Singapore is often described as a futuristic city. Nowhere is the reason for this more evident than at the Gardens by the Bay. Perhaps Singapore’s most popular attraction, this area of 101 hectares of reclaimed land sprawled around the Marina District is home to over …
Located on Sentosa Island, Universal Studios Singapore is the only Universal theme park in South East Asia. Its also the first non-U.S park I had visited in my quest to do all the Disney and Universal Parks some day. The park is the smallest of …
Sitting on a rocky island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Prison is arguably the number one attraction in all of San Francisco today. Not only having served as one of the most notorious prisons in the world, the island has featured in countless films and other works, giving it a worldwide reputation. Alcatraz is far more than an old prison though. Throughout history the island has also served as a military outpost and the site of significant Native American activism. Its an important rock to say the least. A trip to Alcatraz only takes a few hours and is well worth doing when you’re in San Francisco. There’s no better way to gain an appreciation of the history here than exploring the island first hand. Just make sure you plan out your trip in advance – tickets are incredibly popular!
Alcatraz Island’s name comes from when the San Francisco Bay was chartered by Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. Ayala named the island La Isla de Los Alcatraces after the various sea birds that made their home there. While Alcatraz became best known for its time as a Federal Penitentiary, it was originally used as a military fort which operated from 1859 to the turn of the 20th Century. A military prison was constructed on the island, mainly to hold Civil War deserters and insubordinates. This continued until 1933, when military upkeep became too expensive.
In 1934, the U.S Federal Bureau of Prisons took over the administration of Alcatraz, opening a federal prison. They recognised the remote location of the island surrounded by the strong currents of the freezing cold bay to be the perfect location for a prison housing the worst of the worst. While Alcatraz only held a total of 1576 prisoners over its 29 years of operation, those that spent time on the Rock included infamous criminals such as Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and ‘the Birdman’ Robert Stroud.
Most criminals stayed on Alcatraz for an average of five years. Very few visitors were allowed to the maximum security prison and the harsh reality of the conditions was emphasised by the fact that inmates could see downtown San Francisco just across the treacherous Bay waters. Escape was virtually impossible. Only three prisoners managed to escape the facility, having burrowed through their cells into a service passage while fooling guards into thinking they were asleep in bed. The escapees were never found however, and it is most likely that they drowned in the waters surrounding the island. Another escape attempt resulted in a two day battle between prison guards and inmates.
The overwhelming costs of running Alcatraz Prison mounted up over the years and it was closed on March 21, 1963, with any remaining prisoners being transferred to other maximum security prisons such as that in Marion, Illinois. Following the closure of the prison, the island fell into disrepair but on Thanksgiving 1969 it was occupied by Native American activists from the Ohlone people, an occupation that lasted for 19 months. The protest drew international attention and marked a milestone in the reawakening of Native American culture. Even today, Native Americans return to the island on Thanksgiving to hold a ceremony at sunrise commemorating the occupation. Following the government regaining control of Alcatraz in 1973, the island became a National Park and was opened to the public for the first time in history.
Alcatraz Cruises is the only company that can actually get you to Alcatraz. Others may advertise it but will only sail past the island. Make sure you book your tickets online at least three weeks before you plan to go to Alcatraz though. Tickets do sell out, particularly during peak season. It will also mean you won’t have to stand in an extra line to buy your ticket before queuing up for the boat.
Try to get the early bird ticket and take the first ferry across in the morning – you’ll be rewarded with minimal crowds on the island. Make sure you get to Pier 33 around half an hour prior to your departure time so that you don’t miss the boat you plan on catching. You can grab a coffee at the nearby cafe while you wait. Once you’re on board, its around a 15 minute journey with beautiful Bay views before arriving on the Alcatraz.
Upon arriving at Alcatraz, you’ll disembark at the Ferry Dock and Pier. A park ranger that will give you an overview of the island and the things to see. You’ll then be encouraged to ascend the steep path ahead to the main cell block for the award winning Alcatraz audio tour (included with admission). You should definitely plan to do this – but just not right away. Everybody else from your ferry group will be doing the same, so to cut away from the crowds, step inside the nearby Building 64 for a short film that summarises the island’s history. It goes for around 15 minutes, meaning you should be able to beat the next incoming boatload of guests and stroll up to the main prison building afterwards.
