we received an email that we had to pick up our Alcatraz tickets the day before our tour, which meant an extra trip down to the waterfront . We attempted to call their office twice and we were unable to talk to a real person, which was very annoying. When we got to the Big Bus Tour office on the day of the tour, we discovered that It was not necessary to come the day before. Not great Big Bus Tours!
Having said that, we enjoyed both segments of the trip. We went to Muir Woods in the morning with a great guide named Charles. He gave us lots of history along the way, which was very informative and he manoeuvred the windy road up to the woods with ease.
The trip through Muir Woods is a self guided tour and you are given plenty of time to explore. Muir Woods is magnificent and there are some very large redwood trees. It is a quiet place to reflect on the magnificent beauty around you. I enjoyed it immensely!
We returned to Fisherman’s Wharf and we had several hours before our boat left for Alcatraz. There are lots of restaurants to find lunch and then it is about a half kilometre walk to Pier 33, where the boat leaves for Alcatraz.
This is another self guided tour. There is about a 20 minute ferry ride to the Island and when you arrive, a ranger gives you a bit of an introductory talk. You have to walk uphill to the cell block where the Audio tour starts. You are expected to walk up the hill unless you have a mobility issue, which prevents you from walking but there is a tram you can take if you have mobility problems.
The Audio Tour of the cell block was fascinating and the views of San Fransisco and the bridges are breathtaking. The walk down was easy and there were stops along the way, where you could take pictures. You can also stay as long as you want and the Ferry back leaves about every 15 minutes. I would highly recommend this tour.