Ask any tourist in San Francisco the places they plan on visiting in the city, and Alcatraz Island is sure to be at the top of their list along with the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf. But ask a Bay Area local if they’ve been to Alcatraz and the answer is more often than not, “No. Alcatraz is for tourists.” Sound familiar? I recently visited Alcatraz Island with my three daughters and, trust me, it’s a great place to the kids—no matter how long you’ve lived here! Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the former penitentiary.
The ferry trip
A major highlight of any visit to Alcatraz happens before you even set foot on the island. It’s the ferry trip! The ten minute ferry trip to Alcatraz from Pier 33 may be short, but during that time you’ll take in some of the most spectacular views of the Bay you can imagine. As the ferry zooms out you’ll see the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridges, Treasure Island, Angel Island, Coit Tower, the TransAmerica Building, Sausalito, the East Bay and, of course, Alcatraz Island. While standing outside will get you the best views, it can also be pretty windy—a window seat inside is best with small children. Depending on the ferry in use, there’s also covered seating on the roof available. These seats not only afford great views, but kids can watch the wind turbines on the back of the ferry spin as they generate power.
Insider tip: Make sure to arrive at Pier 33 at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time to get at the front of the queue for the best seats. The ferry will turn around once it moves away from the pier, so grab a seat on the right hand side when you board and you’ll end up facing Alcatraz for the duration of the trip.
Junior Ranger program
Since Alcatraz Island is a National Park, children visiting the island can take part in the Junior Ranger program. This is a great way to get the children involved in learning about the history and environment of the island, and it serves as a great distraction should they get a little bored at times. The program is primarily aimed at kids ages five to 13, but children of any age are welcome to participate. To take part in the program, visit the Ranger Station near the dock when you first arrive on the island. Children will be given an activity book filled with word searches, quizzes and drawing pages to complete as they tour Alcatraz. (The number of pages they need to complete varies depending on age.) Upon completion of the book (or the required number of pages), a ranger will check that the answers have been filled out, have the kids recite a pledge and then award them with their very own junior ranger badges. It’s such a fun program and the badges make a great (and free!) souvenir.
Insider tip: Make sure to allow a little extra time before the ferry departure to visit the ranger station for the kids to be sworn in as Junior Rangers. It typically takes five to 10 minutes depending on how many kids there are.
Cell House
Where: The cell house is the main attraction at Alcatraz. Here you not only see the cells that inmates lived in, but also explore the interiors of a few. While most cells contain just the bare minimum (bed, toilet and sink), some have have been set up with the artifacts and belongings of the former inmates, such as painting supplies, art works, clothing and bedding. A major highlight is seeing the cell where inmates dug a hole through the wall with spoons! Most cells are closed to the public and can only be viewed from the corridor, however several cells are open for visitors to explore and take that all important “stuck behind bars” photo. My kids love trying to chat to each other through the thick windows, even though it’s impossible to hear the person on the other side!,
Insider tip: To learn more about the cell house take the free audio tour.
Audio tour
Where: The free audio tour through the Cell House block is a great way to learn about the history of Alcatraz and its inmates as you explore the building. The audio tour guides visitors through the cell house block and Recreation Yard with stops at various points of interest. The littlest visitors to Alcatraz are sure to want to join in with the audio tour even if they don’t really understand what they’re hearing—wearing headphones is fun when you’re a toddler! The audio tour starts and ends at the northern entrance to the Cell Block.,
Insider tip: The Recreation Yard is a great spot for little visitors to take a break during the audio tour. Here, they can run around, play hopscotch and climb the concrete bleachers, which also make for a good place to sit for a bit. A gate at the side of the Recreation Yard provides spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and is worth a look.
Parade Ground
Where: The Parade Ground is a great place for kids to run around while parents take in the stunning views over the city. (There are plenty of old foundations perfect for balancing on which was a hit with my kids!) We spotted tons of birds in this area and my kids also enjoyed looking down at the water below trying to spot sea lions. The Agave Trail makes its way around the outskirts of the Parade Ground offering stunning views from the East Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge. (Keep in mind that seasonal closures of the path are currently in place.),
Insider tip: The Parade Ground seems like a great spot to sit and eat a picnic (as I saw several people doing), but eating is only allowed in the designated area by the dock.
New Industries Building (and exhibitions)
Where: The New Industries Building at the northern end of Alcatraz Island is a large open building that houses exhibitions. These exhibitions change over time, and in the past have included notable artworks such as Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s exhibition showcasing his perspective on human rights, political prisoners and freedom of expression. The current exhibition features photographs taken at the end of Alcatraz Island’s time as a federal prison. The building features large windows that face onto the Bay with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.,
Insider tip: While the exhibition may not be of much interest to younger children, there are plenty of other features that are sure to capture their imagination. A wall of old toilets in various states of disrepair caught my kids’ attention! This quiet building is also a great spot for kids to sit and work on their Junior Ranger books while parents take in the exhibition.
The museum
Where: The Museums Collection, housed in the Barracks, features a large array of artifacts and photographs from Alcatraz Island’s time as a federal prison, a military prison and the Native American occupation. My kids especially enjoyed seeing the weapons used by the prison guards, fake heads created out of cardboard and human hair by inmates in an escape attempt, and the various keys made by prisoners out of everyday items like spoons. My kids were surprised to learn here that there were also children who called Alcatraz home. These were the children of prison staff members who lived in cottages on the island with their families. Can you imagine living on Alcatraz Island?,
Insider tip: There are a few hands-on exhibits in the museum which are perfect for keeping younger children occupied while you check out the exhibits.
Tips for your visit:
• Access to Alcatraz is available only through Alcatraz Cruises. Purchase tickets here. Be wary of other companies selling tickets for boat trips that include Alcatraz, as these do not stop at the island.
• It’s best to book your tickets as far in advance as possible as they can sell out quickly, especially on weekends and during holidays. Tickets are available for purchase 90 days in advance.
• Tickets are $37.25 for adults, $23 for children (ages 5-11) and free for children under 4.
• Make sure to arrive at Pier 33 and check-in at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. If you miss your departure time, there is no guarantee that you will be able to board a later ferry.
• Ferries returning to Pier 33 depart Alcatraz approximately every 30 minutes until 4:30pm. Three hours is the suggested visit time on the island.
• Food is not available to purchase on Alcatraz Island. Bringing a packed lunch or snacks is recommended, however eating is only allowed at the dock area. Bottled water is allowed on all areas of the island and can be purchased in the gift store. Food and drinks are available to purchase on the ferry and at Pier 33.
• Most parts of Alcatraz island are wheelchair and stroller accessible, however the hills are very steep. A small tram is available to transport those with limited mobility. I would recommend using a baby carrier for infants rather than a stroller as it can get quite crowded in the Cell Block building!
• Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
• The weather can change quickly on Alcatraz so be prepared and dress in layers. Rain ponchos are available to purchase in the gift store.
