alacatraz tour advice
 

Hi--

We will be in S.F. at the end of the month and I was hoping someone could recommend a specific tour/operator for Alcatraz. There are too many choices on the Internet. We will have kids with us --we are going specifically because my 11 year old wants to see Alcatraz, and my 7-year old daughter will be along also. I know I need to book ahead--I want to do it this week (I hope I'm not too late?), so any advice is appreciated! We will be there Monday and Tuesday, so a weekday tour is a must.

Thanks!
PC

Peg,
I am going to put my 2 cents in, but you may want to rely on other opinions as well.
I have done that tour twice with differnet companies, and they were really similar. One might have been a little more personal. The tour quide actually lived there as a child while his parent worked for the prison- he had good stories, etc...
But, for all intents and purposes they were the same. It is all pretty canned stuff anyway. Your child will find it fascinating I think.
Just book one soon. You do have to wait in rather lenghty long lines prior to your departure.

We used the Blue and Gold Fleet. Actually, I thought they were the only tour operator that did it. They book fast. We booked months in advance. I would definately book something and not wait until you arrive if this is something you are wanting to do. We did the evening tour. Very cool!

Dear Pegcook,
Hello! I visited San Fran in May and there is actually only one Alcatraz tour provider which is called Blue and Gold Fleet.
http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/
Make reservations waaaaaay in advance :) Have a great trip!

Is there only one? I know we booked through a private tour co. years ago that was different from the one there now>
anyway, everyone is correct in calling now to book it.

I will book them online right now--thanks everybody for advice!

PC

Do they have actual tours now? We went to Alcatraz years ago, took a boat, docked, a ranger or a docent there explained something about the island, sold maps of the island or the jail, don't remember now, offered to pay for narration (earplugs or such) and that's it, we were on our own till the boat took us back.

How is it now? Is it an organized tour now?