From the infamous Alcatraz Island and Fort Point to a storied indie bookstore and the San Francisco Cable Car Museum, keep scrolling to find out what makes this west coast city unique. Maybe you’ll even get a little travel inspiration, too!

Incredible Adventures is a small family owned and operated business based in the heart of San Francisco. As the greenest tour company in the city, we pride ourselves on offering travelers a safe and reliable way to connect with the nature and history of our hometown and surrounding areas. There’s no need to worry about your carbon footprint. With us, we’ll offset it with our biodiesel fueled vehicles!

We understand how precious vacations are, and that’s why our San Francisco tours are no-fuss, flexible excursions that show you the highlights of the city with our local knowledge. If you’d like to hear more about what we do, get in touch.

But for now, let’s look at some of San Francisco’s most historic landmarks.

Do Time at the Historic Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz is a must-see for any history buff visiting San Francisco. Converted into a federal prison in 1934, the island is famous for holding notorious gangsters like Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the “Birdman of Alcatraz”), and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

While the prison closed in 1963, it is a fascinating site of protest and history. Embark on a fifteen-minute ferry ride to Alcatraz for amazing views of the classic San Francisco skyline, including the red arches of the Golden Gate Bridge and Angel Island.

If you’re brave enough, join us on our Alcatraz Night Tour & San Francisco Bay Tour to encounter ‘The Rock’ by moonlight. The night shift gives visitors exclusive access to parts of the former jail not open to the public by day. The multi-language audio tour “Doing Time” paints a vivid scene with interviews with former inmates.

Uncover Defense History at Fort Point

Fort Point is a must-see for military enthusiasts. Also known as “the pride of the Pacific”, Fort Point’s exemplary mason work was constructed at the height of the California Gold Rush. Designed as part of a naval defense system, the Fort was positioned to protect the bay against a Confederate attack from the sea that never came.

The Fort has seen many uses in its history. In World Wars I and II, it became active once more. In WWI, it was designed as a detention barracks but remained unused. In WWII, soldiers were stationed to guard the entrance of Golden Gate from potential submarine attacks.

If you’d like to grab a cool one after your tour, Fort Point is now home to a local brewery — the Fort Point Beer Company — just a twenty-minute walk from the historic site. Grab a beer and head down to Golden Gate Beach and look out over the bay with Alcatraz in the distance.

Learn about Literary History at City Lights Bookstore

This iconic bookstore is the symbol of the 1950s Beat Generation. Founded in 1953 in North Beach by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, City Lights gained notoriety when it faced charges of obscenity for publishing Allen Ginsberg’s Howl.

City Lights gained its iconic status as a place where counterculture came to flourish. Once host to Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady, among dozens of other famous writers, visitors can now search its three levels of books for a classic or drop in for a night of poetry.

Once you’ve chosen your next vacation read, take a cab or a stroll down to Haight-Ashbury, the nexus of the 60s hippie movement. Here you can get a flavor of Woodstock and check out the Grateful Dead House or Jimmy Hendrix’s former red house. Speaking of houses, look out for the colorful Victorian Painted Ladies on your way.

Hop Aboard Living History at The San Francisco Cable Car Museum

If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to take a cable car while wearing flowers in your hair! Nothing will get you up and down the hilly streets in style like a ride on a cable car. There are three lines still in operation, but if you want to learn more about this mode of transport, visit the Cable Car Museum.

At this working museum, you can watch the engines and winding wheels pull the cables of these cars into motion. Compare the cable cars of today with the preserved cars of the past and learn all about the grips, cables, and brakes that keep these cars running.

Did we mention the museum is free? Our local tip is to avoid waiting in line by walking to the next cable car stop and board en route, wherever you see the brown and white cable car sign.

Explore the Historic Sutro Baths

If you want to extend your historic tour after Alcatraz, head on down to the Sutro Baths. Its ruins are located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and, while they’re not open for swimming, the baths offer an insight into public pastimes of years gone by.

The Sutro Baths were opened in 1896 by the former San Francisco mayor Adolph Sutro and advertised as the world’s largest indoor swimming pool. The high running costs saw it transformed into an ice rink and an apartment complex was planned before the building was lost in an arson attack.

The nearby Cliff House was also owned by Sutro and is an example of neo-classical architecture. The building has been rebuilt several times and has been a roadhouse, a penny arcade, and a restaurant complex until its closure in 2020.

Today, visitors can look at the site of former glory and stroll along the beach absorbing the eerie atmosphere.

Taste Local Flavors at the Ferry Building Marketplace

Walk up to the Ferry Building and stand beneath the dramatic clock tower that overlooks the San Francisco waterfront. Once a central hub for visitors on ferry boats to the city in the Gold Rush era, the building has been converted into a vibrant marketplace and food hall full of local foods, wines, and music.

The farmers market runs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The plentiful stalls offer everything from fresh meat, eggs, and vegetables to flowers, herbs, and jams. Step inside the Ferry Building’s historic walls and experience new flavors among the thronging crowd.

