One of the most iconic land masses in the world is situated in the San Francisco Bay: Alcatraz.   Sometimes referred to as “The Rock,” it houses an abandoned prison, a ferry dock, and tons of sea birds.  Alcatraz lures both tourists and locals alike, and it isn’t just to see the physical remnants of the old jail; it is attractive because of the folklore.  The hardest criminals were sentenced to time at this prison, and the escape attempts of some of them are intriguing.  Multiple movies have been made about this destination point, and it is amazing to experience it for oneself.

I was born and raised in San Francisco, and I am like most locals: I don’t visit tourist attractions unless I have out-of-town visitors.  So, when my cousin and her four children announced an upcoming visit from Chicago, I quickly arranged the ticket purchase.

Historically, getting tickets to Alcatraz required advanced purchasing by two weeks or more.   I am not quite sure the reason for this, but we were lucky to acquire the tickets five days prior to travel.   Getting a same-day ticket is highly unlikely.  When purchasing tickets, it is important to acquire them through the portal associated with the National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/alca/planyourvisit/fees.htm.  This is the one and only site!  Beware of other websites: they may look legit, but they are fraudulent. 

On the day of travel, we departed from Pier 33 in San Francisco.  The Alcatraz ticket included the ferry ride out to the island and the audio tour of the prison. Once on The Rock, each visitor paced themself on a self-guided adventure. There is also a live tour, for those interested in partaking in a docent-led outing.

Stepping inside the prison and listening to the pre-recorded audio tracks is like a time capsule.  The cells were so tiny, and solitary confinement was especially creepy.  I got the feeling that the walls could talk.  

Some key pieces of information: 

1. Wear good walking shoes! From the Ferry Boat dock, the jail is at the top of a hill.  There are drivers who will assist visitors to the top of the island via Golf Carts, but these are few and far between.  It is best to walk, as there is so much to see on foot on the way to the main prison entry, including a morgue, a watch tower, and a creepy tunnel.
2. Do not arrive hungry.  There are no concessions on the island.  Furthermore, they discourage eating on the island unless by the Ferry Dock.  This is to preserve the wildlife.  When traveling with children, definitely pack snacks and have them eat prior to the big walk up the hill.
3. Dress in layers.  It gets WINDY on Alcatraz.  Even on a sunny day, it is mind-boggling just how cold it can get on that isolated piece of land.
4. Keep track of time.   The ferry leaves every hour.  Take note of the departure times when you first arrive so you can pace yourself appropriately.  If you miss the ferry, most people don’t want to huff and puff back up to the top of the hill to kill time.

One of the biggest impression points of the Alcatraz adventure is the view from the Bay.  The ferry ride to and from The Rock is, in and of itself, an incredible experience.

The price point on the tickets is quite high.   Shockingly high.  But is it worth it? Absolutely!