For a structure that served the purpose that made it famous for less than 30 years, Alcatraz is an enduring monument to a bygone era.

By the time it first came into use as a U.S. Federal Penitentiary in 1934 prohibition had already ended. (Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to outlaw the sale of alcoholic beverages was passed in January 1919, but repealed in December 1933.) Nonetheless, Alcatraz’ most famous figure from that activity, Al Capone, took up ‘residence’ from 1934 to 1939, when he was released.

Arriving not long after Capone’s release was another prisoner, almost as well known. Robert Stroud was transferred from Leavenworth in 1942. Nicknamed the ‘Birdman of Alcatraz’, he wrote several books both before and during his incarceration. (The nickname was popularized by a best-selling book and subsequent film.) Ironically, he kept no birds at Alcatraz.

But apart from its inmates, the prison offered several reasons for its fame, or infamy.

Long isolated, the island a few miles off the coast of San Francisco housed a military prison beginning in 1907. In the early 1930s Federal prison system officials decided to use the location to hold its most hardened criminal detainees. It was thought that the cold, rapidly moving currents off the coast would discourage escape attempts.

Even so, many tried. Evidence of the results – bullet holes and blood stains – can still be seen on some of the walls.

Guards were hired that were thought to be much less subject to bribes. When Capone arrived and attempted it, he was thrown into solitary confinement. Prisoner’s were entitled to food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. All else was a privilege to be earned by good behavior.

After its closure in 1963 (among other problems, the facility was twice as costly to maintain as other prisons), the island was mostly unused for the next 10 years.

In 1973, Alcatraz was incorporated into the burgeoning National Parks system and began its career as a tourist attraction. Since then, over 14 million visitors have taken the 10-minute boat ride from Pier 41 to see ‘The Rock’.

The tour encompasses an introductory video explaining the history of the prison and the island. At the site are books, audio guides and other items. Tour guides then direct the group up the hill to the cellhouse.

The audio guide contains former correctional officers and inmates describing what life was like at the prison. Tour guides provide interesting commentary while visitors explore Al Capone’s cell and other areas.

Touring after dark is especially good for getting a sense of the dismal living conditions. Since San Francisco stays light in the summer long after the tour leaves, that can only be done in winter. But conditions then are particularly unpleasant, so decide how much authenticity you want to experience.

Both the boat rides to and from, as well as the island itself can be windy and cold, so dress appropriately. Of course, San Francisco can get quite warm in the summer, as well. Dress in layers. Between the ride and the tour a great deal of standing and walking is involved, not all of it on level ground. Be prepared for some exercise.

Tickets generally sell out, sometimes weeks in advance. Plan ahead by purchasing from Blue and Gold Fleet at www.blueandgoldfleet.com or call the number listed at the site.

There are over six million people in the San Francisco area, with 750,000 in the Bay Area itself. Nestled within that vast sea of individuals is a conclave known around the world as Chinatown. Most large U.S. cities (and many outside) have a ‘Chinatown’. But, including even New York, the most authentic is unquestionably that of San Francisco.

In an area near North Beach, bound roughly by Grant Avenue and Bush Street, Broadway and Larkin Street, lies a population of the ancestors of 19th century immigrants from China. They arrived literally by the boatload, seeking freedom and fortune during the post-1849 Gold Rush and the building of the Transcontinental Railroads.

Home to the largest Asian population outside China, the exact number is virtually impossible to state. As a consequence of legislation to limit Chinese immigration via the Chinese Exclusion Act, and other social factors, the residents often avoid census taking. Passed in 1882, and extended and revised several times, the Act wasn’t completely voided until 1965.

Today the area still holds many people, shops, temples and housing that would not look odd to a visitor from those bygone days. Even so, virtually everything was rebuilt from scratch after the great earthquake of 1906.

Along Grant Street there are souvenir shops and restaurants with English translations on the menu. Those not fully prepared for complete immersion may be more comfortable here. One block west on Stockton the visitor can find the Chinatown’s Chinatown – crowded, noisy and bursting at the seams with genuine Chinese food and wares. It’s delightful.

Among the many restaurants in the area there are those that serve primarily tourists, and others where completely authentic Chinese food can be had. New Asia may be one of the few that has managed to do both.

Here,too, is located the heavily visited Mee Mee Bakery (at 1328 Stockton between Broadway and Vallejo). Mee Mee’s is reputed to be the originator of the fortune cookie. Looking around, one can easily believe it. The wonderful smells and sights make it a front runner for that honor.

But Chinatown has much more than food and colorful trinkets. These dozen square blocks house a busy hospital, highly rated Chinese and American schools, newspaper publishers and even tennis courts.

On Waverly Street visitors can find a ‘joss’ (good luck) paper store or see authentic Chinese architectural designs. The street still bears signs of its former existence as home to opium dens and brothels, but only architecturally. Many were housed under pagoda style roofs of intricate design.

Socially, the residents mingle and trade stories about when you could get a haircut for 15 cents. Listen carefully and you’ll hear the outpourings of one of the neighborhood music clubs.

Be sure to visit the Buddha’s Universal Church. One of the younger structures (it was dedicated in 1962), the concrete and steel, marble and wood exterior holds many unusual sights.

