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California Academy of Sciences
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
970 reviews for California Academy of Sciences
I'm gonna give them an extra star for two reasons...
1) The movie BUGS is simply incredible; and...
2) I really wanted to take The Munchkin to the Planetarium, even though she's not old enough. I was told by a few Academy workers to lie about her age, and I sort of did. Actually, I changed my story to the ticket guy and bullied him into giving us tickets. He was insistant that she's too young to go in, and I didn't want to hear it.
Well, Mr. Plantarium ticket-hander-outer, you were right. She lasted approximately two minutes before I had to get her out of there. Please accept one additional rating star as my peace offering...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/13/2009
My review is solely based on the happiness of my 2 year-old daughter.
I think the greatest thing is… Read more »
Meh....Hyped up a little too much. I feel like they had some good ideas with this place but they tried to do too much. Jack of all trades, but master at none. For one, the size is something of an issue. This place is just too small to really spend a whole day at. If you're a decently quick mover like I am and don't swoon at every single thing you see like some it's Eva Longoria posed naked in that exhibit, you'll find yourself done with everything except the Rainforest and Planetarium in 2.5-3 hours. The only exhibit I found really cool was the aquarium. Conversely, don't even waste your time on the living roof. It's a small patio of a thing on the roof where you just look at the lightly planted roof and stare across to the much more visually pleasing De Young Museum.
Once you're done with that, then comes the waiting....The waiting to get into the planetarium and the waiting to get into the rainforest. This place gets packed with bright-eyed little kids having loads of fun, which only makes me feel bad that as a pretty much grown man I'm just stuck in line, annoyed at the wait. As for the planetarium show...it's nothing too great. Be warned, the design of the theatre will make you nauseous. The rainforest is pretty darn cool. Lots of butterflies and interesting animals to look at and taunt. If only it didn't have such a long wait.
One of the highlights and focal points of the Academy though is their food. This aspect did live up to all the hype surrounding it. I chowed down in their cafeteria, and happily =]. I don't remember what I got, but I remember enjoying it despite their being yet another long ass line to get in. All in all, it's a cool place to see once, but it just wasn't as awesome as everybody made it sound. Add that to the fact that you do a lot of waiting around for just TWO things, and it just left me feeling a miffed.
What a fabulous, cool, wonderful museum! We visited here as a large group after a very long day of meetings - problem was - I was to tired to really focus on each exhibit and get into the learning in more depth - so I found myself skimming a lot - which I'd rather not do...
The exhibits on Climate Change, the rainforest, the downstairs aquarium, and the green rooftop - all were highlights.
We had dinner catered in the museum - food stations were located throughout the place - as well as beverage stations where one could get wine, beer, soda, and water.
I would love to go back when I have time and not mentally exhausted!
4.5 stars
Really people? Less than anything is surprising for me because I grew up in the Inner Sunset when I knew the CAS as only the Steinhart Aquarium. That was back in the day whenI went to stare at the fishies. Oh how loved the fishies!
Perhaps it's been years since I visited and that's why I'm so easily amazed by CAS now. Or perhaps it's because it really is that awesome? Either way, I was super excited to bring my 10 month old son here because I recently took him to my local Petsmart and he just gazed and gazed at the fish in the aquarium section so I knew he was ready.
I got in with my cousin who is a member so if you know someone who's a member, hit 'em up for a free visit. I loved the grand entrance. They did a great job with the renovation. I could tell which parts they kept (the pendulum, for one, which I spent many hours of my childhood staring at). We went through to the rainforest section and my son marveled at the butterflies. Just see the look on his face when we went down to the fish tanks in the lower area made this trip priceless. He loved being able to stand up against the huge tank that housed the Philippine Coral Reef. This room is great for any baby just beginning to "see" fish. He also loved the tunnel and reached out for all the fish swimming above him.
Checked out the gift shop and bought the little guy a cool big-ass bouncing ball with glitter and an underwater scene inside it. Ended the day with pics in front of the huge entrance sign and a sleepy baby in a stroller while walking home. Perfect afternoon!
