San Francisco’s world of tourism is constantly changing.  Hotels change owners; restaurants change names or close.  When we were notified earlier this week to update our Alcatraz tour pricing, we dutifully went to work making our updates for the new operator of the tours.  But wait - the prices went up - A LOT. 

Adults rose by 48% ($16.50 to $24.50); kids rose by 41% ($10.75 to $15.25); but the biggest price increases were reserved for senior citizens who rose by 58% ($14.75 to $23.25).  All of these Alcatraz Ticket price comparisons are from July 2006 to March 2008. 

We were doubly shocked to find almost no news coverage of these large price increases for San Francisco’s #1 tourist destination.  Has no-one noticed a 50% price increase to visit Alcatraz???

Now we understand supply & demand - and are also well aware that many tour operators buy up tickets in bulk to combine with add-on bus tours that drive up the true cost of visiting the island.  That said - these are hefty increases that threw us for a loop.  We hope that Alcatraz can remain affordable for visits by average families but the price increases have become significant.  Even a "family pack" for 2 adults and 2 kids saves a family only $5 from the prices shown above. 

The new tour pages note that the tours are "affiliated with" Hornblower Cruises.  We hope that the LLC set up to handle Alcatraz tours can maintain the fun and spirit of the cruises and keep prices reasonable for our visitors in the future.

   If you’re headed to San Francisco for a vacation or "business trip" - one "don’t-miss" way to spend a few hours is to enjoy one of the bay cruises that go past Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge.  We highly recommend any opportunity to enjoy San Francisco from the water.

There are two main tour companies offering large group cruises - the Red and White Fleet and Blue and Gold Fleet.  We’ve reviewed both tours for your decision making pleasure.  See you in San Francisco!

Recent incidents involving both San Francisco and Seattle ferries have raised some thought provoking questions on how safe ferry travel really may be.  Although the issues in the two West Coast cities were very different - your safety hung in the balance for both situations.  We’re going to take a close look at these two ferry issues and let you judge for yourself.

San Francisco:

An Alcatraz-bound ferry boat struck large rocks on December 6th.  The crew was tested for both drugs and alcohol, but tested negative for both. The "Royal Prince" hit the rocks around 3pm, and both passengers and crew were safely removed from the ferry after the incident.  The Coast Guard combed the area for environmental damage with both boats and helicopters, but found none.  The Royal Prince ferry (photo above) is operated by the Red and White ferry company - one of two major ferry companies serving San Francisco since 1892. 

San Francisco’s Coast Guard has been criticized for a November accident that spilled 58,000 gallons of fuel after a cargo boat accident.  The November 7th crash closed both beaches and impacted fishing in San Francisco Bay. 

Seattle:

Three Port Townsend bound ferries were removed from service in November due to severe pitting on the hulls.  Ferry service to Port Townsend (near Seattle) was severely curtailed during that period.  The boats were deemed so damaged that repairs were not viable.  Temporary ferry service is being provided by private contractors until replacement boats can be permanently put into service.  During the ferry service break - businesses in Port Townsend were devastated.  Originally, a newer 144 car boat was planned - but was shelved due to traffic concerns in earlier years.  Approximate cost will be close to $64 million to put the new boats into service. 

Alcatraz is one of San Francisco’s most popular attractions - with over 1.3 million visitors per year to the island’s former prison.   But the occupants of Alcatraz have another - more beautiful history - of working to landscape the island’s rocky cliffs. 

Since the 1800’s - plants have grown on Alcatraz.   During its life as a military prison and a federal penitentiary for the "worst criminals in the USA" — the flowers continued to grow.   In the 1960’s - when the prison closed - the garden tenders left too.    Until 2003, when the Garden Conservancy; National Park Service; and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy banded together to bring the flowers back.

Landscaper Carola Ashford is devoted to the island’s garden restoration.   She found the island overgrown in ivy and blackberry bushes.  With Carola’s team’s work - the incredible dormant gardens began to return. 

Other gardeners at Alcatraz are famous (and notorious).  Freddie Reichel was the secretary to the warden in the 1940’s.  Freddie strove to find plants that could survive the harsh wind and fog of Alcatraz.   Planting bush poppies, succulents, and blue-flowered price of Madeira - Freddie created some of the most amazing gardens on the island.

Elliott Michener was a convicted counterfeiter who created amazing terraced plantings; birdbaths; and greenhouses.   Michener’s gardens are one of the focuses of restoration today.  The gardens provided solace to Michener during his imprisonment and hope to provide that comfort today.