The Rock.

We were fortunate enough to have a beautiful, clear day and tickets for the 9:30 am ferry. Note for future visitors: there are no places to purchase food on the Island, but the ferry does sell provisions for a picnic lunch.

Alcatraz is now a National park, and as such, there is a Junior Ranger program for kids. Be sure to ask the helpful volunteer about it and help your kids answer all the booklet so they earn their badge. It is taken fairly seriously; the booklet is checked for completion and the child swears a Pledge! It is a good way to get kids engaged in their surroundings and well worth the effort - and free.

There are lots of warnings about the arduous climb but I didn't notice it to be too difficult.

Once you get to the main prison entry you are shepherded through what was the prisoners first introduction to the jail - the shower block. It was a stark reminder of the reality of institutional life - no privacy. You are then given the headphones for the very good audio tour through this infamous Prison. The kids found it fascinating (and hopefully it will be a good deterrent to a future life of crime), and not too upsetting.

After the tour, and the obligatory souvenir shop, we filled out our Junior Ranger booklets and went through the solemn swearing in process x 4, and enjoyed our picnic.

The island has fantastic views over San Francisco Bay - not that the inmates got to see it. Apparently they were able to smell the Ghiradelli factory when the wind was blowing which must have been torture!

Once back in San Francisco, Paul and the younger two caught the cable car back home while the older two and I continued our adventure. Siobhan was particularly keen to see Ghiradelli Square and have a treat there. I made sure the treat was earned by walking along The Embarcadero and looking at the shops and restaurants and street performers along the way. We found several places we thought the others would like to see and enjoyed beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge along the way.

After our treats, we started walking home (we were now about 13 blocks from home) and eventually met up with the cable car just when it was getting steep. Good timing!

Tomorrow we are hoping to find a Farmer's Market perhaps.