The walk is steep, but its really not that bad. On the way you’ll see beautiful gardens filled with bird life and rose bushes. If the walk is too much for you, they do run a tram service from the dock every thirty minutes. You won’t need it unless you have mobility issues. Just take your time and enjoy the scenic views of the island and the Bay around you. You can even see both the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges from the island. As you make your way to the top of the hill, you’ll also see buildings and signs covered in graffiti dating back to the days of Native Indian occupation on the island.
When you get to the Cellhouse, you’ll be given your audio guide and be taken through the prison blocks by way of directions given as you listen. Its relatively easy to follow and you can pause the tour at any time you like. I’ve done many audio tours but I can safely say this is one of the best. The accounts provided come directly from those that were there during Alcatraz’s operation – both prison guards and ex-inmates The tour takes you through the cells, into the recreation yard and out to the burned out remains of the warden’s house. Along the way you’ll learn about some of the more infamous prisoners, the conditions they lived through, and of course, the escape attempt as you pass Frank Morris’ cell 138 in B-Block. The tour lasts around 45 minutes.
The tour wraps up in the prison’s dining room where you can take a seat and take in the atmosphere of the grim prison. You can also see menus and the old kitchen areas here. I found it especially interesting that the meals provided at Alcatraz were apparently quite nourishing, apparently to appease the dangerous prisoners. From there, you’ll exit into a gift shop after returning your audio guide, and you’ll be free to explore the rest of the island.
Leaving the prison building, you’ll have as long as you like to explore the rest of Alcatraz. Theoretically you could stay until the last boat back to San Francisco (another advantage of getting the first boat across). Realistically, you won’t need that long. I’d say around 2-3 hours or so is a good amount of time to spend on Alcatraz all up. With that said, when I visited the island, a number of the garden trails were closed. If they’re open when you visit you might spend a bit more time on the island. On the same token, if you’re interested in any of the tours provided by the park rangers that look at both the natural and historic sides of the island, fit these into your touring schedule.
One last thing to note when exploring Alcatraz is that you won’t find any food on the island outside of the dock where you arrive. You’re in a national park and you can only take water with you. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of time for a great lunch back in San Francisco when you take the short ferry ride back to Pier 33.
Make sure you spend some time escaping to Alcatraz when you’re in San Francisco. Plan your trip out in advance and you’re bound to gain a new sense of appreciation for the ominous rock out in the San Francisco Bay. What are some of your memories of visiting Alcatraz? Leave all your questions and comments below.
Of all the museums I’ve visited, the Exploratorium in San Francisco is one that will always stick out in my mind. The Exploratorium is located inside a large warehouse at Pier 15 (along the Embarcadero) and focuses on interactivity in science. The museum contains over …
When I first visited San Francisco, my initial impression was just how different Northern California is to Southern California. As the old saying goes, it truly is redwoods and palm trees. San Francisco is a city that’s on many a traveller’s bucket list, for good …
Need to get away from the neon lights and smoke filled casinos of Las Vegas? Take a trip out to Hoover Dam for an escape into the Mojave Desert and marvel at a modern architectural masterpiece. Straddling the border of Nevada and Arizona, Hoover Dam is a feat of engineering and art-deco. The Dam was built during the Great Depression in order to harness energy from the Colorado River. The construction also sought to protect the nearby communities from the river’s frequent flooding. Its about a 45 minute trip out of Vegas and you can easily spend some time there for a morning before returning to the city by early afternoon. Definitely visit early in the day before the Mojave heat becomes too great if you’re visiting at a warmer time of year. It gets hot out in the desert.
I visited Hoover Dam as part of an organised day trip while staying in Las Vegas. The trip was convenient, as we were picked up on an air conditioned shuttle bus out to the dam, with audio commentary playing throughout parts of the trip to give a bit of insight into what we’d be seeing at our destination. The trip also included a stop over by Lake Mead, the lake that was created by the Dam and now is the largest man-made reservoir in all of the United States.
