Welcome to “The Rock”! Located just under 2 miles off the San Francisco waterfront is Alcatraz Island & Prison. The Federal prison was in operation from 1934 to 1963 and at the time it was the most feared federal penitentiary in the United States. The famous 1979 movie, Escape From Alcatraz (starring Clint Eastwood) is based on the true story of Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin and their 1962 escape from Alcatraz. Here is a clip of the movie if you are unfamiliar with it.
California Adventures
As I was planning my 40th birthday trip to California, there were certain spots I KNEW I wanted to visit (Napa Valley, for one) and others I just took a chance on. The Alcatraz Island visit was one of the chances and I’m so glad I took it; Alcatraz was one of the highlights of my California visit!
Getting to The Rock
I purchased my tickets for the Alcatraz in advance and I went with the Early Bird Tour. The Early Bird Tour is the first tour of the day to Alcatraz Island. We purchased our tickets directly through Alcatraz City Cruises. Please DON’T fall victim to scammers, purchase your tickets online through a reputable vendor! Tickets were $41.00 per person and the price includes the ferry ride to the island as well as the audio tour. With tickets in hand, my husband and I made our way to Pier 33 to wait for the ferry to Alcatraz!
The ride to Alcatraz was stunning, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge on the port side and views of the San Francisco city line on the starboard side. The ferry was open-air so to smell the sea and hear the birds was an exhilarating start to the tour!
As the prison came into view, it became obvious how it earned its nickname, The Rock. The island literally looks like a rock rising out of the sea! I can only imagine what the prisoners arriving at Alcatraz must have thought of their fate.
Locked Up
After landing at Alcatraz, we were greeted by the Alcatraz staff and they explained the history of the island, hidden treasures to look out for, and they explained how the tours would work, We were all free to explore the entire island on our own and the ferry back to San Francisco leaves every 45 minutes. We decided to visit inside the prison first and save the prison grounds for later.
Stepping inside Alcatraz was surreal, I personally was glad that I could leave any time I wanted, unlike the men who served hard times here! As I mentioned earlier, Alcatraz tours include an audio tour in the ticket price. We were issued hand-held audio devices that allowed us to learn about each area of the prison we visited. The audio tour was narrated by ex-inmates and guards personally. We toured cell blocks, solitary confinement, areas used by prison staff, the warden’s office, the dining hall, and the recreation area. The highlight for me was seeing the actual cells of the 3 prisoners who escaped! Seeing the tiny hole they escaped from was incredible.
Alcatraz, A Must-Visit For Any San Francisco Trip
A visit to San Franciso should definitely include a trip to Alcatraz. Alcatraz is suitable for families, couples, friend groups, or single folks too. In addition to the Early Bird and day tours, Alcatraz offers night tours as well; imagine walking through the abandoned cell block at night…spooky!
Have you visited Alcatraz Island before? What was your favorite experience at The Rock? Head to the contact me page with your comments and feedback, I love hearing from you all!
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