I am planning a trip to San Fran and wanted to take a tour of Alcatraz. I am wondering if all the tours are self guided with the audio cassett or can you get a tour with a tour guide?

hello sandy!
going over on the boat has its own little ranger-guided tour immediately after docking on the island, walking you up to the main building. then you can proceed alone, or get the audio tour. the audio tour of alcatraz is fantastic! real ex-inmates and guards narrating. i highly recommend it.
they may have small tours posted for whoever would like to go (free). example, if you'd like to hear the speil about the cell doors & their workings, they do that a few times a day.

one big bit of advice: book as early as possible. the tickets sell out weeks in advance during the high tourist season.

also, if you can stand a little cold, the evening/night tour is fun. same audio tour with the added chill of night time and the gorgeous city lights across the water.

Alyssa,
Thanks for the confirmation of my recollection of Alcatraz tours. It's been several years since I've been on one, but I remember the audio tours as being well done, and optional tours available with guides.