Hoover Dam was originally called Boulder Dam before being renamed after President Herbert Hoover in 1933. Construction on the Dam began in 1931, and the project brought thousands of workers out seeking employment. The influx of workers resulted in nearby Boulder City growing to accommodate the population boost in the area. Working conditions were testing to say the least – imagine temperatures in excess of 45 degrees Celsius! Beyond that, the scope of the project was beyond any concrete building in history. In fact, so much concrete was used to build the Dam that it had to be poured block by block so that it would solidify in place.
Despite all this, the Dam was actually completed ahead of schedule by 1936. Two years ahead of schedule AND under budget! Considering how long construction projects seem to take these days, that’s definitely impressive. Perhaps banning casinos in Boulder City did achieve the desired outcome after all – no distractions for the workers. President Franklin D Roosevelt made the trip to Vegas for the grand opening (the first time a U.S President had visited the city) and today Hoover Dam remains a landmark of national pride and significance.
Beyond all that, Hoover Dam continues to provide hydro-electric power to locations across Nevada, Arizona and California. That’s a lot of energy from one massive Dam.
My organised trip to Hoover Dam included a guided tour of the powerplant facility. If you’re not visiting the Dam as part of a group, you may want to look into organising this in advance in case tickets sell out. The standard tour runs for about 30 minutes and takes you down fifty stories into the Dam’s tunnels. Here you’ll see the super-sized commercial generators that provide all that energy.
The tour does involve navigating through some tight corridors, so you might want to think twice if you’re severely claustrophobic, but it wasn’t too bad. We had a very enthusiastic guide that was able to tell us all about the history of the Dam.
If you’re wanting to take this tour, you can purchase your tickets online 90 days out from your trip. There is also a more comprehensive tour that lasts an hour. It takes you further inside the Dam’s inspection tunnels, but you can only purchase tickets for that one on the day. The 30 minute tour costs $15, while the hour tour is $30 (USD).
After exploring underneath the Dam, there’s still plenty more to see. The Dam offers scenic views looking out from the top of the Dam wall down the Colorado River far below. If you have time, I’d recommend a stop by the Hoover Dam Museum to look back at the Great Depression and the conditions faced by workers who ventured out chasing the American Dream at this bleak time in history. If you’re only stopping by for a short time however, you’ll want to spend your time walking along the Dam and see some of the key sights.
One thing that was noticeable when I visited, was the discolouration of the surrounding cliff faces of Lake Mead when looking out from the Dam. The area above the lowered water level looked incredibly dry. The massive tide mark serves as a stark reminder of the droughts affecting this part of the United States. While I understand the water level has increased slightly since my visit, Hoover Dam hasn’t reached full capacity since 1998.
While Hoover Dam is an architectural monument of achievement, there was also great loss suffered during its construction. Sadly 96 workers died during construction of the Dam. They are remembered by the bronze winged Figures of the Republic statues standing on top of Hoover Dam. The statues are beautifully crafted, even if their bronze coating has turned to a greenish hue through years of elemental exposure. At the time of construction, they were the largest bronze sculptures in the world, further adding to the sheer enormity of Hoover Dam.
As you walk along the Dam’s length, you’ll notice four large towers that jut out from the main structure. These towers draw water from Lake Mead into the Dam’s power plant so that electricity can be generated. If you’re interested in learning more about the Intake Towers, stop by the Nevada side of the Dam for an audio presentation about their role in the Dam’s operations.
There are two towers on each side of the Arizona-Nevada state border, and it was cool to walk to the point where the two states met. Of course I had to run across to the Arizona side to say I had (technically) been to another state! The tower closest to the border on each side bears a clock, showing the time in its respective state. Nevada is an hour behind Arizona during some parts of the year. Didn’t think you’d be getting to time travel at Hoover Dam did you?
Almost as impressive as Hoover Dam itself is the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Since 2010, this bridge has stood high above the Colorado River, overlooking the Dam. The bridge was constructed to allow interstate traffic flow with the Dam itself closed to traffic due to security concerns. The bridge received its name in tribute to an individual from each border state – former Nevada Governor Mike O’Callaghan and former Arizona Cardinals player turned US Army Ranger Pat Tillman (who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2004). While you can make your way up to the bridge for some brilliant views of the Dam, looking at the bridge from the Dam itself is not too shabby a sight either.
