by MiS11

Created on: July 29, 2009   Last Updated: September 10, 2009

Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, Haight-Ashbury, and Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory. What do these places have in common? They are all in San Francisco, California, the city by the bay!

Alcatraz, or otherwise referred to as The Rock, was a maximum security, federal penitentiary that housed the most wicked criminal elements of its era. The former prison is located on an island in the San Francisco Bay area. Accessible only by boat, or ferry; it is the only penitentiary that boasts a record of no inmate escapes, not that there were not multiple attempts, most of whom drowned in the Bay area, or were shot before getting off the island. One of Alcatraz most famous criminals, Al Capone, was said to have run his bootlegging and gambling rackets from behind the iron bars, before developing syphilis and dying. Visitors, as well as guards of Alcatraz have been known to hear men chatting, screaming, and doors clanging while touring the former prison. Robert Stroud, known as the birdman of Alcatraz is still heard whistling to his flock throughout the facility to this day. Due to the many deaths that occurred there, some say the ghosts of past prisoners still walk and haunt the halls.

Golden Gate Recreational Park surrounds the San Francisco Bay area and is over two times the size of the city. Whether you want to play tennis, golf, enjoy boating and/or fishing, you can do it all at Golden Gate Park. This recreational area has it all, from a children's carrousel, conservatory, and botanical gardens to a science academy, art studio, brewery and diner. Since Golden Gate is a national park, funded in part by the federal government, the cost to attend is quite minimal. In fact, if you want to sleep outdoors under the stars at the Golden Gate campground, you can stay for as little as twenty-five dollars a night! This includes usage of campground facilities, including showers, restrooms, and charcoal grills. Not bad for a night in San Francisco, is it? Not only is Golden Gate Recreational Park a national monument, but also one of the only complimentary places to visit in San Francisco.

Ocean Beach sits adjacent to Golden Gate Recreational Park, and boasts a spectacular view of the renowned Golden Gate Bridge. The best time to visit this Pacific coastline is during the late fall, or early spring, when the California fog lifts and gives way to the magnificent views of the majestic seashore and rising tides. Ocean Beach is well-known for its tough currents and fierce waves,

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