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Around San FranciscoAlcatraz
Out in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, or ‘The Rock’, is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s most popular destinations. The notorious escape-proof island with its dreaded maximum-security prison once held the likes of Al ‘Scarface’ Capone, George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly and the ‘birdman of Alcatraz', Robert Stroud. With sheer cliffs surrounded by the icy waters of San Francisco Bay, known for its treacherous tides and currents, it was regarded as the perfect place to detain the country’s most-wanted and dangerous criminals who were isolated in dark solitary confinement cells. There have never been any successful escapes from The Rock. Visitors can explore the prison as well as learn about its history: from its discovery as a pelican nesting ground, its location as a military outpost, and the years between 1933 and 1963 as an off-limit federal penitentiary. It was also inhabited by Native Americans before being declared a Recreational Area and protected bird sanctuary. Thousands of tourists flock here each year and take the excellent self-guided audio tours that contain commentary from former guards and prisoners about life on the island. There is also a slide show and a tour of the island’s ecology and bird life led by a park ranger. The view from the island looking across to San Francisco is awesome. Telephone: (415) 773 1188 (ferry schedules and information), or (415) 705 1042 (park information) E-mail: goga_alcatraz@nps.gov Transport: Blue & Gold Fleet boats depart throughout the day beginning at 9.30am, from Pier 41, Fisherman’s Wharf. Monterey
California's Spanish and Mexican history is encountered elsewhere, but its Latin heritage is richest in Monterey, a bustling town of about 30,000. There are numerous restored adobe buildings from the Spanish and Mexican eras, and it's enlightening to spend a day wandering about the town's historic quarter. Monterey offers a fine maritime museum and a world-famous aquarium, not to mention the relative tourist traps of Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row. Yosemite
A place of ravishing natural beauty shaped by glaciers during the Ice Age, Yosemite National Park encompasses vast and diverse landscapes that are a boon to walkers, hikers, trekkers, rock climbers, skiers, and nature lovers. The first National Park in the world (1890) thanks to the passionate campaigning of naturalist John Muir, Yosemite is now one of the most visited spots in the USA, attracting more than four million visitors each year. The park's tourist hub is Yosemite Valley, where most of the facilities and campgrounds are based. The valley's epicenter, Yosemite Village, has a visitors' center, post office, restaurants, and several museums. If you visit in the summer, the valley may seem brutally crowded, but you need only hit the trails to find solitude and wilderness. |
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