Almost 150 people braved the cold and boarded the first ferry in more than three months to visit Alcatraz on the morning of March 15.
They would be the first visitors in a year to enter the cellblock, the main attraction on a trip to the rock.
Alcatraz, the historic island prison off San Francisco, opened up Monday for a limited number of indoor tours, which had been off-limits for more than a year due to the pandemic.
The National Park Service, Marin County Parks and community partners including One Tam and the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy will be leading a variety of projects throughout Marin County this spring and fall aiming to bring western monarch butterflies back from the brink of possible extinction.
“Seeing the return of natural landscapes is a very inspiring thing,” said Christine Lehnertz, president and CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, which has worked to bring these and other projects in the Presidio to pass. “One piece at a time adds up to so much more.”
The Rock's is full of unexpected finds, among them is a rare and tenacious rose. And this rose has a remarkable story.
"There's less people around, so you can kind of enjoy San Francisco almost like a local," said Santos, standing in line for the Alcatraz ferry on her third visit to the city. "It's a little bit refreshing, actually."
Here’s how a desolate rock in the middle of San Francisco Bay became a tourist hotspot—and horticultural haven.
The move comes after the National Park Service, which owns Alcatraz, has been steadily reopening other national parks, including Yosemite, Muir Woods, Sequoia-Kings Canyon, Pinnacles and others, often with reduced visitation and closed visitor centers.
Two peregrine falcons are doing what few creatures in history have decided to do — take up residence on Alcatraz by choice and start a family. The falcons enjoy the fabled prison site so much they built themselves a nest on the west side of the island — believed to...
"It’s an escape from what’s going on out in the world," said Muir Woods visitor Barbi Martinez. "But it’s also a reminder that there’s beauty."
#8: San Francisco Golden Gate National Recreation Area includes spectacular spots such as the Presidio (forests, a lake and dozens of miles for hiking and biking). Also check out national parks Crissy Field, and Lands End, which offers a windy cliff trail and stunning views of the shore and Golden Gate.
Predictions of a mental health crisis following on COVID-19’s heels present not only a challenge for the health care community, but an opportunity to explore seemingly less conventional options more fully. What role might public lands hold for a population looking to heal from social, financial and societal upheaval?
