes and cement walls. As well, parts of Alcatraz are closed during bird breeding season, to help maintain bird population. Leave a Comment Directions: The Blue and Gold Fleet offer ferry service to Alcatraz from their location on Pier 41 on Fisherman's Wharf. They advise advance reservations during the summer.(415-705-5555). There is an extra charge for phone ordersWebsite: www.nps.gov/alcatraz/
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To get on the island you MUST have a reservation. As soon as you get to Pier 39, the tourist pier, look for the ticket booth and reserve a seat on the boat. The ticket booth is right along the street.
On you way out to Alcatraz you will have plenty of time to view the San Francisco skyline. This will present many different views of both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Oakland Bay Bridge.
Take a jacket. The wind off the Pacific can be cold.
Food is sold on the boat, but not on the island. Your ticket price includes the tour with a guide. You will be taken inside the prison and see where famous criminals tried to escape. Only a few actually were successful in escaping. While you are at home rent the video and see the Clint Eastwood Movie. You will also visit other areas on the island.
Time for this adventure on Alcatraz is several hours, or if you go in the morning you can stay late.
If you have to decide between the bay cruise and seeing Alcatraz, this should be your choice. You get a good boat trip on the bay, while getting to see Alcatraz.
These pictures ought to give you an idea of what you will see.
Please vote on comments, I need to move up the food chain.
Have fun Phone: Blue & Gold (415) 705-5555Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41. This area is very close to Pier 39 the big tourist area.Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz
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