Angel Island BBQs
Angel Island Immigration Station was, from January 21, 1910 to November 5, 1940, an immigration station located in San Francisco Bay, California where immigrants entering the United States were detained and interrogated. The island was originally a fishing and hunting site for Coastal Miwok Indians, then it was a haven for Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala, later it was constructed as a cattle ranch and then served as a U.S. Army post starting with the Civil War.
Angel Island
Angel Island State Park is a great sailing destination with its rich and diverse history, wildlife and beautiful views of the City and Bay.
We arrange team-building sails that include a picnic or barbecue on Angel Island.
We combine great sailing with excellent food and drink on the island. We have arranged wine-tastings, scavenger hunts, and hikes around this beautiful island.
Sailing to Angel Island, taking in the sights, having a great barbecue or picnic, and sailing back under the Golden Gate Bridge is a wonderful way to spend the day.
Corporate teams use this day to celebrate new product releases, to reward work done on a tough project, or just to provide more bonding and cohesion in a group.
Angel Island Barbecue
We have been having a lot of fun with the Angel Island Barbecues.
Your group will sail to Angel Island aboard our beautiful sailboats, Osprey and/ or Bay Wolf. On the way they will take in the sights of the bay: Alcatraz Island, wildlife, and see San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge from a different perspective: the water.
When your group arrives at the island, the food will be already set up and the barbecue will be ready to go. We send another boat over ahead of time with a barbecue chef to get everything prepared for your group.
Your team will arrive to a huge array of food.
They will feast on fresh chicken, beef, and vegetable kabobs that are marinated ahead of time then barbecued by our talented barbecue chef. We also serve fresh fruit in season (perhaps watermelon and strawberries, or what is best at the time), green salad, potato and/ or other salad, and chips, rolls, vegetables, dip, then a nice dessert. We also can include vegetarian burgers and other dietary options. Other items may be added on or substituted with the season.
While on the island your group may choose to go hiking, have a scavenger hunt (see below) or do wine tasting.
Your team will then sail back to San Francisco (or alternate starting point) or they could take a side-trip to get closer to, or go under the Golden Gate Bridge before heading back.
If you just have the barbecue, with sailing to and from the island it takes 5 hours. If you take the additional time to sail near or under the Golden Gate Bridge it takes 6 hours. It would also take more than 5 hours if you wanted to add on hiking or a scavenger hunt.
Teambuilding Scavenger Hunts:
We do scavenger hunts on Angel Island geared toward teambuilding.
Instead of hunting for rocks and leaves (which is not allowed in a state park), the search focuses on finding fun historical facts and information, and taking pictures as answers to questions about unusual flora or geology of the area. Angel Island is a perfect venue with its rich and colorful past and beautiful scenery.
The hunt is designed as a series of questions that are aimed at maximizing team interaction to figure out the answers. There are some easy questions and some tougher questions that will take the team working together to figure out what they are hunting for, and then they’ve got to figure out where to find it. There are also questions geared toward the team members getting to know each other better.
Our scavenger hunt was created with the idea of having an enriching experience: the best in discovering Angel Island, learning history of the island, appreciating the beauty, having fun, and finding some unusual artifacts and plants, while needing to work together to be able to complete the hunt.
The scavenger hunt can take between 45 minutes up to an hour and a half. It can be added onto an Angel Island Barbecue or an Angel Island picnic, or you can just sail to the island for this event. There is no additional cost for the actual scavenger hunt.
Participant comments:
Yelp 9/12/15
What a fantastic day! Captain Kirk and Captain Andy took our group of ~20 on the Bay on one of the most beautiful days of the year. 85 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. We split into two groups - half on the Osprey and half on the Bay Wolf. Both groups had an amazing experience with the captains and the crews. We sailed to Angel Island where Sue had a barbeque lunch waiting for us as well as scavenger hunt. We had a blast walking around Ayala Cove answering the scavenger hunt questions. The planning and payment processing was smooth as well - their team was a pleasure to work with throughout the event. I will definitely recommend this company for future team building events.
Yelp 8/20/2015
We booked a company off-site with Captain Kirk and had a wonderful time! There were 14 of us on the Bay Wolf and had plenty of room. They arranged an amazing BBQ on Angel Island for us and had it all set up by the time we arrived on the island. Sue, Aaron, Katie and Captain Kirk are wonderful people to work with from planning and deciding on the best itinerary for our group to the actual sailing experience itself. Kirk let us raise the sails and man the helm and everyone really enjoyed it! They served us snacks and beer during our sail out to Angel Island and we felt very well taken care of. Highly highly recommend Captain Kirk and I can't wait to sail with them again!
