California Academy of Sciences
- Address:55 Music Concourse Dr, Golden Gate Park
- Hours:Open daily 9:30am - 5pm (Sun from 11am)
- Admission:$30 (adults)
11:11 AM Sunday, May 27
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Inside bucolic Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences holds a fascinating collection of 38,000 natural wonders and the occasional freak of nature. Under the wildflower-covered “living roof,” butterflies flutter through a four-story glass rainforest dome, a rare white alligator stalks a swamp, and Pierre the Penguin paddles his massive new tank in the African Hall.
Downstairs, kids are sure to enjoy the basement aquarium, where they can duck inside a glass bubble to enter an eel forest, find Nemos in tropical fish tanks, or pet starfish. Head upward in the elevator to the roof for panoramic views of Golden Gate Park, or glimpse skyward into infinity in the Planetarium. For the ecology-minded, check out the displays throughout the main floor, which show how conservation issues affect California’s ecosystem.
If you stay for lunch, the dining options at the Academy are first-rate, as both the Academy Café and Moss Room restaurant are run by two of the city's top chefs, Charles Phan and Loretta Keller, and feature local, organic, sustainable foods.
Latest Reviews All California Academy of Sciences Reviews »
We had such a great time! Our 2 daughters (ages 2 and 4) loved everything -- the aquarium, the rain forest, the African exhibit, the penguins, the living roof, and the albino alligator! The cafe looked and smelled yummy, but we had brought our own food and ate outside on the patio. It was awesome! The place wasn't too crowded - even on a Saturday. We went from opening at 9:30am until about 2pm. My kids were too young for the planetarium, but we'll definitely be back when they're old enough. Booking the tickets through Viator was super simple. We went to the guest services booth, got our tickets, and went straight to the Member line. Both girls even got cute Member stickers to wear all day. We're super satisfied!! Thanks!
Continue Reading »Practical Info
The California Academy of Sciences is conveniently located on the west side of Golden Gate Park, and is easily accessible via public transportation. This side of Golden Gate Park is also home to the San Francisco Botanical Garden & Strybing Arboretum or the MH de Young Memorial Museum.
