San Francisco
Alcatraz
Oct. 25, 2010
Description & Accessibility
Alcatraz is rich in history, and most famous for its years as a federal prison. It is certainly a main attraction for a lot of tourist who visit San Francisco.
The tours leave from Pier 33 in the area of Fisherman’s Wharf, tickets sell out fast and if you go and buy tickets at the pier box office do not be surprised is tickets are sold out for that day and they are selling for 2 or 3 days later. You can buy your tickets in advance on the web.
The audio tour is available in several languages and you get a headset that will guide you around the cell block and give a narrated history of the prison as you go, and narrated by some former inmates and prison guards of Alcatraz.
On the shore as you wait in line for the ferry you pass by a photographer that will take a picture of you in front of an Alcatraz island backdrop which can purchase if you wish on your return after the tour.
Accessibility: YES
Roll on and roll off of the ferry to Alcatraz island. The route from the ferry dock to the cell block is too steep for wheelchairs / scooters or anyone who cannot manage the incline walking, there is a wheelchair accessible vehicle that will pick you up at the dock and take you to the cell block and well as the return after touring the cell block, elevators are installed in the cell block for the disabled. But you may not be able to tour the grounds of Alcatraz island as the wheelchair accessible vehicle will not pick up or drop off anywhere except the cell block or ferry dock, but you will see that main attraction at the top of the rock which is the cell block.
You will bypass the lineup on shore when leaving for the tour as you will be taken to a pre-boarding area if in a wheelchair or scooter, this area will also bypass the section in the normal lineup and you miss the spot that they take your picture in front of a Alcatraz backdrop.
By: Donald Kerr