Way O/T - I need to go to Alcatraz
 

So my daughter wants to go to Alcatraz as her graduation gift vacation. The only thing is the Behind the Scenes Tour is all booked until July. We want to go in June. Does anyone have any ideas? Do any board members work there :)? Hopefully none have been there paying their debt to society (it closed in 1963) ? We are looking at a trip to San Fran and she wants to go to the Napa Train Wine Tour and The Winchester House too. Thanks in advance.

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Leon, is the actual 'Behind the Scenes Tour' important to you guys? Before I moved out here, and a couple of times since, we went to The Rock, and never bothered with taking the tour. It's a pretty small place and just wandering the grounds, going in Al Capone's cell, the yard, and on and on, is more than enough. There is so much info and pictures posted on the walls everywhere, that you don't need someone telling you anything, especially if you've seen any of the countless documentaries about the place. I would just buy a regular ticket, hop on the ferry and make a cool day of it. Of course, the regular tickets sell out all the time, too, so make sure you get yours in advance.

When you hit Napa, definitely grab some photo ops at Castello di Amorosa.

My oldest son (Joey) leads wine tours at Peju Winery in Napa Valley, and I think the train stops there? It's one of the smaller Wineries. I get out there a couple times a year it's a neat place.
Larry

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I appreciate it. It is my daughter who wants to go so she might be ok with going and not going to the behind the scenes stuff if there is so much to see anyway...

They don't have any US tour dates listed... https://www.songkick.com/artists/32690-alcatrazz



Oohhhh wait.... never mind. :D

nice reference....had to do a youtube on them....sweet. Probably not what she speaks of.
Also thanks for the comments public and private.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N19Pu1KM3b4

Wife and I went as a part of our 30th Anniversary trip. I agree that you can see it all by just wandering around in the time allotted and listening to the audio through the headphones. Based on our experience I am not sure a behind the scenes tour would have added much. Great experience.

Looks like fun. Thanks for posting, Jeff. You are a natural, btw,. :)

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Here are some shots regarding the famous escapees. One of their empty cells with the means of escape showing, the dummies they used to fool the guards, and the pipes they climbed up to get to the roof...

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The yard...

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For what one more opinion is worth, the guided tour added a tremendous amount to my enjoyment. I still remember the inmate voices and stories. I would highly recommend it to everyone, and have done it at least three times. Well worth the time and money.