If you’re a wine connoisseur looking for a calmer crowd, why not head out to Napa and Sonoma on our Wine Country Tour? Delicious grapes await in these idyllic vineyards. Cheers!

Step Back in Time at The Walt Disney Family Museum

There’s more than a mouse in the house! The Walt Disney Family Museum is a great place for families to explore the history of the world-renowned American animator. Also located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, visitors can enjoy the interactive exhibits and a 12-foot diameter model of Disneyland.

Learn about what made Walt tick and take in the impressive collection of more than 248 awards he won during his career, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. There’s a theater on the lower level that screens daily Disney movies, so grab some popcorn for your visit and spend a few hours reliving your childhood or making new memories with your kids.

And that brings us to our close of some of our local favorites We hope this list has inspired you to start chartering your map around San Francisco’s historic hotspots. Whether you’re looking for a multi-day tour of San Francisco or a tour that’s customized to your needs, let us know! We’re here to make sure your San Francisco adventure is a dream come true.

If you’re looking for a minibreak from the hustle and bustle of the city streets, our Yosemite National Park tours will be a breath of fresh air. Just a four-hour drive from San Francisco, Yosemite’s ancient sequoia trees and granite cliffs are waiting for you via our environmentally friendly biofuel mini-coaches.

In the meantime, we’ll be waiting in the City of Fog to welcome you to our shores, whether you arrive by ferry boat, plane, or cable car.

Save Big with Incredible Adventures!

These are just a few of the best things to do in San Francisco; you can find more places to visit on our blog. Incredible Adventures offers fantastic San Francisco tours and experiences. We are currently offering discounts on all of our tours when you book your trip in advance.

• Book 90 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 20% with the code EARLY90.
• Book 60 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 15% with the code EARLY60.
• Book 30 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 10% with the code EARLY30.

Feel free to call us at 415-642-7378 if you have any questions about our discounts or tours.

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Muir Woods Tour and San Francisco Tours

Since Muir Woods is so close to San Francisco, many of our tours can take you to multiple locations in one trip. Muir Woods is a must-see destination for anyone staying in the city and a unique opportunity to walk amongst some of the tallest trees in the world. We have options to pair your Muir Woods tour with a trip to the seaside Mediterannean-style town of Sausalito. Or opt for the ultimate San Francisco experience with a trip to Muir Woods, Sausalito, Alcatraz, and Aquarium of the Bay in one epic tour!

• Muir Woods and Sausalito Half-Day Tour
• Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour + Alcatraz Day Tour and Aquarium

Muir Woods and Wine Country Tours

If you have always dreamt of visiting wine country, we have excellent tour options for you at Incredible Adventures. We have three Muir Woods tours that include a trip to wine country in your tour. Choose to spend an entire day in wine country with our combo tour or get a taste of Napa and Sonoma during a day trip. If you would like to see all of these attractions in one trip then select the Muir Woods with Sonoma +Alcatraz and Aquarium tour. This trip allows you to experience four of the best attractions in the area at one convenient price.

• Muir Woods & Wine Country Overnight Combo Tour
• Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Country
• Muir Woods with Sonoma Wine Country + Alcatraz Tour and Aquarium

Choose Our San Francisco Tour Company

Wander through ancient groves of redwoods with one of our Muir Woods tours at Incredible Adventures. Most of our tours combine several attractions within the Bay Area. So, whether you are interested in pairing your tour with a trip to wine country or Sausalito, we have something for everyone!

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Why Choose Incredible Adventures?

Since Alcatraz Island is one of the most visited areas in San Francisco, there are many tour companies to choose from in the area. Incredible Adventures gives you the option to combine your Alcatraz tour with other exciting activities. Your tour can include a trip to places like wine country, Muir Woods, Silicon Valley, and even Yosemite. All of our tours provide transportation, your Alcatraz tour ticket, meals, and a knowledgeable guide. We are an excellent choice if you want to embark on the best Alcatraz tour while also seeing some of the most popular attractions around San Francisco.

What Can I Expect at Alcatraz?

Your Alcatraz tour will begin with a short ferry ride from San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront. The ferry ride provides beautiful views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. The tour starts with a brief history of the island before you will enter the infamous prison. At this point, you will embark on a self-guided audio tour titled “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour.” The audio will recount stories from inmates and employees of the penitentiary. Hearing the voices of people who experienced the prison truly brings history to life. After the audio tour, feel free to explore the island further with a ranger-led tour before catching a ferry back to the city.

What Makes the Best Alcatraz Tour?

We offer several of the best Alcatraz tours that take you to several popular destinations near San Francisco. If you are visiting the city for the first time, we recommend our Two Day San Francisco City Tour + Alcatraz Island tour. And if you want to avoid the crowds at The Rock during the day, choose one of our Alcatraz night tours instead. Discover all of our tours of Alcatraz Island here and learn all about this historic site in San Francisco with Incredible Adventures.

