I've been coming to the Exploratorium since I was in elementary school 40 years ago, and after all…read morethese years, I can honestly say that my love for this place has only grown deeper. I'm now a STEAM instructor myself, and I still feel the same sense of wonder every time I walk through the doors. The Exploratorium understands something incredibly important: science isn't just a collection of facts to memorize. It's something to touch, hear, build, question, experiment with, and experience. What I admire most is the institution's mission to make science tangible, accessible, and genuinely fun. The exhibits invite curiosity instead of demanding expertise, which makes them just as engaging for adults as they are for children. Every visit reminds me that science belongs to everyone. As someone who teaches kids for a living, I know how difficult it is to create experiences that are both educational and exciting. The Exploratorium has been doing exactly that for decades, and they continue to set the standard. Their educators, exhibit designers, and staff have created something truly special. San Francisco is full of iconic landmarks, but for me, the Exploratorium will always be one of the city's greatest treasures. It played a role in shaping the person I became, and I have no doubt it will continue inspiring generations of curious minds. I was a science-loving kid when I first walked in, and, thankfully, I'm still a science-loving kid now.

We visited the Exploratorium as part of the City Pass. It was definitely a full day of exploring…read moreand was better towards the end of the day when the summer camp kids left. My kids enjoyed but we also had to take breaks in-between. Why 3 stars you ask? It's a huge space, but all of the exhibits were similar to science museums we have in So Cal. Some things were broken or not operational the day we went. Lunch offerings were super healthy which is a plus. But we liked 2/4 entrees we ordered. Priced are as expected for museums. Logistics wise, you really have to come early to secure good parking. We came an hour after opening and street + parking lots were full. If you plan to come, I say it's a deal via City Pass, but I wouldn't pay full admission prices to go.

Located in the Golden Gate Park this California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco is the…read moreultimate natural history museum that offers an aquarium, planetarium, as well as a 4-story rainforest ! I think it will take me a week to literally be able to go see everything !! Anazing aquarium with a Philippine Coral Reef, and was able watch feeding time of the fish in this particular aquarium!! 2 scuba divers cleaning aquarium during the presentation!!

The California Academy of Sciences is a wonderful place to visit for all ages. It was my first time…read morethere, though others in my group had visited before. We went on a Wednesday morning during summer break. Tickets can be purchased online or in person; we bought ours on-site and there was no line. Inside, it was busy but not overcrowded, so it was still very enjoyable. Positives: - Clean and well maintained throughout. - Indoor, multi-level space that is accessible. - Convenient food court with multiple options. - Plenty of seating areas for taking short breaks. - A wide variety of exhibits and experiences. Our favorites were the Osher Rainforest and the Steinhart Aquarium. You can easily tailor your visit to be short or long depending on your pace. There is also a lot of engaging and educational information throughout the museum. Be sure to check the daily schedule posted on-site or online to learn about special exhibits and events. Negatives: The only downside was the bánh mì from the food court, which was underwhelming. Overall, I highly recommend the California Academy of Sciences. It is a great outing, especially for families with children.

I came for the Halloween After Dark where my friend presented. All of the talks were funny and…read moreinformative and well delivered. Very imaginative and fun! The drinks are crazy expensive but thats to be expected. The festivities around Halloween were fun - costume contest, pumpkin carving (though not enough for everyone), etc.

Been always wanting to go here and we finally did it! Came into this thinking we didn't need the…read moreentire 3+ hrs but we did! There is SO much to see, with about over 5 different sections and all being interactive it's a place your inner child can run free. Our favorite part were the many games you could play with a partner or group such as a snake video game, 1:1 table games, and much more. Such an eventful night with music playing and chances to buy a drink. Highly recommend to visit with some friends or for a fun date night!

The deYoung always has interesting exhibits, and the Bay Area Artists full time installation is…read morealways worth a visit - or a second or third! I'm a multiple time visitor, since I was in college, and every time I come back, I remember how beautiful of a museum it is. (and free for SF residents on Saturdays!) One of my favorite events that the deYoung puts on is their after hours event for adults where you can get drinks & food, and walk around the museum looking at exhibits - they even have a DJ! I saw the Paul McCartney photographs 1963-64 "Eyes of the Storm" exhibit here at the after hours event and it was a great way to experience the work.

As a longtime student of ancient Egypt, I came expecting dynastic splendor and was greeted by the…read more21st Dynasty - well at least the curators stopped before the Ptolemies. The "montage" was extensive and somewhat unrefined - glowy wall of hieroglyphs combined with two authentic Hathor heads inside. Bravo. The gift shop was underwhelming - the mother of pearl boxes reminded of of Khan-el-Khalil in Cairo, where I saw similar pieces. I hope the artisans are receiving their share from the museum sales. This institution is already enjoying the generosity of the San Francisco's plutocratic set. Disappointing.

