I'm going to San Francisco with my 11 year old.

We have time to one or the other. Biking around Angel sounds great, as does a tour of Alcatraz. Does anybody have opinions if we just have time for one??

Thanks.

keith

I am not familiar with Angel Island..but I can tell you about Alcatraz...my husband and I went there a year ago..it was very unsettling..I would not take an 11 year old there..do something fun and memorable...and positive

Our family visited Alcatraz, with the youngest son being 11 years old. All of our four sons found the experience fascinating. Sure its "unsettling", it was a high security prison but it is also a historical monument. Would you not visit Gettysberg if you were in Pennsylvania? Not all history is "neat and pretty" but I feel Alcatraz was a highlight of our San Francisco vacation.

Gosh, Keith, they're kind of apples and oranges...would your kid more enjoy a day of bike riding or a tour of a really cool old prison? I'd pick Alcatraz b/c it's truly unique; Angel Island is lovely, but you can bike in a lot of lovely places. But it depends on your kiddo...good luck, and have fun, whichever you choose!

I've been to both and I would recommend Alcatraz. It's really fun. Angel Island is great, don't get me wrong, but you'll get more of an experience with Alcatraz.

I think the barracks at Angel Island are being renovated right now. To me, the history connected with Angel Island is much more important than the history of Alcatraz. But, very few 11 year olds will find the detainment of the Chinese at Angel Island and the poetry carvings at the barracks to be of much interest, especially when the alternative is Alcatraz.

Hi massiek, I have taken lots of grandsons and their buddies to Alcatraz around the age of 11 or 12 and they all loved it. Angel Island is beautiful also but if I had to chose one island over the other with an 11 year old I would chose Alcatraz, unless you feel that would not be a good place for your son.

Alcatraz! If you have time, rent bikes and ride across the bridge to Sausalito, taking the ferry back. Blazing Saddles rents bikes and helmets. Please wear helmets!

Alcatraz is a pretty standard field trip around here for 5th and 6th graders. I remember going with my class and it was all anybody could talk about for weeks. It was really cool. I would not hesitate to take an 11 year old there. Angel Island would be cool too, but I would choose Alcatraz just for the uniqueness. You can ride a bike just about anywhere, but how often do you get to visit an old prison on an island?

If you have time, riding bikes out to and/or across the GG bridge is terrific.