The gold leaf and mosaic tiles on the interior lend a cool contrast to the teak paneled walls. Finally, the rooftop garden makes for a stellar completion to a visit to San Francisco’s Chinatown.

Bring your walking shoes and be prepared to take back lots of gifts and a full stomach. Chinatown is the real deal.

In 1937, then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in the White House. That simple action officially announced an event much of the world was already anticipating: the opening of The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. After four years of construction and a cost of millions of dollars and many lives, one of the world’s greatest bridges had been born.

With a span of 4,200 feet (1280m), a record that stood for 27 years, and two 746 ft (227m) towers the six lane bridge crosses the Golden Gate strait in San Francisco Bay. The span record lasted until the completion of the Verrazano Narrows bridge connecting Brooklyn to Staten Island in 1964 and is still disputed owing to differences in the way measurements are made.

Stretching across some of the most treacherous waters in the world, it connects the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County near Sausalito. The Art Deco-themed suspension bridge masterfully conquers that challenge with aesthetic grace and brilliant engineering.

The brainchild of Joseph Strauss, he outlived his creation by only a year. But before he died the genius overcame obstacles nearly everyone had declared insurmountable.

At the time of its construction it was the largest suspension bridge in the world erected over a body of cold, swift-current water 400 ft (122m) deep. The bridge towers remained the world’s tallest until recently.

Strauss spent over 10 years attempting to get approval for the project. The financing alone took three years to arrange and wasn’t entirely paid off until 34 years later. The $35 million bonds paid their holders $39 million additional in interest over the period entirely covered by bridge tolls.

But money was the least of Strauss’ problems in erecting the structure. Always concerned with safety, Strauss reduced the death toll on construction by stringing a large net under the entire span. Though 11 men were killed during construction, 19 were saved by its use. 10 of the deaths occurred as a result of net failure after a scaffolding fell.

Painted in a brilliant orange, the roadway was so popular that even prior to the official opening hundreds of thousands of visitors crowded the span for a look. It remains so today. Millions of vehicles have crossed since 1937.

The only road exiting north of San Francisco, traffic on the bridge is constant day and night. Its walkways are still often traversed by pedestrians and bicyclists.

Built to withstand some of the strongest winds buffeting any bridge in the world, the span survives the challenge by aid of its enormous cables and massive anchorages. The cables are 36.5 inches (92.7cm) thick, the anchors sunk in solid rock filled with 30,000 cubic yards of concrete to hold the towers.

Strauss’ confidence in his design was vindicated long after his passing. In 1951 the bridge had to be closed to traffic due to gale force winds of seventy miles per hour. Though the deck swayed twenty-four feet (7.3m) from side-to-side and five feet (1.5m) up and down, it survived with only minor damage.

The Golden Gate Bridge forms part of U.S. Highway 101, California Highway 1, but can be reached via Route 30 from Fisherman’s Wharf to Route 28.

Monument Valley is a National Park that celebrates the Navajo way of life. It is one of the most breathtaking views in the United States and is famous for its landscape that has been featured in many motion pictures. Completely within the Navajo reservation, the journey to get to the area will take you on a paved road that intersects the border of Utah and Arizona. Though there are various services available to explore the more difficult areas to get to in the area such as horseback riding and guided tours; if you are visiting the monument valley, using your own vehicle to travel is the norm. RUVs and cars with low clearance may create trouble on these unpaved roads and the road becomes impassable owing to heavy rains except for a 4 wheel drive.

With opening times set at 6 am May through September, if you are looking for some stunning photographs, head on to this 17 mile long drive, 13 miles of which is a one-way loop. Most views of the buttes can be fascinating as they look different from different sides. Compared to places such as the Grand Canyon, this park certainly holds its own for stunning scenery. Featured among the landscape are the buttes that tower over the rest of the countryside as well as the signature reddish orange soil that marks the entire area. The park’s claim to fame is its sparse beauty that is interrupted only by the few trails leading to the Navajo settlement.

Traverse steep and rocky hillside with a Navajo guided tour to get to some of the most renowned formations at Monument valley: West Mitten, East Mitten and Merrick Buttes. The Mitchell Mesa rising 1000 feet above borders the flat land and brings you closer to nature than you ever believed possible. The Elephant Butte that has badlands deep red in color beneath it is a breath taking sight. One side has high, sheer – sided sandstone and the other side is a tapering ridge. Though not exactly of the shape of an elephant, lengthened shadows of the afternoon sun do add to the familiarity! The most photographed Totem Pole is a spire of 450 feet high rock, which is just a few meters in width.

If you have been an avid fan of old Western flicks, you cannot leave the monument valley without visiting the John Ford’s point. John Ford was a director who used this area, now named for him, in many of his movies from 1939 to 1960. Most of the miles at the start of the valley drive showcase the best of desert land – miles of uneven, undulating desert with a number of isolated peaks in the background. One such site that has a plateau overlooking the desert land has been used often in the movies.

However, if you are looking for more than just the buttes and the desert land, then there are ancient caves and cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and natural arches and eroded rock formations as well. All of these are isolated and away from the valley drive and can be experienced as a part of guided tours through back trails. Even as a drive for the family, it is awe-inspiring for the long straight empty road across flat barren desert leading towards a stark red cliff 1000 foot high curving ahead on the horizon!