Such an amazing place! Lots to learn, lots to see, and lots of fun!
Definitely go to the Planetarium show.. it was a lil overwhelming for me but i love it O_o
I went during the Night Life, alcoholic beverages are very limited but its great to walk around and experience with a sippy drink in hand!
I think this place is great and really worth the visit! They may need to keep adding changes for return customers, but it is really magnificent for the first time otherwise. The aquarium and rainforest area is where I remember spending the most time.
Yeah, its not cheap.
BUT the FREE days saves the day!
(If there's one thing I love, its free... anything).
Great museum, though its crowded (especially on said days). Go early unless you want to wait for hours in line.
If you go, be SURE you devote a good chunk of time to the aquarium portion.
(It was definitely my favorite part!)
Overall a sweet place to check out located inside an amazing, huge park (that's across from the De Young!)!!!
What more can ya ask for?!
What a fun place! There is so much here to see, but my highlights are:
-Aquariums, one with views from all sides (including underneath, which really give you an idea of how gianormous the fish are)
-Indoor rain forest. Butterflies!!
-Albino crocodile, although it was being lazy when I was there.
-Sea Horses. That's right, there are these crazy sea horses that look like some sort of mythical dragon, I could have stared for hours.
I didn't do the planetarium, as I still had de Young to see and wanted to be at the beach by sunset, but if I am back again I will definitely check it!
Word of advice, if you come here, plan on spending an entire day here. There is just so much to see and do that I didn't have time for.
What I did get to see was pretty amazing. Most of my time was spent in the simulated rain forest. The huge three story exhibit was pretty impressive. They aptly copied the climate of the rain forest. It was hot and humid inside and the mist sprayers did nothing to cool you off, but that was not their purpose. There are butterflies everywhere inside and you have to watch where you are going so you don't step on them.
In addition to the butterflies there is a lake teaming with all kinds of fish, Macaws, frogs and exhibits of other insects and reptiles.
After you make your way to the top of the exhibit, there's an elevator that takes you down to the bottom below the lake. There, you can see more fish and walk through a plexiglass tunnel that goes through the lake and you can look up towards what you just experienced. I wanted to spend more time there, but we had to catch the Planetarium show.
The show in the Planetarium was very well done. You go into a domed room and sit in comfortable chairs that recline back so you can stare up into the projected movie. The movie narrated by Whoopi Goldberg tells of how stars, galaxies and super novas are formed and classified. It was little sad to know that some day, albeit a couple billion years from now or so, the sun will die along with everything as we know it. At times the movie was a little disorienting because it's so huge and the motion as it sweeps around the galaxy can send your head spinning. This is warned before the movie starts and all you have to do is look away for a sec and everything returns to normal. When the 30 minute film ended, you feel really insignificant along with everything else that goes on in the world.
Next up, we quickly went through the aquarium portion of the Academy. It's not as big as The Aquarium of the Pacific, but has a lot of the same features. Huge display tanks, a touch tank, fish, fish and more fish. I found the interactive displays really cool. Just by waving your hand over them you change the information that is being shown.
We then made our way over to see the Penguins and mammal exhibits. As luck would have it, it was feeding time for the Penguins. That was fun to watch. The rest of the room had stuffed animals portrayed in their natural habitats. Not really how I like to see my animals, but it was well done.
What time I had left was hurriedly gone through the displays in the main lobby. There was a neat interactive insect floor monitor that had computer bugs running around on it and when you try to step on them they run away from you.
Unfortunately, I couldn't spend more time there, which is a shame. There is just so much more to see, like the roof top ecosystem and other animal exhibits. Plus, there is so much more in Golden Gate Park to see, such as the museum with the King Tut exhibit and the Japanese Tea Garden.
A couple downsides. It's a little expensive. $25 a person. I got $3 off with my AAA card. The fee is all in the name of science, so I guess it's not that bad. Parking is rough, but it is all over SF. Taking a bus might not be a bad idea. Even though it was a Tuesday it was really busy. I can't imagine what it's like on the weekends.
