Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [114]
Allow about 21⁄2 hours for the round-trip boat ride and the tour. Wear comfortable shoes (the National Park Service notes that there are a lot of hills to climb) and take a heavy sweater or windbreaker, because even when the sun’s out, it’s cold and windy on Alcatraz. You should also bring snacks and drinks with you if you think you’ll want them. Although there is a beverage-and-snack bar on the ferry, the options are limited and expensive, and only water is available on the island. The excursion to Alcatraz is very popular and space is limited, so purchase tickets as far in advance as possible (up to 90 days) via the Alcatraz Cruises website at www.alcatrazcruises.com. You can also purchase tickets in person by visiting the Hornblower Alcatraz Landing ticket office at Pier 33. The first departure, called the “Early Bird,” leaves at 9am, and ferries depart about every half-hour afterward until 4pm. Two night tours (highly recommended) are also available, offering a more intimate and wonderfully spooky experience.
For those who want to get a closer look at Alcatraz without going ashore, two boat-tour operators offer short circumnavigations of the island. (See “Self-Guided & Organized Tours” for complete information.)
Pier 33, near Fisherman’s Wharf. 415/981-7625. www.alcatrazcruises.com or www.nps.gov/alcatraz. Admission (includes ferry trip and audio tour) $26 adults, $25 seniors 62 and older, $16 children 5–11. Night tours $33 adults, $31 seniors 62 and older, $20 children 5–11. Arrive at least 20 min. before departure time.
AT&T Park ★★ If you’re a baseball fan, you’ll definitely want to schedule a visit to the magnificent AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants and hailed by the media as one of the finest ballparks in America. From April through October, an often sellout crowd of 40,800 fans packs the $319-million ballpark—which has a smaller, more intimate feel than Candlestick Park (where the 49ers play) as well as prime views of San Francisco Bay—and roots for the National League’s Giants.
During the season, tickets to the game can be hard to come by (and expensive when you find them), but you can try to join the Bleacher Bums by purchasing one of the 500 bleacher-seat tickets sold every day before the game. They make you work for it: You have to show up at the ballpark 4 hours early, and then come back 2 hours before the game to get your tickets (maximum four per person). The upside is that the tickets are only $9 to $10.
Finding Your Way
When asking for directions in San Francisco, be careful not to confuse numerical avenues with numerical streets. Numerical avenues (Third Avenue and so on) are in the Richmond and Sunset districts in the western part of the city. Numerical streets (Third Street and so on) are south of Market Street in the eastern and southern parts of the city. Get this wrong and you’ll be an hour late for dinner.
If you can’t even get bleacher seats, you can always join the “knothole gang” at the Portwalk (located behind right field) to catch a free glimpse of the game through cutout portholes into the ballpark. In the spirit of sharing, Portwalk peekers are encouraged to take in only an inning or two before giving way to fellow fans.
One guaranteed way to get into the ballpark is to take a guided tour of AT&T Park and go behind the scenes where you’ll see the press box, the dugout, the visitor’s clubhouse, a luxury suite, and more. All tours run daily at 10:30am and 12:30pm. Ticket prices are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors 56 and over, and $7.50 for kids 12 and under. There are no tours on game days, and limited tours on the day of night games. To buy tickets online log onto www.sfgiants.com, and then click on