Alcatraz Island has so much more to see than just a prison, it is a beautiful island unto itself and the natural reclamation of Alcatraz is simply spectacular if you take the time to look. Plan to spend a few hours at Alcatraz Island and I highly recommend a springtime trip when the island is alive with natures bounty. Of course, you need to plan time to take the traditional prison tour but don’t ignore what else Alcatraz Island has to offer!
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- Alcatraz Cruises
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- Alcatraz Cruises departs from Alcatraz Landing
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- Canon and canonballs replica found on Alcatraz Landing
Getting to the island is as easy as hopping on the ferry via Alcatraz Cruises, grabbing a seat topside or inside and enjoy the short ride to the island. Alcatraz Cruises offers a very comfortable experience with onboard restrooms and a cafe to tempt your taste buds on the trip over.
I highly recommend a place in the bow for the best views approaching Alcatraz Island, where you will see the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. Bundle up! It can get quite chilly. Your ticket price includes the return and they will let you know when that will be.
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- Alcatraz Island Park Ranger orientation
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- One of many passageways on Alcatraz Island
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- Overlooking the Quartermaster and Power House
When you arrive at the island you have two choices to make, listening to the orientation delivered by one of the Park Rangers and then enjoying the audio tour of the prison, or taking off on your own to explore as you will. Any guesses as to how I approached it?
Keystone cap marking 1866
The history of Alcatraz Island is long, fascinating, and covered everywhere, so I won’t try to recapture the timeline here. But I will share what I found and you can experience if you take the time to look at what the island has to offer.
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- Concrete and steel, the stark reality of Alcatraz Island prison life
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- You could look at the Golden Gate Bridge from your prison job
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- View of the Bay Bridge and Angel Island from the Garden walkway
Alcatraz Island from a Prisoners perspective is about as dark and gloomy as imaginable, yet they did have some comforts and amazing views!
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- Alcatraz Island building being reclaimed by nature
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- Alcatraz Island Gardens
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- Even the walls are beautiful
Alcatraz Island Gardens is where many inmates spent their time and much is left to enjoy if you take the time to look!
While not abundant, Alcatraz Island wildlife is there to enjoy!
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- Rust permeates the wire mesh reinforcements on these windows.
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- Inside the Industrial Manufacturing building
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- Nature reclaiming the Officers Club
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- Decay taking over the brick walls on Alcatraz Island
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- Shadows and light downplay the lack of privacy
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- The Eagle overlooking Eagle Plaza on Alcatraz Island
Decay has taken its toll on Alcatraz Island over the years and the results are often strikingly beautiful!
Full disclosure, Alcatraz Cruises hosted Never to Old To Travel on a trip to Alcatraz Island with no stipulations. All thoughts, opinions and photos in this article are my own.