Bottom line: Set aside a day or two to really enjoy this wonderful attraction!
I am not a Native, and I have seen far better, given the price of ticket.
First of all, this museum feels like designed by a bunch of MBAs with a considerable amount of space dedicated to cafe, restaurant, outdoor catering etc. You pretty much can see the effort of revenue augmentation everywhere, from the moment you entered the door as a dedicated staff snapped your "been there" photo. It is a Disneyworld without the rides.
The aquarium hosts mainly local species, which puts it squarely in competition with Monterey Bay Aquarium that surprisingly hosts a far bigger collection of Californian coastal species and a much better display. You can literally spend the whole day there, but this aquarium can hardly hold my attention for more than 2 hours.
The planetarium holds a digital show on the half hour daily, while the graphics are outstanding, it is after all a digital show, which means, this is no different from projecting any digitally animated movie on a big screen.
There is a 3D movie Bugs narrated by Judy Dench. Again, if you have been to the Epcot Center or seen 3D movies like Up, no biggie.
The rest of the academy ranges from mediocre to downright boring. Living roof provides a good photo op, but this is not something truly novel. The rain forest experience is rather confined, lost opportunity for having reptiles crawling around. The African gallery is a pathetic display of a few animal specimen, a more avid hunter would have probably done better. Oh, did I mention the swimming penguins? Well, that is the highlight of the African gallery.
The worst display of this all is the climatic change area. 2D cardboard photos and 2D model displays dotted with some LCD ornamentation. A complete lack of imagination and effort.
Anyway, save your $25 and $10+ parking fee (which will cost about $100 for a family of 4) and put it to better use elsewhere.
I haven't been to the Academy of Sciences for some time. I was really excited when they began their renovation of the place. I think it's an awesome place to learn about nature. The "Living Roof" is just amazing and even better is the sphere where you can go inside with butterflies flying all over! It's pretty nuts. Kids will definitely like this place, no doubt. The planetarium is cool, but by the time you get there you're kinda tired. It was a nice nap though. I would go here first next time. They only have a set number of shows and I think you can get cards to reserve your space ahead of time. They start promptly. The aquarium is pretty cool also.
It can get super busy, especially on their free days. I'd call ahead to plan your day out. The De Young museum sits across the way. Pay parking is in the garage under the park in the middle.
On my first trip to the Academy, I was lucky enough to be accompanied by my friend who conveniently happens to be a volunteer there. With her as my personal tour-guide, I got to see the place in an organized (not to mentioned educational) manner.
The Academy offers many days with free admission, which is great for those who want to enjoy the building without having to pay the steep admission price. I attended on such a day, and while it was very crowded, I went early and successfully avoided some of the ciaos.
The planetarium show was great - it's been over a decade since the last time I've been to one, and wow. They've definitively changed since I was a kid. Lots of information (far too much to absorb it all) is presented to you during the half hour show. Be sure to get tickets to this right when you arrive since it seemed to be the most popular exhibit.
The rain forest portion of the museum was laid out in an extremely efficient manner, spiraling around and up through different flours of habitats. At the top you'll find butterflies fluttering by while you wait for the elevator to take you down to the aquarium.
The tunnel was my favorite part of the aquarium, allowing you to see fish from all angles. The Atlanta aquarium has something very similar.
The live roof is worth a visit, but only if you're the type of person who will ask one of the staff members of volunteers lots of questions. Otherwise, I'm not sure you'll appreciate it's purpose.
Oh, and check out the memorial by Maya Lin (the same artist who created the Vietnam Memorial in D.C.) which deals with habitat loss.
Though I don't think I'd pay the full price to get in, I would definitely consider going back for their NightLife when it's a more reasonable $10 to get in.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the fish and chips o'er in the CAFETERIA!!!* The folks there have changed the batter recipe and it's SO LIGHT and crispy!!! UM YUM!!!