On the way back to Vegas, we stopped briefly at the Lake Mead Overlook. Its a nice spot where you can really appreciate the enormity of Lake Mead and take plenty of photos. Our time here was a bit restricted due to the bus overheating as we were leaving Hoover Dam, but if you get the chance, take a bit of time exploring the Lake Mead surroundings. The Lake Mead Recreational Park is a popular swimming, boating and hiking destination. While we made our way back to Vegas after taking a few photos, you could easily combine some time here with Hoover Dam as a full day tour.
Overall, I enjoyed visiting Hoover Dam. Its an easy trip to organise from Las Vegas, and a way to get away from the often hectic and noisy casino surroundings. Don’t get me wrong, I love Vegas’ glitz and glamour, but sometimes its nice to escape it for a few hours. If you’ve got a spare day, make the trip out to Hoover Dam. Its worth your time. If I were to visit the Dam again though, I think I’d look into renting a car so I could spend more time in the area, particularly to some water activities on Lake Mead.
Have you been to Hoover Dam and the surrounding Lake Mead area? Do you have any tips or memories from the area? Leave all your comments below – I’d love to hear from you.
A trip to Las Vegas is all about exploring the various casinos that line both sides of the infamous South Las Vegas Boulevard. While countless visitors come to Vegas exclusively to gamble, there’s a lot to see and do when exploring the Strip, and you …
Just north of Hollywood, the Californian version of Universal Studios provides a day’s worth of fun and thrill. It should definitely be a part of any theme park lover’s itinerary when visiting Los Angeles. The park consists of a mixture of a theme park and …
Ah the City of Angels. Los Angeles is one of the most well known and travelled cities of the world. Its the gateway to Hollywood and also passed through by travellers heading to Anaheim’s Disney resort. While I’d definitely recommend taking the trip to Anaheim and spending at least 2 additional days at the Disneyland parks, in this itinerary I’ll be focusing on the sights and experiences you can enjoy in Los Angeles itself. So get ready for some celebrity sightings, Hollywood culture and beautiful Southern California beach weather, because you’re off to L.A.
When you think of L.A, chances are you’re thinking of celebrities, movies and Hollywood. Today you’ll be visiting some of the key locations from this part of the city.
Start out your day with a trip to Beverly Hills. You can’t visit Los Angeles and not make your way to the 90210 postcode after all. Spend your morning window shopping (unless you REALLY have A LOT of money to spend) and people watching along Rodeo Drive. One of the world’s most infamous shopping strips, there’s high end stores and fancy cars all over the place in this neighbourhood.
While probably less famous than the pavement stars that you’ll be seeing later on today, Rodeo Drive is also where you’ll find the Walk of Style. You’ll find plaques along the sidewalk commemorating fashion icons such as Giorgio Armani. Make sure you stroll along the cobbled lane of Via Rodeo while you’re here and take in the mock European facades while you enjoy a cup of coffee with brunch. If you’re lucky you might even see one of the city’s many resident celebrities doing some morning shopping.
From there, its off to see the sights of Hollywood (after lunch at the nearby In-N-Out Burger of course!). That means the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. Spend a bit of time tracking down the stars of your favourite…ahem, stars. In the process try not to be accosted by the numerous street performers dressed up as various superheroes and cartoon characters. You’ll also see numerous hand prints of various movie stars outside the TCL Chinese Theatre. Modelled after a Chinese pagoda, many blockbusters have seen their premiere at this very building over the years, including the original Star Wars film. You can also pop inside for a half hour tour of the venue, but make sure you book online in advance to select a time that suits you. The Dolby Theatre is also nearby and offers another half hour tour of a famous Hollywood movie venue.
While you’re exploring Hollywood Boulevard, make sure you get a shot of the Hollywood Sign in the distance. Don’t worry, you’ll be getting a bit closer later on. You also might want to pop into Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum to get some selfies with the incredibly realistic depictions of celebrities inside. If you’re after something that will give you a greater insight into the history of Hollywood instead, head across the road to the Hollywood Museum. Here you’ll find props and costumes from famous Hollywood showstoppers.
As the afternoon rolls along, its time to head up into the hills. Make your way to the Griffith Observatory in time for sunset over L.A. The Observatory doesn’t only provide stunning views of the city and the lit up Hollywood sign among the surrounding mountains though. Its perhaps most famous for its appearance in award winning films like La La Land and Rebel Without a Cause. When you’re finished taking in the views of both the city and the building itself, head on inside to check out the Samuel Oschin Planetarium and the associated exhibits on outer space. Just make sure you’re not visiting on a Monday as the Planetarium will be closed.