I visited this museum on a whim and didn't have much time, but it is definitely on my list to…read morerevisit before summer ends! General admission is $25, but they participate in Museums for All, which is a great perk. I brought my 20-month-old and was thrilled to find so many age-appropriate activities for him to explore. The absolute highlight was the moving dinosaurs outside, set against a beautiful backdrop of the bay, a view that adults will definitely appreciate even if the toddlers don't notice! Definitely a great place to snap some photos. The bottom floor features animals and exhibits, and I noticed a cafe that I'd love to try for lunch next time. My only critique is the customer service. Some staff members, including those at the front desk, weren't very welcoming or acknowledging. Since this is such a family-oriented space, a simple smile would go a long way! It didn't ruin my experience, but better service would prevent it from taking away from anyone else's visit. Highly recommend overall!

Well when I came in to pay. This young lady was very I tentative! She explained everything to us…read more So on our merry way. We are the first floor so many activities to do. My cousin and daughter loved the . And outside where they were was an amazing view of Berkeley. We were sitting on top of the world. A little girl came over and talked to us. Her father said it was ok to film her. She was five years old! A very bright, intelligent, fun loving girl! Her favorite pass time was golf. She knew the stands to when u putt! She was amazing. She came and brought us flowers. My daughter n I put them in our hair. Ok down to the exhibits down stairs. Well we walked in no one spoke. Parents kept asking the young lady so what do we do! Horrible horrible horrible! Customer service! Young ladies you should say hellli when someone walks in the door! You should come and explain what to do. Not just stand in the lockers. So, went to the souvenir shop! We all couldn't wait to spend some money. The gentleman never said hello! He kept flipping his hair looking off into space! Wow! Very easily for people to steal items! Tighten up! Greet people pay attention! Speak to the customers! Terrible customer service March 21,2026 3pm-5pm! Do better! I didn't get a chance to give anything I. The suggestion box! Next time I will! Thanks we guess!

NightLife at the Academy is always a fun nighttime event to hang out with friends or bring a date!…read moreRewild the City was a special nightlife event that included an open bar and food stations. Same nightlife access with a more fancy atmosphere tonight. 4/5 - Bao Bun - An Asian inspired dish comprised of tangy sauce pickled vegetables, steamed bun, and a chicken tender topped with a sweet, spicy sauce. Super filling and my favorite dish to eat with the drinks. It was a little difficult to eat as a cohesive dish and slightly dry but make no mistake - I was still eating 2 or 3 servings of this! 4/5 - Spring Rolls - The spring rolls were actually vegetable egg rolls that were still cooked well and complemented perfectly with sweet and sour sauce. Easiest snack to walk around and eat! 4/5 - Noodles - They had a chow mein-like noodle dish that was well seasoned and had a kick of spice with their chilis. Pretty decent dish that would've definitely given you your fix of noodles if that's what you would like! 5/5 - Lemon Bars and Strawberries - The outside park had a mini dessert stand and coffee station. The lemon bars were definitely the best dish (though more hidden as it was only one station). The strawberries also tasted fresh and sweet!

Really awesome place. I've been going here for YEARS. I remember the day they first opened the new…read morelocation. I still have my ticket, lol. I haven't been in a long time, so decided to try out nightlife (adults-only night on Thursdays) so I could avoid all the annoying, misbehaved kids during the day. Not all kids (and parents) are misbehaving during normal hours, but a lot of them are and it tends to ruin the experience for others, which is why I tried out nightlife. I'm not a drinker, so I can't speak about any of the drinks, but the overall experience was pretty cool, with some caveats. The rainforest is only open until 7:30pm, so you have only an hour and a half to go there and see that. I suggest going there first. The rainforest is by far, in my opinion, the BEST part of the academy. So many pretty butterflies and birds to see. I love it. The macaws, however, were not there (they had to go to bed early). If you want to see the aquarium areas, it's probably best to do that during normal hours because a lot of the nighttime lighting was on, which makes the tanks dark and hard to see. I was a bit bummed about that. The living roof was cool, but had so much more potential. There are so many beautiful California native plants they could put there, but instead it was very drab and not super interesting. It was a nice quiet area to go to get away from people, though. The planetarium show was about the coral reefs, which was interesting, but short. I'm not sure if I would go to another show. I haven't been super impressed with their shows in the past, so it's probably a skip for most people. Plus, it was very cramped in there and no food or drink is allowed. We went on Filipino night (Mabuhay), which was the theme of the evening, so there was a lot of Filipino-themed food and vendors there. Honestly, though, I was not impressed with the food truck food. Super overpriced and not very authentic to Filipino cuisine, which was disappointing. $10+ for mid boba drinks... Yikes. $20 for some nachos or tacos (and the portions were very small). Yeah, I would skip the food and drinks and eat before coming here. So much of it was a rip-off. The music was SUPER loud, which I didn't like, but night life is more of a party atmosphere, so it's to be expected. At least there are places to go and chill out away from the noise. Overall it was a fun experience and I might go back. But I think to fully appreciate the exhibits, you should probably go during a normal day when everything is open and well-lit. I would probably just go on a weekday in September when school is starting and field trips aren't scheduled yet to avoid the crowds of people and kids. But I'm still glad we experienced it and we had a good time.