Saw the new Planetarium flick with Whoopi's voiceover. Her voice doesn't put me to sleep the way Sigourney's did, but man. The overall show was NOT as impressive as the initial Planetarium pick. I felt that the shots of the city were too "dim."
STILL adore the 3-D BUGS! show on the second floor with the DAME JUDI DENCH voiceover. Don't miss it!
The tropical fish exhibit looked a little bit less cloudy today. Must've gone on a day where they decided to clean out the tank.
Overall --- MUCH less of a crowd. Almost borderline desolate, but we were told it was a repercussion of the bridge being shut over the past week. Incredible.
*Remember to say "HULLO" to Craig if he's working!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/6/2009
Planetarium tickets. SO worth getting to the museum as EARLY as possible just to make sure you've… Read more »
I am definitely a fan of this museum, however I am definitely NOT a fan of the admission price.
HUGE SUGGESTION: If you go to this museum you need to do a WHOLE DAY or it's not worth the $25 admission price. If you go for about two hours I strongly suggest you do the Nightlife Thursdays instead for $10 (6-10pm, 21+ older).
Highlights:
1. The Living Rainforest is amazing! Butterflies and bugs are fluttering around you in a humid environment. Totally awesome.
2. The Living Roof is gorgeous, especially at night.
3. The Planetarium is super awesome but ALWAYS has long lines and sells out. Come EARLY!
One downside: The Penguins. I have to say in my review that I am VERY DISAPPOINTED in the African penguin exhibit. It looks so sad and like they are in a small environment.
However, that was just my personal disappointment I will get over. Just go to the museum and see for yourself. The upgrades and remodel did wonders for it. TRUST ME...the kids will love it and so will you!
I was a little disappointed in the new CAS, this is the first time I've been there since the remodel. The attractions were not as grand as I thought it would be, it's still a pretty small place.
I went on a free Wednesday and heeded the advice of someone to get there early. Got there right before 8a and was prob within the top 10 group of people in line. We watched the line grow with time but even at opening time of 9:30, on this Wed, the line reached barely outside the concourse area. I also noticed that around 11am, people were still coming in so the line wasn't closed off. Also, they do not allow Ins and Outs on free Wednesdays. You need to line up again to get back in.
We headed right, to the Tropical Rain Forest first, no lines at all. At 10, the line was long, almost reminded me of an amusement park line.
The Tropical Rain Forest was set at 86 degrees and 100% humidity. It was the home of butterflies that flew freely, macaws, and a variety of plants, trees and other animals, some caged, some living within the trees and plants. Nice attraction but it becomes hot for obious reasons. As you exit on the 3rd floor, you take an elevator down to the aquarium.
On the other side of the entrance was the African museum. It seems a lot smaller than before. It's one room with all the animals. The live penguins are also housed here.
Within rushing but probably missing a corner here and there, we finished in 2 hours, with a small child.
I definitely wouldn't pay the normal admission price to come back. I would come back on another free Wednesday just to check out what I missed.
The aquarium is the aquarium, a huge diaply of tropical fish, large fish, small fish, red, orange, purple, etc. Never a disappointment.
We did not go to the planetarium as children 3 and under are not admitted and 7+ are suggested.
Their cafe area is small but the good thing is you are allowed to bring in food and beverage.
Students with ID get in for $20 instead of $25 - which they totally don't advertise! Just ask! What a fantastic discovery.
I loved this place because it's like a zoo/aquarium. I could sit around and watch fish for hours. Plus, the CAS is a wonderful place for procrastinating students because you can squander your time under the pretenses of learning far more important things about Philippine coral, dinosaurs and sea stars.
Overall highly enjoyable and a nice primer for an afternoon nap.
I wanted to love it, i went three times just so it could grow on me. The building is beautiful and its smack in the middle of GG park. But the exhibits leave alot to be desired.