After getting your breakfast, its time for another day of sightseeing in the city. Start off by going back to a time before Los Angeles was even built, taking a trip to the La Brea Tar Pits. Spend some time checking out the tar pits that still serve as an actual ice age fossil excavation site. Its hard to imagine, but woolly mammoths and sabre tooth tigers once roamed the wilderness many thousands of years ago where modern day Los Angeles now stands. If you’re particularly interested in the various walks of prehistoric life that were once found here, stop inside the accompanying museum for a quick look around.
When you’re ready, return to more civilised times with some some stunning artwork. Literally next door, you’ll find the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). You could easily spends hours wandering around here as its the largest art museum in the western United States. The museum houses over 120,000 works in its permanent collection. You won’t have time for a comprehensive visit, but make sure you at least stop by Chris Burden’s Urban Light sculpture outside. Here you’ll get your obligatory Instagram photos among the grid of 220 street lights.
When you start to get hungry, its time for lunch at the nearby Farmers Market. Just a ten minute walk from LACMA, the historic market dates back to 1934 and was THE place to buy produce back in the day. Nowadays its home to countless food vendors, some having been there for many years, others starting up their carts more recently. No matter how fussy your taste buds, you’re bound to find something you’ll enjoy.
You can’t visit Southern California without a trip to the beach, and that’s where you’ll be spending your afternoon. After a stop over at the scenic Venice Canals, make your way to Venice Beach itself. Get your photo under the famous Venice sign found high above the intersection of Pacific and Windward Avenues before heading along to the Venice Boardwalk. Admire the street art, check out the open-air gym at Muscle Beach and people watch as skateboarders roll by and all kinds of performers seek to entertain the masses. Its an interesting place to say the least. If its a warm day, you might also want to spend some time just chilling on the beach itself.
From there, head along the water’s edge until you reach Santa Monica Pier. Its about a half an hour stroll from Venice if you’re up for it. Here at the end of Route 66, you’ll be spending the end of your second day in Los Angeles. Walk along the pier and look out across the Pacific ocean, watching the waves rushing up against the shore. If you time it right, you’ll get another picturesque Californian sunset on your visit.
Grab a bite to eat and spend some time exploring Pacific Park, a small carnival style amusement park on the pier itself. Highlights include the West Coaster and the solar powered Pacific Wheel. Both rides provide spectacular views of Santa Monica Bay in a more thrilling setting. You’ll find plenty to do to fill in a few hours, whether its trying your luck on the midway carnival games or having a drink at one of the many bars along the pier.
While you should definitely add a few days over at Anaheim when you’re in Los Angeles so that you can visit the Disneyland Resort parks, don’t overlook trip to Universal Studios Hollywood. Its much smaller than the Universal parks over in Florida, but there’s still enough here to fill in a whole day. Make sure you get to the park early so that you can take advantage of shorter lines.
Some of my favourite attractions in Universal Studios Hollywood include:
You’ll also want to check out the ‘world famous’ Studio Tour where you’ll come face to face with King Kong, the Fast and Furious gang, Norman Bates and other iconic characters from features under the Universal banner. When you get hungry, don’t miss the chance to dine at the Three Broomsticks in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There’s nothing like a Butterbeer and meal to keep that energy going.
Providing an itinerary for how best to spend your time at Universal Studios Hollywood is a whole topic for another blog post, but its still pretty easy to see and do everything here in a single day. Even so, make sure you allocate the whole day here to get the most out of your experience.
When you’ve had your dose of thrills, exit the park and grab a feed at one of the 30 plus restaurants conveniently located in the Universal Citywalk. While you’re here, spend your evening looking around the various shops, bars and attractions before heading back to your hotel for some well earned rest.
Have I missed any of your favourite attractions in Los Angeles? Is there somewhere else you’d spend your time in the city? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Laissez les bon temps rouler! There’s perhaps no sentence that better encapsulates New Orleans. Located along the Mississippi River, New Orleans is the largest city in the U.S state of Louisiana. When you hear New Orleans, there’s a good chance that the first images popping …