Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz was a federal prison from 1934 to 1963 and held some of the country's most notorious inmates, including Al Capone. In June 1962, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin slipped out through tunnels they'd dug behind their cells, leaving dummy heads made of plaster and real hair in their beds. They were never found.

From 1969 to 1971, Native American activists occupied the island, and their painted messages are still visible today. The lighthouse was the first on the West Coast.

Tours often sell out, so book ahead through the official link on the National Park Service site and avoid resellers. The walk up to the cellhouse is steep, and it's windy on the water, so bring a jacket.