11/09/09

Very serene and eerie. Cool!

by tanya86

All I remember from my childhood of this place was a lot of green algae growing in tanks, everywhere!

I went recently and really enjoyed the Living Philippine Coral Reef exhibit.

"The Academy chose to feature a Philippine coral reef because the reef systems in the Philippines are among the most diverse in the world."

Very serene and eerie. Cool!

12/13/08

Great Family Experience

by rickames

A great place to take the family. My kids loved all the exhibits from the Rain Forest to the Ocean. It was a little crowded when we went but that's expected for a Saturday. If you want a good out of town experience with the family then the California Academy of Sciences is a great place to go.

• Pros: Awesome experience with the family
• Cons: A little crowded

This fully sustainable, state-of-the-art alter to SF's inner science geek houses six times the number of live sea creatures and tons more cool Earth-friendly stuff than the previous incarnation.

by Chelsea Sime

For those who think science museums are reserved for third grade field trips and retired seniors, this remarkable space dedicated to biology, astronomy, zoology and ecology will blow your mind. Forget the dust and mothballs and boring text placards that no one ever reads--the academy's new design features an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum (complete with stuffed gorillas and zebras), self-contained rainforest, living roof and two top-notch dining establishments (a full-service restaurant highlighting sustainable ingredients and an international food court-style cafe) from local chefs Charles Phan and Loretta Keller. Besides the innovative exhibits on the inside, the architecture alone stands out for its creative design that blends naturally into the back drop of Golden Gate Park, a testament to the eco-friendly focus of this new educational destination.