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When I was a young whippersnapper, my father would take my brother and me to the California Academy of Sciences. This impressive museum was a short drive from our home in San Francisco. Located in Golden Gate Park, it was always a special treat to visit this establishment. The main attractions for my brother and me were the alligators, the two-headed snake, the electric eel, the tidepools, and the earthquake simulator. At that time, there were more exhibits than we could visit in the time-frame of our visit. We made sure to visit our favorite exhibits before departing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am now a busy working mom with kids of my own and this is one place I love to recommend and share because of it has so much for kids and adults alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The museum was comprised of multiple parts: an aquarium, a national history museum, and a planetarium. The museum was remodeled in 2008. The majority of the main attractions remained, and newer exhibits were added to the museum, such as a rooftop garden and a rainforest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Academy of Sciences offers engaging experiences and interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages. The first impressive display that greets you on entry is an enormous model T-Rex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the main entrance, if you take two lefts, you will enter the Natural History section of the museum. The stuffed wild animals are the same ones that were there when I was a child. The displays have been updated a bit, but the feelings they provoke are much the same: wonder, excitement, curiosity. In this wing of the museum are the penguins. Who doesn\u2019t like penguins?! If you time your visit just right, you may be there at feeding time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Situated in the middle of the museum are two other great displays: the planetarium and the rainforest. While the rainforest is a great exhibit, this particular part of the museum tends to get super crowded. The humid air, long queue, and wall of people are a bit of a turn-off for me, but the exhibit itself is great, and my children love it. Depending on the time of your visit, you may want to strategically plan to visit this spot during the least crowded time of day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the opposite side of the entrance is the swamp. Claude, the albino alligator lives in the tank here, along with some enormous snapping turtles. I could stare at Claude all day, but my children were convinced he was a statue, as he didn\u2019t move one bit while we were there. They were tugging at my sweatshirt to move along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right next to the swamp-tank is a staircase that leads downstairs to the aquarium. The entire lower floor is dedicated to impressive tanks in a dark setting. The aquarium lighting in the dim atmosphere is soothing to children. The aquarium can get quite crowded, and it is easy to lose a child. If you visit with a toddler, you may find yourself watching your child more than the fish! Interactive displays are mixed in between the tanks. Two interactive displays that my children enjoy are a shocking-device that allows patrons to understand what it is like to touch an electric eel. The other is a hole that you stick your arm into, and the device cinches around your arm, giving you the sensation of a python strangling your arm. Neither is as bad as it sounds! But, if you have a child with sensory or anxiety issues, you may want to approach these stations with caution. Older children love them! And, they are entertained watching adults get zapped and squeezed! The aquarium is a full-day experience in its own right, but if you have time to explore the other parts of the museum, head back upstairs for more activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the west side of the building is the Earthquake Section. This display has a Shake House that provides a first-hand experience of the intensity of San Francisco\u2019s biggest earthquakes: the 1906 earthquake and the 1989 earthquake. This, too, is a display that you may want to avoid if you have a child with sensory or anxiety issues. While most children find this display fun, other children may get seriously scared by this moving structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of their commitment to sustainability, the Academy opened a rooftop garden as part of its remodel, which provides both a lush green space for visitors to explore and a source of locally-grown food for the institution\u2019s restaurant. In all honesty, children don\u2019t find this too exciting. We walked around this part of the museum briefly, but it was a fast-paced walk. By all means, check it out. But don\u2019t expect your children to be as excited about it as the hippies are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few other hot-tips when visiting the Academy of Sciences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Academy of Sciences is a great destination. Definitely allow enough time to visit all the displays, and if you can, plan your visit for a day when you don\u2019t expect too many crowds. Your children are guaranteed to head home tired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laura D<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When I was a young whippersnapper, my father would take my brother and me to the California Academy of Sciences. This impressive museum was a short drive from our home in San Francisco. Located in Golden Gate Park, it was always a special treat to visit this establishment. The main attractions for my brother and … <\/p>\n