After hiking in Yosemite. it was time to chill at Stinson Beach and San Francisco. Click the following link for information about hiking Yosemite National Park.
Dave found an amazing cottage on Stinson Beach that was our home for 4 days of relaxing and enjoying the San Francisco area. Check out these great Airbnb hosts if you are looking to stay in the area.
Although the beach was foggy during the early part of the day, it was great once the sun burned through the fog.
San Francisco
Great city, but check the extended weather forecast to pack the right clothes and be prepared to walk uphill. Instead of taking a tour, we decided to just walk around the city and enjoy the sites and neighborhoods.
Alcatraz Penitentiary
What would a trip to San Francisco be without a tour of Alcatraz, one of the most famous and infamous prisons in the US? Alcatraz Island is located in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco. The small island was originally developed with facilities for a lighthouse, then in the 1850s a military fortification was built. Because of its isolation from the outside by the cold, strong, hazardous currents of the waters of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz was used to house soldiers. Starting in 1863, the military also held private citizens accused of treason. In 1934, the island became a federal prison. During the 29 years it was in use, the jail held some 1,576 of America's most ruthless criminals but at no time were more than 320 housed on the island prison.
With the exception of cells in Block D (solitary confinement), the average cell was 5 feet by 9 feet. Over the 29 years that Alcatraz operated, 36 men (including two who tried to escape twice) were involved in 14 separate escape attempts. Twenty-three were caught, six were shot and killed during their escape, and two drowned. Officially, no one ever succeeded in escaping from Alcatraz, although to this day there are five prisoners listed as 'missing and presumed drowned.'
Views from the prison are beautiful.
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