Have you been to The Rock?

Oh it is so true... We only go to the Rock to accompany our friends and family. Before leaving I'm urging them to bring extra layers of clothing no matter how warm it may seem in the Mission or in Marin. They are always thankful of the reminder when the wind is blowing through the Gate with the fog close on it's heels. I think we all need to visit it once in awhile to renew appreciation of our town, not unlike going to Fisherman's Wharf now and again. My M.O. is to go there on a rainy day in December/January when the streets are wet and pretty much empty.

You know what is strange, even though I have here for over twenty years, I never went to Alcatraz before I came here and I have never actually taken anyone there. A couple of times when we had guests we set out to go there with my family, but we're all a bit flaky so when we actually got there we just never ended up going for one reason or another.

Lucky you, Owl. I seem to get dragged there at least once a year by one visitor or another. If I have to go through that tour of the cells one more time and hear the same tired stories about the Birdman of Alcatraz... I tell you, its like a life sentence!

I must admit that I've only been there once, but don't you guys appreciate the history of the place. I mean the pop culture stuff is pretty lame, but Native American protests that went on there are pretty intereseting, no?

I guess that's true enough. It's just that when you're there, it is never really with a group of interested people. It's usually just a bunch of fairly bored tourists who ask things like, "So where is the Rock? You know, the place where that Nicholas Cage movie took place?"

I was thinking of going this weekend, being new to the area. I bet with my newbie eyes I'll probably love it. Like going to the Statue of Liberty in N.Y. or the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Go for it. As I mentioned above I've never been, but sometime I might head out there too. I think I might enjoy it.

@IpGirl: I second NightOwl's sentiment, go for it! I know that I'm jaded. I grew up hear so I really have no idea what it is like to see the Wharf for the "first time." I was probably there in Moma Flower's womb at some point.

In other words, don't let me ruin it for you.

@IpanemaGirlSF: You have probably figured this out already living in the city as you do but bring a jacket. It can get pretty knippy out there from what I understand.

It definitely does get cold out there.

I used to live in NYC, and only went to the Empire State Building when I had visitors in town (just like everyone else). Alcatraz is kind of the same way - I have a distinct memory of going with my family when I was around 12 and came to visit from the East Coast, but have not been back since. Funny enough, the visit to the Rock came right around the time that I said to myself "I want to live here when I grow up." Go figure.