The boat to Alcatraz -- there's only one company that goes there, contracted to do so by the National Park Service -- leaves from Pier 33. Make a reservation in advance, and print out your tix before going. That morning, buy some coffee or snacks -- Pier 33 isn't close to any food options (other than a Houston's). The pier has an overpriced snack bar, but why waste your money?
Despite the sheer number of people, visitors are hauled on the boat rather quickly.
View of SF from the Alcatraz boat
Heading into Alcatraz island
Welcome to Alcatraz! Graffiti remains from the early 1970s, when Native Americans seized the island to protest the U.S. government.
The park rangers are stern but fair when it comes to treating the island with respect. Don't disturb the animals or vegetation -- such as this bird, keeping watch. (Below.)
But you want to see the cells. Here goes.
Perfect timing: Evan fell alseep in his stroller, right when we got to the main prison building. That allowed us to listen to the excellent self-guided audio tour without any problems. It explains everything you need to know about Alcatraz -- told through the eyes of a former guard and a sprinkling of ex-prisoners.
That includes the story of the infamous -- and deadly -- 1946 attempt by several inmates to escape. They managed to grab a key like this one from above, and tried to leave -- but ended up taking several guards as hostages. The situation got even more messy after that.
Entrance to the administrative building
For more than a thousand prisoners during Alzatraz's relatively brief stint as a prison, this was home.
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