Rock of All Ages
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BLOCK ISLAND TOURISM COUNCIL
Fifty-three years after its closure, Alcatraz has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. For Chuck Stucker Stucker, whose father was a guard at the notorious prison, the island was simply home.
assateague island, maryland and virginia The sands are constantly shapeshifting thanks to the wind and waves, making this barrier island a fascinating place to explore by dune buggy. But the biggest draw is the wild horses. Book a pony-watching tour to spot them relaxing on the beach or grazing in the swampy marshes.
hatteras island, north carolina At 42 miles long, this stretch of the Outer Banks offers the largest track of undeveloped beach on the East Coast. Discover the best surfing and kiteboarding on the Atlantic, and peer up at night to take in the dark skies above the country’s first national seashore.
block island, rhode island Rent a moped and zip to the secluded Mohegan Bluffs, 150-foot clay cliffs with dramatic views of the Atlantic (they’re often compared to the green cliffs of Ireland). The steep descent to the beach is worth the effort, even if the surf is too rough for swimming. Look for the clay mud baths that serve as a natural spa.
inmates weren’t a big thing. They were just adults. We never thought much of them unless they were pointed out, like Al Capone. But barring those unique things, most kids didn’t pay any attention to the inmates. They didn’t cause trouble, and sometimes they gave us a ball or something if the guards would let them. There were only maybe 60 families and 100 kids, from babies to late teens, living on the island. We didn’t lock our doors. We didn’t have any fear about anything, really. It was just a small community where we knew everyone, had great Halloween parties, had great Christmas parties. Every day, we took a boat to go to school in San Francisco. Coming home, you always went through the metal detector on the dock, and then you went up the stairs or took the bus if you had to. The inmates were held about 70, 80 feet away, behind a yellow line on the dock. When I moved off Alcatraz, in 1953, I was 13 or 14. My father retired, and we moved into the city. I’ve known a lot of people who grew up there, and many have said it was the best time of their lives. We had the privilege to live in a place that allowed us to be kids and at the same time hold a unique status. Chuck Stucker lives in Roseville, California. august 2016 southwest 49
F3 Feature_Islands_DE+DWR.indd 49
07/19/16 11:52 AM