There are only 10 sites on the island and being so accessible from the San Francisco Bay Area (only a ferry ride away from Pier 39), you can see why it is in so high demand. When I got an invite last minute from a friend I reconnected with, I had to go. I am so glad I did! The upside of being patient with how far out you make your reservation is that once the last ferry leaves, you have the island practically to yourself. It is pretty awesome.

We lucked out and the weather was perfect for our visit. We hiked around the island and explored a couple cool areas. It used to be intake for immigration and even had some military presence on the island back in the day. Lots of old buildings to explore, in addition to the awesome views of the San Francisco Bay Area from the various vista points and beaches around the island.

I definitely recommend visiting - just make sure you are aware that some sites can get windy and cold at night.