ALCATRAZ ISLAND

A visit to“The Rock,” the infamous former federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island, is a must. The ferry ride from Alcatraz landing takes ten to 15 minutes and, on arrival, the central three-tier cell block’s tiny cells and lack of privacy take some time to sink in. The audio tour provides vivid descriptions of the realities of prison life, as well as the stories of famous escape attempts and inmates, including the Birdman of Alcatraz, Mickey Cohen and Al Capone. If you want more realism, you can even spend time in