California / Destinations Guide / United States

Alcatraz Island Is San Francisco’s Most Popular Vacation Spot

Alcatraz Island was home to the world’s first prison during its inception. The island served as an escape route for many of the incarcerated world’s political prisoners during the American Civil War. It was also home to pirates, notorious personalities and wealthy criminals. In recent history, the island has been successfully turned into a holiday resort destination. This article will provide you with the information on the popular attraction and why tourists visit Alcatraz during popular times of year.

Alcatraz Island was home to many notable personalities during its beginnings. Among them were crooked politicians, pirates, notorious criminals and wealthy individuals. The island was later developed with such facilities for a prison, a lighthouse, a naval fortification, and a national prison from early 1934 until 21 July 1963. Today the prison is closed to visitors and all but essential food preparation is taken care of by the Department of Correction on site. In recent years, the island is again becoming one of the most popular tourist attractions in the San Francisco Bay area.

A visit to Alcatraz Island offers visitors an opportunity to learn much about the island and the people who made it famous. A variety of tours are offered that take visitors on a tour of the entire island. Many of these tours include a boat ride across the bay. Each boat will take passengers through many of the historic and popular sights of the island, including the prison and the observation deck. The tour guides will discuss historical events that took place on the island and will recount what took place there at particular points in time. In doing so, they will offer insights on current events and give visitors a glimpse into the lives of prisoners while in prison.

Visiting the prison is also a popular attraction. There are several activities available that allow those who would like to learn more about life behind bars to get close to the prison walls. Visitors can tour the administration building, where they will view the daily operations that run the prison and learn more about the day-to-day activities that occur. These tours also offer a peek at what goes on within the walls of the prison during summertime and spring break, as well as some information regarding the many prison activities and programs that occur each year.

Another popular attraction on Alcatraz Island are the many shops which can be found on the island. Visitors can shop at a variety of shops, which are located throughout the island. Many of the shops offer unique souvenirs which can be a great way to show others just how much you enjoy being on Alcatraz. In addition, some of the shops offer free admission and a chance to meet some of the prisoners each day.

Alcatraz Island has been a popular vacation spot for families for many years. However, the island became popular in the 1970s due to the prison tour which took place there. The tour resulted in many tourists stopping by to see the beautiful scenery and enjoy themselves. Because of the popularity of the island, several new attractions have also been developed. Some of these include an enormous indoor golf course, the Aquarium, the Crystal Palace, and an observation deck which offer a great view of the city of San Francisco.

An Alcatraz Vacation is not complete without visiting the prison itself. Though the prison was deemed too dangerous for visitors in recent years, the prison is still open to the public and is a popular attraction. There is a lot of equipment and works of art that can be viewed inside the prison, as well as a replica of The Tower of Pisa. This attraction is also good for individuals who want to learn more about the history of Alcatraz and the legal case that helped to secure its destruction.

Another popular tourist activity is boating on the famous Alcatraz lake. There are quite a few charter boats on Alcatraz Island, which offers tours of the island. Boats depart regularly from the Pier, with some starting from the mainland. The tours give visitors the opportunity to visit all of the historical sites on the island as well as the popular spots that are featured in the popular movie series. Several touring companies also offer Para-sailing trips around Alcatraz Island. These are fun activities that allow visitors to get up close and personal with animals.