Alcatraz
add photosThe Family Ticket contains two Adult Tickets and two Child Tickets (ages 5-11). About $75 for the Family Ticket. The Family Ticket is only available by phone or at the Ticket Booth, not online.
For more information specific for kids, you can check out the Alcatraz for Kids site at http://www.nps.gov/alca/forkids
32 Reviews for Alcatraz
3
10 families found this helpful
"great! just not for kids"
after several trips to SF, we finally made it here and really enjoyed the tour. It was very interesting and everyone can go at their own pace. We had 5 adults on the tour and 1 toddler. I had the 16-month old in the baby carrier for the whole tour. The deck of the boat was too windy for her and by the time we got to the island she was getting tired and ended up sleeping on my chest for the majority of the tour, which is probably best because I don't know how we would have kept her interest up at all.
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0 families found this helpful
"A Must Do!"
I you are in San Francisco, you have to go to Alcatraz! The ferry ride over is so much fun, even in the pouring rain! The prison itself is captivating and you will get wrapped up in all the history. That being said, this is not a great attraction for kids. They will be bored. I suggest going only with adults or older children who can understand, and are interested in, history.
1 family found this helpful
"Great for adults and older children"
The boat ride was AMAZING! The tour was fascinating. That being said...this is probably not a tour for younger children. The prison is not that accessible to a stroller, so take along your baby carrier. There is also an amazing tour with headphones...but it's probably better for older kids...say junior high or so. We loved the island and the views. We loved the tour!
1 family found this helpful
"Very fun and entertaining"
I took my 2 year old daughter and she loved the boat ride. The boat ride to the island was a new experience for her and she was able to see new things. The island on the other hand was different. She was patient but it's meant for older kids. She had no idea what was going on because you need ear phone to listen to each stage. The island had nothing for younger kids. This is more of a learning experience for adults.
0 families found this helpful
"Best Tour Ever!"
The tour of Alcatraz was even better than we'd anticipated. It starts with a ferry ride to the island. There are beautiful views of San Francisco from the boat so keep your eyes peeled! It did get a little chilly, so keep coats and or gloves with you. The prison was very interesting too! Little kids can easily get bored though.
'11
0 families found this helpful
"Best Tour We've Been On"
The tour of Alcatraz was even better than we'd anticipated. It starts with a ferry ride to the island. There are beautiful views of San Francisco from the boat and once you get to the island, so keep your camera handy. When you get to the island, you watch a short video on the history of Alcatraz and then you are taken inside the prison. There is an audio tour that you can take by wearing headphones. It is narrated by former Alcatraz guards and inmates. You get to hear lots of different stories and historical facts as you walk around the prison grounds. We found it very interesting, but little kids might find it boring or even a little scary.
0 families found this helpful
"Great for adults/older kids"
This is definitely a must see!! But you really need to take older kids only. The history is amazing - but some of the stories would be scary for little ones. My favorite part of the tour was getting "locked up" (very briefly!) in one of the cells.
0 families found this helpful
"very neat"
something you have to see if you go to San Francisco. while we were there we were able to meet a prisoner that served time at Alcatraz. you are able to tour the old prison, even walk through old cells and just experience the old, dark cells that the prisoners stayed in
Not a great place for little kids cause it can be a little scary and younger ones wont understand what they are seeing. But if you have older kids this is a great place for a little history of SF
0 families found this helpful
"Cool place"
My little boys would not enjoy this but w did. Nice boat ride over, was a little on the cold side (February). The prison was cool to wander through. Liked that it was a self guided tour and could take our time. Give yourself plenty of time and get there early for tickets as the boat ride often sells out.
0 families found this helpful
"Neat!"
This is an interesting place to visit and there is lots to see. Although, I would not recommend this for young or small children as they will most likely get bored. You can spend as long as you like as the ferries are coming and going all the time. They give you headsets for the tour and it gives you lots of information. It's a really neat place to visit for adults and older children.
0 families found this helpful
"fun trip at night"
We decided to take the night tour, because in the past my husband and I had taken the day tour and we wanted to change it up. I thought the night tour was much better than the day tour because it seems much spookier at night and makes the reality of being in a prison more real.. Our kids did have a little trouble near the end of the tour being tired, so maybe reserve this for older kids in middle school or older elementary.
0 families found this helpful
"Good learning experience"
The tours are very interesting with stories of past inmates and wardens. You can actually go into the cells and see how the inmates were treated. Kids who are a little older seem to enjoy this more but smaller kids might too. The fairy ride over is just as interesting and offers great views of the city.
0 families found this helpful
"amazing"
i went here with my daughter on a mother daughter feild trip when she was in fourth grade, now shes in seventh ( ahhhhh!!!!!) and she loved it. She had lots of fun with her friends. If you have a younger child, this attraction might jar them as it was not a very happy place when it was a prision. But still, me and my daughter bith learned alot, and overall it was a very good experience
0 families found this helpful
"Not for toddlers!"
This is definantly an attraction you woudln't want to take little ones on. They will be hard to entertain and it will be boring for them. You wear head phones on the tour to get the full experience so trying to chase a little one around will not be fun. The night tour is alot of fun but if your child doesn't like the dark, he/she may get a little scared. It's kind of erry at night but definantly an awesome tour. I've done day and night and both are really interesting.
0 families found this helpful
"Alcatraz"
My wife and I were on our honeymoon in San Francisco and we were lucky enough to visit Alcatraz. We absolutely loved the guided tour that walked you through the prison. The history was amazing and it made you feel like you were actually there when some of the events happened. As other reviews have stated, I'm not sure kids would appreciate this vacation spot as there is a lot of walking and not much for them to do but listen. For adults, however, I think Alcatraz is one piece of history that can't be missed.
0 families found this helpful
"Should not be in this list"
I'm not even sure why Alcatraz is included in the list of places to visit with your kids. There is absolutely nothing for kids younger than the age of 11-12 years old.
The only thing that the kids would enjoy would be the ride on the boat, but you should just take a ferry from the Ferry Building to the Marin area (Sausalito) if you'd like a ride. Otherwise, visit the place on your own.
0 families found this helpful
"Older kids will enjoy"
This is a great experience for those who will understand the history of the prison. I don't recommend it for younger children as there is mostly walking and information about the islands history and the criminals that were held there. However, my younger teenagers LOVED it and have asked to go back. They have a self guided tour with headphones that tell you the history of the place. Aside from the prison, the island has some beautiful gardens as well as nesting grounds for sea birds.
0 families found this helpful
"Alcatraz"
One time only adventure. Alcatraz Island is a great place to see once. This unique prison shares much history and is a fun for older children and history buffs. Not recommended for youngsters. The view of the island is great from any of the boat rides, even the cruiser along the shore.
1 family found this helpful
"Iconic"
Having been to SF hundreds of time it's hard to not go. I am in no rush to go back. It takes a lot of time. It is interesting to see, not sure if the little ones will really get it. It is a little depressing think of what has happened there being a prison and all.
The history is interesting and the view is fantastic. The boat ride is a nice break. If you have the time (better part of the day) this is a decent choice.
0 families found this helpful
"Lots of walking... not for little ones"
I love Alcatraz! I have been a couple of times. My older kids love it as well. My littles (4 year old twins) could not do it. Between walking the wharf and hitting the Rock it was WAY TO MUCH!
I recommend this tour for anyone over 7 that is interested in it. My kids saw Alcatraz on The Othersiders and have been obsessed since. Worth the time and money, wear comfy shoes :)
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