For this installment I want to go over some of the historical as well as iconic locations in San Francisco. During my two trips to San Francisco I was able to see quite a lot in the city. The first place you should stop by is Fisherman’s Wharf as it’s a gateway to two of the biggest attractions as well as a spot all on its own. Angel Island and Alcatraz are a quick boat ride away and the trip itself is pretty amazing.
Angel Island and Alcatraz are two of my favorite sites in San Francisco. Angel Island, arguably the lesser known of the two, has been called the Ellis Island of the West but it’s history didn’t begin there but rather that’s where its human history ended. The island served as a military base, immigration check point, and even a quarantine station for bubonic plague. The island in its present condition is a state park and has been that way since the 1960’s. Now you can take a tour of the island and see many of the old buildings still present. The park offers tram and segway tours on the island and are definitely worth it. You can get a day pass to go to both Angel Island and Alcatraz which is what I did and I would love to visit them both again.
Alcatraz of course has so much history to it. The island is home to the now-closed penitentiary but that’s not where it’s history ended. You can tour the grounds of the prison with an audio tour and learn about the various wardens and inmates of the prison. Al Capone the notorious gangster was even housed in the prison. After the prison closed in 1963 an occupation of the island started at the end of 1969. The Native American activists claimed the land belonged to Native Americans as they had lived there before and under the Treaty of Fort Laramie the land should be given back. The occupation lasted nearly two years. You can still see the graffiti that marks the water tower. If you love history and find crime to be interesting then Alcatraz is the highlight for you. It is definitely a must-see!
Take the trolley back to the heart of the city for an amazing view. This is not for the faint of heart as you could be standing on the outside of the trolley holding on as you move quite quickly through the steep streets. Head over to The Presidio and Golden Gate Park for more history. The Presidio is currently part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and it’s genuinely beautiful. The reason for my visit was my uncle was at one point stationed there at the former U.S. Army military fort. My aunt wanted to see one of the places where he lived and it didn’t disappoint. Golden Gate park is very beautiful and very close to The Presidio. We visited the Japanese Tea Garden in the park and were definitely not disappointed by the stunning Japanese inspired architecture.
To round out an amazing trip to San Francisco take a peak at the most iconic feature, The Golden Gate Bridge. You can walk it’s length(1.7 mi) and back. Be prepared for cold winds with a jacket because the winds over the water make it feel much colder than the rest of the area. It’s amazing to see the work that went into building the bridge and make sure to check out the view where you can see Alcatraz Island in the distance. If I haven’t convinced you to take a trip to San Francisco by this point then I’m not sure how to help you! The city is an American treasure that everyone should try to see at least once in their lifetime. Stay tuned for more stories on my adventures thus far!
Sincerely Yours,
Pocket Elf Travels