everytime i come back this place does not fail to amaze…read more first, all the bartenders are incredibly passionate, friendly, and welcoming. they each have their own specialty cocktail and a story to back them. ours on a particularly nice day offered his take on an espresso martini, and i haven't been able to drink another since. the definition of perfect. hanging from the ceiling are various concoctions that patrons can have displayed as their own piece in the puzzle. there are private nooks, high ceilings, a library of books, and great views of the bay. certainly the place to impress friends and family when around fort mason.

The interval at Long Now has always caught my eye. For years we have been frequenting this spot and…read morelove how over time the surrounding Fort Mason has developed and evolved. Once upon a time they had a drink called the chartreuse swizzle, an amazing beverage crafted with expertise and flavor. It was a drink that had me interested in the world of unique craft cocktails and I was sad to see it go, but at the same time this menu is always evolving in the best of ways. The bartenders are always great at keeping the menu up to date and their concoctions never leave me wanting. The whimsy and vibes of the space tickles something in your mind that demands you stop, remove yourself from your digital pocket sized addiction and gaze into the greater world to reflect and observe. I love coming here to think, read, ponder and craft new ideas at times when I feel stuck.

I've been wanting to go for years. Finally made the visit and it was worth it…read more The museum is bigger than expected. I spent 2 hours there and could have stayed longer, but there was a schedule to stick to. It's cool that it's a museum about Walt and his life. How the company came to be. How the animation making changed over the years. Really cool for the whole family to visit.

If you're a hardcore Disney fan, read no further. You'll think this spot is five stars…read more For those who are mildly interested, this is a museum too heavily focused on Walt Disney's early years. It's literally like the family album come to life. The other thing you'll notice is this very much a non-critical examination of the man and his legacy. For example, he was a chain smoker and it killed him. No mention. Racial issues in hiring and screen work? No mention. And he's not really put into context of American culture. The place is more a collection than a museum. Just know that going in.

Came here recently for magnolia season! A lot of trees in bloom but already started to fall away…read more And some buds yet to bloom! Loved the rhododendrons, and all the different sections of the park. It was really relaxing to stroll through and admire all the nature. Free entry for SF residents, otherwise $17 for entry. Found parking along the park and walked over!

Amazingly Beautiful. A must go. Serine, fragrant, visually pleasing gardens. Lots of bench's and…read morewalking paths and can always find a secluded spot to reflect. Reasonable prices but challenging parking. Treat yourself and give a visit. Check out their website to find out what's in Bloom and what's going on. Tip It's very easy to pre purchase tickets on line which is a plus.

This museum is so underrated!…read more There are plenty of exhibits to explore, along with interactive areas that make learning fun for kids. It's a great place to spend a day with the family, whether you're looking to learn something new, relax, or simply enjoy a beautiful day in Oakland. I especially appreciate that this museum participates in the Museums for All program, which helps make cultural and educational experiences more accessible to families. We had a wonderful visit and I'll definitely be coming back more often. If you're looking for a family-friendly activity that's both fun and educational, this museum is worth checking out.

I have been coming here for years. Specifically for their special exhibitions. They are always so…read moreinteresting and well planned out on display. The museum has three floors and their outdoor garden overlooking lake merrit. They have a little bit of everything, if you're curious about real history and wanting to learn more this is the place. Their annual membership is so worth. As they have several special events. Next to the museum they have plenty of parking. I take Bart as the stop is one block away. Chinatown is walkable for great restaurants. The Oakland library is close by too! There's a restaurant inside the museum while the food sounds great it's okay. I would recommend walking /driving to Chinatown or downtown Oakland for amazing food.