Yelp 7/13/2015
These guys are great. Capt. Kirk is a confidence-inspiring skipper. The catering was wonderful. The boats fun. And the entire staff was great. We did the Angel Island BBQ, which also included a ~1 hr hike/tour of some of the scenes. I'd been to AI a bunch, and this was -- by far -- the best way to do it. Highly recommended for medium-sized group outings, especially corporate.
Angel Island is a beautiful island located in San Francisco Bay, California. Here are some of the main sights that you can see on Angel Island:
Immigration Station: The Immigration Station on Angel Island was the gateway for many immigrants who came to the United States from Asia between 1910 and 1940. The station has now been turned into a museum and you can take a guided tour to learn about the history of immigration in the United States. The Angel Island Immigration Station was the primary point of entry for immigrants coming to the United States from Asia between 1910 and 1940. During this period, it served as a detention center, where immigrants were held for weeks, months, or even years, while their eligibility to enter the country was determined.
The Immigration Station was established in 1910, after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was extended to include other Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. The law limited the number of immigrants from these countries to just a few hundred per year, and created a complex set of rules and regulations that made it difficult for Asians to immigrate to the United States.
The immigration process at Angel Island was much different from that of Ellis Island on the East Coast. At Angel Island, immigrants were subjected to harsh interrogations, physical exams, and long detentions, often in crowded and unsanitary conditions. The goal of this was to weed out those who were deemed "undesirable," such as those who were suspected of being criminals, or who were perceived as having too little education or too little financial stability to succeed in the United States.
The Immigration Station was eventually closed in 1940, after the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed and immigration policies were revised to be more inclusive. Today, the station has been turned into a museum, where visitors can learn about the experiences of the immigrants who passed through Angel Island, and the hardships they endured during the immigration process. The museum includes exhibits on the history of Asian immigration to the United States, and features photographs, artifacts, and personal stories from those who passed through the station.
Camp Reynolds: Camp Reynolds was established in 1863 and was used as a military installation until 1945. Today, you can see some of the historic buildings and enjoy the beautiful views of the bay. Camp Reynolds is a historic military installation on Angel Island that was established in 1863 during the American Civil War. The camp was named after Major General John F. Reynolds, who was killed in action at the Battle of Gettysburg. Camp Reynolds served as a crucial military post for the defense of San Francisco Bay, and it played an important role in many conflicts, including the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.
At its peak, Camp Reynolds had over 100 buildings, including barracks, officers' quarters, and administrative buildings. The camp was home to thousands of soldiers, who trained and lived on the island. The soldiers stationed on Angel Island were responsible for maintaining the coastal defenses of San Francisco Bay, and they also played a key role in monitoring and intercepting potential threats from the Pacific.
Today, many of the historic buildings at Camp Reynolds have been preserved and restored, and they offer a glimpse into the daily life of soldiers stationed on the island. Visitors can explore the camp's parade grounds, barracks, and officers' quarters, and learn about the history of the military presence on Angel Island.
One of the most notable features of Camp Reynolds is the massive concrete batteries that were built to defend the bay. The batteries were equipped with heavy artillery and searchlights, and they were manned around the clock to detect and deter potential threats.
Overall, Camp Reynolds is an important historical site that provides insight into the military history of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a popular destination for visitors who are interested in learning about the role that Angel Island played in the defense of the United States.
Mount Livermore: Mount Livermore is the highest peak on Angel Island, and it offers stunning views of the Bay Area. You can hike to the summit of the mountain to enjoy the view. Camp Reynolds is a historic military installation on Angel Island that was established in 1863 during the American Civil War. The camp was named after Major General John F. Reynolds, who was killed in action at the Battle of Gettysburg. Camp Reynolds served as a crucial military post for the defense of San Francisco Bay, and it played an important role in many conflicts, including the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.
At its peak, Camp Reynolds had over 100 buildings, including barracks, officers' quarters, and administrative buildings. The camp was home to thousands of soldiers, who trained and lived on the island. The soldiers stationed on Angel Island were responsible for maintaining the coastal defenses of San Francisco Bay, and they also played a key role in monitoring and intercepting potential threats from the Pacific.
Today, many of the historic buildings at Camp Reynolds have been preserved and restored, and they offer a glimpse into the daily life of soldiers stationed on the island. Visitors can explore the camp's parade grounds, barracks, and officers' quarters, and learn about the history of the military presence on Angel Island.
