Alcatraz Island

Island San Francisco, California, United States

What to expect

Alcatraz Island is a former federal prison turned national park, located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. The island has a rich history, having served as a Civil War fortress, a lighthouse, and the birthplace of the American Indian Red Power movement. Visitors can explore the prison, including the cellhouse, and learn about its history through self-guided tours. The island is also home to beautiful gardens, tide pools, and bird colonies, offering stunning views of the San Francisco Bay. Families can enjoy the island's natural features, including the historic gardens, which illustrate the importance of gardens to the human spirit and the ecological benefits of sustainable gardening

Plan your family visit to the Alcatraz Island with these blog insights 👇

Colors of San Francisco

This family's experience:

Activities: We took a boat to Alcatraz Island and visited the prison

Highlights: The kids found the prison's location to be an interesting choice ✨

Visiting Alcatraz With My Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We took an audio tour of the island and watched a movie about its history

Highlights: The kids were plenty entertained and found it fascinating, and the views of the city were incredible ✨

3 Nights in San Francisco with Little Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We headed out to Alcatraz Island to see the old jail. We wandered around outside for quite a bit and then headed inside

Highlights: DD enjoyed it too and liked making scary faces in the jail cells, looking at the birds outside, and checking out the view ✨

San Francisco with Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We took a ferry to Alcatraz Island, it was really cool to learn about its history as a prison

Highlights: The kids loved the audio tour, especially the stories of the former inmates, and they even got to participate in the Junior Ranger program! ✨

What to do in San Francisco with family: the essentials

This family's experience:

Activities: We took a ferry to Alcatraz Island and toured the former prison, learning about its history and the inmates who tried to escape. The audio tour was very informative

Highlights: The kids were fascinated by the stories of the prisoners and the escape attempts. It was a bit creepy, but they really enjoyed it ✨