A Golden Gate Park tenant for over 150 years and stunningly renovated in 2008, this fantastic—and yes, shockingly pricy—family-friendly museum is a spectacular mélange of aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and more, with plenty of cool, hands-on things for kids to do and see. The planetarium, access to which is included in admission, is the largest digital planetarium in the world. In the nature section, by the entrance, the main attraction is Claude, a formidable albino alligator. Up a circular ramp, four stories high, is a rainforest where brightly colored frogs play peek-a-boo while butterflies flit around your head. Below, an impressive collection of jellyfish glides its way around large, circular tanks. Topping it all off, literally, is a 2 and 1/2-acre rooftop garden with 1.7 million plants and flowers.
San Francisco› Attraction
California Academy of Sciences
55 Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park
Our Rating
Hours
Mon–Sat 9:30am–5pm; Sun 11am–5pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Transportation
Bus: 5 or 44. Streetcar: N
Phone
415/379-8000
Prices
Plan-ahead pricing varies; see website. Adults around $36; $31 seniors 65+, youth 12–17, and students with ID; $26 children 4–11; free for ages 3 and under. Free admission on random Sun, watch the website.
Web site
California Academy of Sciences
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Map
55 Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park San FranciscoNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.