question about Alcatraz tours
 

Hi folks,

We're planning to visit Alcatraz on Thursday April lst with our two teenagers. We will be driving in to San Fran the day before after spending a few days in Monterey.

I've heard you need to book the tours of Alcatraz in advance and was just looking at their website. I was thinking we'd go in the morning on one of the first tours (around 10) so that we would have the rest of the afternoon/evening to explore San Francisco without being on a timetable.

I know that rain is always a possibility, but do I need to consider fog at that time of year? Seems some of the posters have mentioned the Monterey area being foggiest in the mornings in spring, then clearing in the afternoon. Wasn't sure if that applies to San Fran as well.

Also, the website sells an audio tour, which I plan to get, but it also mentions a city pas combo tour. Does anyone know what that is?

Thanks!

I can't answer your specific question about fog, but I can suggest that you consider the evening tour. The special programs they offer can be interesting, and there's something oddly interesting about being on the island after dark. Plus, the boat ride back to the city with the skyline all lit up is really nice.

They currently only have the evening schedule on the website through March 28, but it probably leaves a bit later starting in April, and they might be able to help you over the phone for that date.

Regarding the evening tour- do you get to see the gardens at night, if that side of the island lit up so you can see them? I enjoyed seeing the garden areas where the inmates did the gardening, it is all still actively blooming.
I don't know about the combo tour. I did the audio tour which was very good. They also have special guided tours at different times of the day, those are posted when you get inside Alcatraz, eg. a tour of the hospital area where the birdman was kept, and other special tours. I went on the guided hospital tour in addition to the regular audio tour and it was really interesting.

They did not mention anything about the garden during the tour I was on.

The exercise yard was closed for renovations, and I didn't notice anything really blooming anywhere except a few flowers along the paths. Maybe it's just time of year, or maybe it's not included on night tours - not sure!

In general, spring and fall are the least foggiest times of the year along the California coast, summer being the foggiest. When the temperature heats up in the interior of the state, it creates an inversion layer which results in coastal fog. That said, there can be fog on any morning or it can be crystal clear. Chances are that if there is fog, it wont be the peasoup variety so you will still be able to see quite a bit and the fog might add to the experience, making Alcatraz just a little bit eerie.