Alcatraz Island-San Francisco, CA

The infamous Alcatraz Island where Al Capone was held prisoner. To be honest, I had vaguely heard of or remembered hearing about Alcatraz before we visited. It was pure luck that we got into San Francisco and to the Pier at the perfect time to get on the ferry. 

The Island has had an interesting history being a military prison, first maximum-security minimum-privilege penitentiary, Indian Island, and now a National Park.

After purchasing your ticket at the pier you are then transported to the Island on a ferry. You land and walk around the Island till you get to the prison, and once inside you can take an award winning audio tour that tells you about the prison from the point of view of correctional officers and inmates. This is one of the best audio tours [although I haven't done many] because you don't hear some random person tell you about events that happened there and they just read about it. I'm guessing here, but the audio tours must be in all different orders so each area isn't crammed with people trying to see at once. I went with 3 people and we would pass by each other, at different spots and we all started at the same time. 

This one of the places that I could write about and tell you about the Battle of Alcatraz and how some prisoners tried to escape, but this is just a place you have to experience for yourself. Something to also keep in mind if you are a bird lover or bird watcher the island is a bird sanctuary. Parts of the Island are closed from February to September to breeding birds can nest.