Alcatraz at night---with 5 yr. old?
 

We will be visiting San Francisco later this month, and want to see Alcatraz at night. I know our 16 and 14 yr. olds will love it, but will it be too much (spooky, long) for our 5 yr. old?

Is he/she easily spooked?

The "night" tour I went on left at 4pm, and we caught a ferry back around 7 and it was barely sunset, we weren't stumbling around in the dark, plus the outside is nice, with the lighthouse etc, I didn't think it was creepy like an old hotel or hospital might be. Maybe some people do, I got more of a historic, museum vibe than a ghost vibe.

Personally, I would not recommend the night tour. Part of the fun of the tour is to see San Francisco, the bridge, etc from the water. You will have pretty lights, but what you see during the day is much better. The day tour is also better inside Alcatraz.
Your teens will love the day tour. They make it very fascinating.

That is a long, arduous trek up the hill to Alcatraz. I'm not sure any 5 year old would enjoy it...or "get" the tour either.

They now have a shuttle for those who can't walk uphill.

egret, thank you, my friend wanted to go, but she's recovering from a couple of broken bones in the foot...

I'm off to e-mail her this info!

Oh, and if somebody wants to read, here is the link

http://www.nps.gov/alca/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm

Thank you for your advice. We're still undecided, but great to know your opinions.