INFORMATION If you go

If you go to Alcatraz, buy your tickets days in advance and plan on coming early in the day. Ferries leave about every 30 minutes from San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf through midafternoon, and it is not unusual for them to sell out. It's also advisable to come in the morning because the island gets crowded very quickly.Although ferry tickets specify when you arrive at the Alcatraz, you can leave at any time, up until 4:30 p.m. when the last boat leaves. Also, dress warmly. The island can get cold because of the wind and water.Tickets are available online and by phone through the Blue & amp; Gold Fleet, the ferry contracted by the National Park Service to provide Alcatraz service.The cost, as of November 2001, was $13.25 for an adult with an audiotape tour and $9.25 without the tour, with discounts for children and seniors.Blue & amp; Gold also offers a pricier "Alcatraz After Dark" tour that is fully escorted and allows a nighttime glance of the island.Visitors interested in seeing nearby Angel Island, which is known as the "Ellis Island of the West," can buy a combination ticket package that provides transportation to both islands.On the Web: www.nps.gov