17 Mile Drive- San Francisco

17 Mile Drive is a enchanting world full of dramatic coastal cliffs, snow-white beaches, mystical forests and iconic golf courses. Discover one of the most scenic drives in the world as you meet the inspiring Lone Cypress, ponder the giant trees at Crocker Grove, digest the untouched beauty at Fanshell Beach, behold the power of the Restless Sea at Point Joe, stroll the boardwalk above the beach at Spanish Bay, and much, much more. The 17-Mile Drive gates are open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Motorcycles are prohibited.

17-Mile Drive is a scenic road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula in California, much of which hugs the Pacific coastline and passes famous golf courses, mansions and scenic attractions, including the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock and the 5,300-acre Del Monte Forest of Monterey Cypress trees.

The drive serves as the main road through the gated community of Pebble Beach. Inside this community, nonresidents have to pay a toll to use the road. Like the community, the majority of 17-Mile Drive is owned and operated by the Pebble Beach Corporation. The 17-Mile Drive is a 17-mile (27 km)-long scenic loop having four primary entrances - the main highway entrance at California State Route 1, and entrances in Carmel and Pacific Grove.

Alcatraz Island - San Francisco

Alcatraz Island is located in San Francisco, 2km from Bay.The Island was initially developed for lighthouse,Military fortification, Military prison and later on Federal Prison till 1963. It takes around half an hour to reach the Island from Bay Area. Alcatraz was designed to hold prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons. The federal prison was operational from 1934 to 1964. Due to increase in maintainence cost the prison was closed permanently. Later it was occupied by Native americans now its open for public. Many movies has been shot on the escape of alactraz namely "Escape from Alactraz" ,"Escape Alactraz.

       "Break the rules and you go to prison,break the prison rules and you go to Alcatraz"

Impression: Well organized, Many places to explore around the Island and the cellblock, All places are marked clearly. The audio tour on the island which has different languages, which is excellent stuff. There is enough time for each individual given inside the Island also can go back to what interestsyiu. Breeze may take away your loose dress, So dress accordingly :).Look for Cannons,Civil War buildings, cellblocks,SF DownTown View,Golden Gate Bridge. We dint book in advance as the tickets were sold out before 2-3 months, Somehow managed to get tickets from Hop On Hop Off tickets combined.Well Bargain does works in Bay Area for Hop on Hop Off, There are many travel agents who are helpful enough to guide and get tickets also.The lines are usually long but its well organised for smooth tour. Food and drinks also available in the tour vessels. One of the must visit places in SF. Audio tour has lot history please do not miss that!! One can get through cruises and other ships from PEIR 33, Fisherman Wharf. Many Tour packages around Fisherman Wharf , also cruise services for Island. Takes around 4-5 hrs for Island tour,Plan accordingly.

Prison Food Menu

 

Prison Kitchen

Inside the prison

Hoover Dam - Nevada

Hoover Dam initially known as Boulder Dam located in the border of Nevada and Arizona. The dam construction was completed in 1936, well before 2 years of initial plan. The dam was named after President Herbert Hoover. Its the largest reservoir. The Dam is 35 miles from Las Vegas, which would take max 1 hour from a vehicle. There are many private tours agency which operate on daily basis, also provide different packages based on number of days. hours our interest. The famous helicopter ride is very famous and if your ready to shell out some more dollars!!. Dam is open to public all days, 9AM to 5PM, plan your day accordingly. The museum, the huge turbines, blue waters, Dam gates etc to look for. The initial 10 mins video which tells the history, the making of dam in detail. They say 100 people lost lives while constructing the dam and initially the workers were paid $1 per hour. Hoover dam is one of the tourist attractions around Las Vegas. The Gigantic turbines which generates electricity for public and private utilities. The main purpose of the dam was Power, flood control, water storage, regulation, recreation. Its still functional and the construction cost was $47 million in 1931. It was targeted in the World War-2 by German's. History says no one was buried alive in the concrete. One of the biggest dam I have ever seen. All the daily activities are well maintained.