I was actually very excited to attend the weekly Thursday night +21 years old special that they have. I guess part of the disappointment is because I don't drink (alcohol) but I guess I also imagined the 4 story rainforest experience to be even more jungle-esque and real. But I guess I have to give them props for what they did have in there that was real (the humungous collection fish - we're talking the size of a german shepard humungous) in the water and the first time I got to see real-life Tarzan swinging-vines. I think it would be cooler if you actually got to swing on them. I also didn't see the parrot. But the butterflies were beautiful. As for the 2 poisonous frogs, we didn't see them move at all and their location placements right by the sign that describes them.... the members of group I was with all were suspicious that they were fake. And of course the albino alligator and penguin displays were eye catching. Otherwise, lots of glass tanks with creatures, though I guess like most other aquariums they did have this one station where you get to touch star fishes and what-not.
If you are going, you definitely won't regret dressing to the nines (I sure received a lot of compliments on my dress!)
BUT make sure you bring a coat with you if you are planning on spending time in the lounge area where they serve drinks and have sitting tables/chairs because there's a vast temperature difference between that and the rainforest/rest of the museum.
I was completely underwhelmed by the whole experience. The lines were way too long to get into the planetarium and the rain forest exhibit. I could not get in. The living rooftop was a complete disappointment too. Surely the museum can stand on its own without these three, right? Ahh, not quite.
I remember the days before they remodeled, and although they did a superb job, it felt like I walked into a very cavernous, empty museum. The memories of walking through immersing exhibits have been completely replaced by the touch of wafting air. Even with the amount of people there, I can only remember the silence I felt.
Maybe I was expecting too much. I will need to pay another visit.
The Academy itself is very cool. Of course, as a native San Franciscan, I can't help but compare the old Academy to the new one. Honestly, I miss the old one. They had more exhibits - but I must say the love the Planetarium - both old and new. The rain forest and the living roof - both very cool. This is definitely worth a visit.
Anyway, it's hard to select a rating for this because I give the Academy 4 stars, but minus 2 for the customer service.
My review is mainly about the customer service, or lack of. I work in an industry where customer service is the heart of our business. I know customer service - and believe me, the Academy - or at least the folks we dealt with, need additional training.
About two months ago, we saw online that people living in my zip code would be able to visit the Academy for free the weekend of Sept 25 - 27. So, the weekend came - we drove out to GG Park, got in line - and when it was our turn, we were told by the ticket agent that this weekend is the "gala weekend" of the Academy (meaning, their one year anniversary) and that they weren't offering the free tickets. As luck would have it, the people behind us in line were there for the same offer. AND the people behind them. Three groups, all separate - there for the same offer. The ticketing agents couldn't help - so this guy, Joshua, calls us over and says that would take care of us.
Not only did he just reinforce that we were not getting in with that offer, he insisted that we were wrong because the Academy would never offer that during the gala weekend. He pulled our three groups out of the long ticket line just to tell us that?
We asked to see a supervisor and he said, "No." WHAT!?! No??? Of course, we were did not let it go easily at that point - and then Joshua decided that he was going to walk away because we were "insulting" him. Wow. He even got huffy with us. Another ticket taker saw what was going on and called a supervisor for us. Joshua disappeared at that point.
So, the supervisor comes out - after we tell her our issues, she proceeds to tell us that while she knows other dates have been updated, she insists that the Academy would NEVER have done the zip code offer this weekend because of the gala event. OMG. After arguing with her for about 10 minutes, she finally went to the back offices to get a printout of the current offers and changes.
Man, I would have paid to see her expression when she looked up the events - because she brought back a printout that clearly stated that the zip code offer was in fact originally set for THIS weekend, but was changed. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Must have killed her to have been wrong.
Three sets of free tickets for our groups. Thank you very much.
Of course, not even 10 minutes of browsing around when the fire alarm goes off and the entire Academy had to be evacuated. Unbelievable. 45 minutes later, we were allowed back in - and we were able to enjoy the rest of our day - with a free Ben & Jerry's coupon in hand.
Lessons learned: never say 'no' to a customer. "See what you can do" sounds much better. And get your facts straight before arguing with three sets of strangers who obviously saw the same thing - and ended up being right. MAYBE there's a chance the Academy had posted the wrong dates and changed them? We're already pissed off, why make it worse by trying to push that we're wrong - when we're not!?