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Incredible Adventures: Alcatraz and Yosemite Day Tour

This awesome tour with us will be an unforgettable experience as you venture to some of the most iconic places in California. Below, you can learn more about what this tour will entail, and discover why going through Incredible Adventures is the right choice when it comes to going on not just a tour of Alcatraz but of anywhere throughout the United States. 

This tour really has it all, including an Alcatraz Day Tour or an Alcatraz Night Tour, complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off, knowledgeable tour guides, entrance to the Aquarium of the Bay and Yosemite Valley, as well as three hours of free time in Yosemite Valley. Our tour guides will also bring you on a narrated in-coach tour of Yosemite that lasts for about 90 minutes so that you can learn all about the park. 

Let’s get to the most exciting part: the tour of Alcatraz. Whether you choose to go during the day or night, you’ll get the full Alcatraz experience. When you’re at the prison, you’ll hear an abundance of interesting stories and be able to see how the prisoners lived, the food they ate, the bathrooms they had to use, and what life was like living at the prison. Day tours cost about $39, and night tours cost about $45, and they’re worth every buck!

After the exciting tour of Alcatraz, you’ll head to Yosemite at the Aquarium of the Bay. Spend a good chunk of time surrounded by the true beauty of Yosemite National Park that has been wowing visitors for over 125 years. With rushing waterfalls, massive granite monoliths, extensive valleys, and towering ancient sequoias, it’s the perfect place to get some gorgeous photos and enjoy nature. At the Aquarium of the Bay, you’ll be able to see over 20,000 sea creatures, including colorful fish, eels, sharks, sea lions, octopuses, and so much more. The Aquarium at the Bay is perfect for all ages!

To learn more about this tour, including pricing, head to the Incredible Adventures website.

Incredible Adventures

Incredible Adventures has been bringing people on exquisite tours all over the nation, each unique from one another. Whether you’re interested in seeing some of the most beautiful parks and staples of the nation, or want to adventure on bikes, boats, and more at some of the most gorgeous destinations in the country, Incredible Adventures has you covered. We have hundreds of tours that we bring families and friends on throughout the entire year, so be sure to book with us when you’re feeling adventurous. Visit the Incredible Adventures website for a complete list of tours and destinations, or call us at 1-800-777-8464 with any questions!

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Book your Alcatraz Tickets Months or Weeks in Advance

If you’d like to book directly through the Alcatraz Cruises website, you’ll need to do so well in advance. High season for Alcatraz tickets is from June-August. Tickets can be sold out for weeks or even months prior to departure! In fact, June just started and tickets for the Alcatraz night tour are not available until mid/late-August. And let us tell you, that sunset from Alcatraz is spectacular, and does a phenomenal job of really setting the mood. Lucky for you, we have an allocation of Night Tour tickets, so please do read on

Find Alcatraz Tickets for Sold Out Days, or Only Several Days in Advance

Incredible Adventures is given an allotment of Alcatraz tickets from the National Park Service each month! We receive both day and night options to accommodate different requests and schedule needs. Two things that are very important to note though:

1. We MUST package these Alcatraz tickets with one of our tours. We’re a one-stop shop if you were already planning on visiting Yosemite National Park, Muir Woods, Wine Country, Silicon Valley, etc. We even can package Alcatraz tickets with Hop-On-Hop-Off options  or a quick Muir Woods and Sausalito tour if you’re without the flexibility to leave the city for more than a day. Tickets are no more expensive than buying directly through Alcatraz’s website. We’re just here to facilitate a chance to see make it over there!
2. Tickets must be arranged through Incredible Adventures at least four days in advance! We have to turn in our “manifest” to the parks service 4 days before departure. Ordering your Alcatraz tickets through Incredible Adventures works best at LEAST a week out, if not earlier.

Already in town and Alcatraz tickets appear to be sold out?

Wait… You want to go tomorrow?! Well, you still have options. They aren’t great, but you do have options!

Rise and Shine! If you are interested in lining up at Pier 33 at 5am on the morning of your desired tour date there is a last-chance option for you. Alcatraz Cruises releases up to 50 tickets the morning of the tour, on a first-come/first-served basis and subject to availability. Everyone in your party must be present to receive a ticket, so gather the troops, get a big commuter mug of coffee, and make a morning out of it. You won’t know what time of day your tour will be until you get it, so make sure you account for that in your day’s plans. All part of the experience, right?

Resellers.  The only legit way to get tickets within 4 days of the ferry tour is through Alcatraz Cruises at pier 33. But, just like at a sports arena or a music venue, Fisherman’s Wharf often has ticket scalpers offering last-minute Alcatraz ferry tickets at a high price. You may be thinking, “hmm, that seems a bit sketchy…” – that’s because it can be!  Incredible Adventures doesn’t recommend this option. ALWAYS use your best judgment. Trust your sources. There are plenty of scammers out there taking advantage of unsuspecting tourists.

Moral of the story: Plan ahead. We can help. Join Incredible Adventures on a tour to maximize your time in the Bay Area. Explore More. Explore Often. See it all! And follow these tips for your best shot at Alcatraz Tickets.

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