Everyone in San Jose and the whole Bay Area must know about the California Academy of Sciences by now. It wasn’t as popular back then as it is now, after it has been newly remodeled. If you’ve never been, this place is great for anyone, whether you have children or no children, or whether you are with a large group or alone; this is the place for those with a curious mind for sciences. Located in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA, it is right across from the De Young Museum.
What are a few of the many things that can be seen here?
- At the Steinhart Aquarium, one of the many aquatic exhibits is the Philippine Coral Reef Gallery, which holds 212,000 gallons of water at a depth of 25 ft. filled with aquatic life from the Philippines. It is an amazing sight to be seen and definitely better than watching it on TV!
- For those who enjoy astronomy, there is the Morrison Planetarium which is the large dome inside the Cal Academy. In here, you can watch a featured movie on a 75 ft. projector screen. Currently they are showing Life: A Cosmic Story. Visit the kiosk for show times and if there is availability.
- The rainforest exhibit is a must-see! At 4 stories, you will be starting from the bottom of the forest and walk the spiral path all the way to the top with each floor representing a different rainforest around the world. Because it is a simulation of a rainforest, it is very hot and humid inside. There will be lots of birds, butterflies, and tiny frogs moving around in front of you. Look but don’t touch!
For a future visit, adult tickets are $29.99. Students, seniors, and youth (ages 12-17) are $24.99. Children ages 4-11 are $19.99 and those under 3 are free. Every third Wednesday of the month is free day, meaning Cal Academy will be free to visit. Just remember if it’s free, it will be super packed and the line can stretch all the way out of Golden Gate Park.
For a future visit to the California Academy of Sciences, go to http://www.calacademy.org/
