Like prisoners, visitors first walk down the main walkway, otherwise known as Broadway, between B an

Alcatraz was once the place where America sent the worst of the worst. Among some of its most famous prisoners, Al Capone, convicted of tax evasion, and Robert The Birdman Stroud, convicted of murder. Alcatraz saw murderers, thieves and more, but for some reason I almost felt bad for some of these men, touring their former holding place.
Upon arrival to Alcatraz , visitors aren t shuffled into tour groups led by park rangers. Rather they re directed to the jail at the top of the island and given their own personal audio tour headset. Putting on those headphones made me forget about the swarms of people surrounding the are and listen solely to the those speaking to me.
Following the words of people rental car coupons who came here under very different circumstance, visitors are led around the entire jailhouse as well as some of its surrounding areas, while hearing some interesting stories rental car coupons about it along the way.
Like prisoners, visitors first walk down the main walkway, otherwise known as Broadway, between B and C blocks. Before being shown to their cell, new arrivals would walk down this strip and be introduced to the their new housemates. Listening to screaming men and banging on the cell bars as I walked down Broadway myself, I couldn t help but feel a bit nervous for what awaited me on this tour.
I think it was the personal stories that got to me the most. In the solitary confinement area, D block, a former rental car coupons prisoner  talks about what he would do to keep his sanity while spending days in one of the pitch black cells. His game to make the hours go by was to throw a button somewhere in the cell and try to find it in the dark. Can you imagine that being your only form of entertainment for hours, even days?
The other comments in my audio tour that really got to me were about how the prisoners could not only see across the bay, but also hear what they were missing out on. One prisoner said on New Years he could actually hear people rental car coupons laughing. All that separated these men from joining in on the fun was water and walls.
The first was made on June 11, 1962 by two brothers, Clarence and John Aglin, and one fellow rental car coupons prisoner, Frank Morris, who, like in Shawshank Redemption , chipped their way through the prison s concrete walls with a spoon, then escaped through the pipes of the prison. No one knew the three were gone until finding dummy heads made up of soap and toilet paper in their beds the following day. Allen West was the fourth conspirator in this attempt, but he discovered a metal bar blocking him through the chipped away piece of the wall he worked on. The other three left him.
The second attempt mentioned on the tours was not nearly as organized or quiet. Known as the Battle of Alcatraz , six prisoners rental car coupons overpowered cell house officers on May 2, 1946. They took the officers guns and a set of keys in an attempt to open the door to the recreational area and make a run for it. Only problem was none of the keys would work. Officers outside the prison found out and a war broke out between the armed prisoners and prison officers lasting two days. Eventually the US Marines were called out to actually bombing the prison to end the feud.
Starting in 1964 Native Americans took over the island to protest federal policies relating to Indians. Remnants from this time in the island s history can still be seen on the water tower and a sign at the entrance to the prison. Alcatraz Island was made a national recreation area in 1972. Today the National Park Service looks after the island, rental car coupons welcoming over one million visitors per year.
Any Alcatraz tour starts at Alcatraz Cruises on Pier 33 on Fisherman s Wharf. Day tours cost $28 per adult and fill up very quick, so purchase your tickets in advance at all times of year. I was there on a Saturday and they were booked until Monday. This price includes the boat ride to and from Alcatraz Island as well as the self-guided tour.The cruise is something special in its own right. On the way out to Alcatraz passengers will see sea lions, a great view of the Bay Area and the Golden Gate Bridge.
rental car coupons If you can try to get to a point on the tour when you re alone-no crowds, no visitors. rental car coupons It s a lot easier than you would think at such a huge tourists attraction. In that moment, I was finally on my own in cell block C, I got only a glimpse of the loneliness prisoners here felt over years and years, making up for their crimes. rental car coupons I m not saying these people didn t deserve their punishment, rental car coupons but I couldn t help but sympathize rental car coupons with some of the men at certain rental car coupons points of the tour.
A special thanks to Jucy Rentals USA for sponsoring my trip out West. Visit their website to start planning your own US road trip. Use the code “BobbiUSA” to receive 10% off your booking. Follow my trip right here on Heels and Wheels, as well as on Twitter , Facebook rental car coupons and Instagram .
That said, I’m more than happy to share my work if asked. All reproduced work must be attributed rental car coupons to the author and linked to Heels and Wheels. Contact me at HeelsandWheelsonline [at] gmail.com for more information.