One of the most notable features of Camp Reynolds is the massive concrete batteries that were built to defend the bay. The batteries were equipped with heavy artillery and searchlights, and they were manned around the clock to detect and deter potential threats.
Overall, Camp Reynolds is an important historical site that provides insight into the military history of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a popular destination for visitors who are interested in learning about the role that Angel Island played in the defense of the United States.
Perimeter Road: The Perimeter Road on Angel Island is a 5-mile trail that circles the entire island. You can take a leisurely hike or bike ride along the trail and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Ayala Cove: Ayala Cove is the main entrance to Angel Island and is where you will find the ferry terminal. The cove is also a popular spot for picnicking, fishing, and swimming. Ayala Cove is a picturesque harbor located on the northeast side of Angel Island, in San Francisco Bay. The cove is named after Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala, the Spanish explorer who charted the bay in 1775.
Ayala Cove is one of the main entry points to Angel Island, and it offers a range of recreational activities for visitors. The cove has a marina where visitors can rent boats and kayaks, and there are also several hiking trails that begin at the cove and lead into the island's interior.
One of the most popular activities at Ayala Cove is picnicking. The cove has several picnic areas with tables and grills, and there is a large grassy area where visitors can spread out a blanket and enjoy a meal with views of the bay.
In addition to recreational activities, Ayala Cove has a rich history. During the 19th century, the cove served as a landing point for immigrants who were arriving in San Francisco from Asia. Many of these immigrants were detained at the Angel Island Immigration Station, which was located just a short walk from the cove.
Today, Ayala Cove is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, and it provides a peaceful and scenic escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Whether you're interested in boating, hiking, or simply relaxing by the water, Ayala Cove is definitely worth a visit when exploring Angel Island.
Tiburon View: The Tiburon View is a lookout point on the island that offers stunning views of the nearby town of Tiburon.
China Cove: China Cove is a secluded cove on the island that is only accessible by boat. It is a popular spot for kayaking and swimming. China Cove is a small cove located on the eastern shore of Angel Island, in San Francisco Bay. The cove is named after the Chinese immigrants who were detained on Angel Island in the early 20th century.
China Cove was once the site of the Angel Island Quarantine Station, which was established in the early 20th century to prevent the spread of diseases such as smallpox and cholera. Chinese immigrants arriving in San Francisco were often detained at the quarantine station for weeks or even months, during which time they were subjected to harsh living conditions and intense interrogation.
Today, China Cove is a popular destination for visitors to Angel Island. The cove is accessible via a short hiking trail that begins at Ayala Cove, and it offers stunning views of the bay and the surrounding hillsides. Visitors can also explore the remains of the quarantine station, including the former hospital building and a collection of Chinese poems and inscriptions that were carved into the walls by detainees.
In addition to its historical significance, China Cove is also a popular spot for picnicking, fishing, and kayaking. The cove has several picnic areas with tables and grills, and there is a small beach where visitors can launch their kayaks and explore the bay.
Overall, China Cove is a fascinating and scenic destination that provides a window into the complex history of Angel Island and the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether you're interested in history, hiking, or just enjoying the natural beauty of the bay, China Cove is definitely worth a visit when exploring Angel Island.
Fort McDowell: Fort McDowell was a military fort that was established in 1905. Today, you can see some of the historic buildings and enjoy the beautiful views of the bay.Fort McDowell is a former military installation located on Angel Island, in San Francisco Bay. The fort was established in the late 19th century to protect the entrance to San Francisco Bay, and it remained in operation until the end of World War II.
During its operational years, Fort McDowell played an important role in the defense of the San Francisco Bay Area. The fort was equipped with artillery batteries, searchlights, and other military defenses, and it was manned by a large number of soldiers and support personnel.
Today, much of the Fort McDowell site has been preserved as part of the Angel Island State Park, and visitors can explore the remains of the fort and learn about its history. Some of the highlights of the Fort McDowell site include the former barracks and officer's quarters, as well as the parade ground and drill field.
One of the most interesting features of the Fort McDowell site is the immigration barracks, which were used to house immigrants who were detained on Angel Island in the early 20th century. Many of these immigrants were from China and other parts of Asia, and they were subjected to harsh living conditions and intense interrogations as part of the U.S. government's efforts to restrict immigration.
Overall, Fort McDowell is a fascinating destination that provides a window into the military and immigration history of the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether you're interested in history, hiking, or just enjoying the natural beauty of Angel Island, a visit to Fort McDowell is definitely worth your time.
Overall, Angel Island offers a unique blend of natural beauty and history, making it a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.