Comment from Amie W. of
California Academy of Sciences
9/29/2009
Hi Denise, Thank you for sharing your feedback here on…
More »
Now that I've been member for a year and have gone back countless times, I have to eat my words and say THIS PLACE IS AWESOME.
Two things. Planetarium. Rain Forest.
Want to make it even more popular? Put a rollercoaster around the planetarium running through the rain forest. Make the rain forest exit a giant water slide that plops you into a giant tank with Shamu. Paint red bellies on a few small fish, just for nice scare. At the exit, every 10th person leaving wins a 5k tax rebate from Obama or mortgage adjustment from Fannie Mae.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/1/2009
Being an SF native practically, there are some things of old that I miss. The Ice Rink on… Read more »
what can i say that 966 reviews hasn't covered already? a great concept in a gorgeous building has made for an awesome museum! you don't want to miss it!
Well, it's only taken me a year to visit the refurbished California Academy of Sciences. I'm just not big on taxidermy...unless former bosses are the subject and I get to do the job. And I usually like to see fish...on a sushi counter sliced with wasabi. There's also that odd smell those nature museums have....like somebody should have a tub of Fabreze on hand to spray. You know THAT smell. And there was that time when I took out the dinosaur bone, and the whole thing collapsed into a pile. Oh wait, that was a very special episode of "Full House".
Sure, it's great. Sure, it's green. Even the trash cans are labeled appropriately - Recycle, Compost, Landfill. It's eco-nirvana. And yet, it still feels cramped for all the effort to make it look spacious. That's because the entire Western Hemisphere and half the Eastern comes here at the same time. Covering four different areas around the world, the four-story-high Rainforest Dome is quite cool...well, quite humid but still cool. The wait can feel endless, and once in, it makes you feel like a big hamster among other big hamsters in one big Habitrail. Where's my exercise ball?
As you brush the butterflies off on the top floor, you take an express elevator to go down to the bottom where you find yourself in the revamped Steinhart Aquarium looking spiffy with a coral reef tank and all the underwater viewing windows. One of the smarter design touches was allowing people to sit in the underwater tube walkway and look up at the rainforest. You eventually walk up to the main floor where you can go the African Hall to see the traditional dioramas of stuffed wildlife. I never liked that kind of stuff, but I do like the live penguin exhibit and the feeding show is worth seeing.
Naturally, you need to make a pitstop to see Claude, the albino alligator, looking awfully lonely in that pit in the main hall. He is expecting you to gawk. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with the Living Roof on top of the building because the viewing area is so concentrated. For some reason, I thought you could walk around those mounds with the eyes in them. But why quibble about such an impressively designed structure? I just wish there was a better way to handle the crowd control...even one year later. It was just a relief to get out of the building after you make all the essential stops.
3.5 stars it is for the academy of sciences(like the de young museum better). I am a museum buff, like walking into one and getting out with some grey cells put to work.
However, I would say that I was more thrilled before I entered the renovated musuem than after. I loved thier website seemed like they had created one of the best designed museums in the world.
The actual experience seemed underwhelming.
Didn't want to spend money on the experience and went in on a free wednesday(Would recommend you to do the same)
The tropical forest was my favourite part of the museum. must admit that it can get really hot in there :) the flora and fauna of the rainforests are beautifully replicated and displayed appropriately. There are some mock activiites for kids like opening an automated pitcher flower and touching the electrically simulated eel displays. The roof over your head after you get to the acquarium is pretty neat! Many bful picture opportunities there.
The acquarium itself is large as it covers the entire floor and has many displays of different fish and acquatic life.
The display of the swamp was a disappointment. One albino alligator which looked like a dead white rubber animal and a lone bird that flew around the swamp.The planetarium is running a new show called the jjourney of the stars and it didn't impress me in the way that I expected. Loved whoopi's voice during the show though ;)
What I could give a 5 star was food. We were looking for vegetarian food and we found many decent offernings from veg spring rolls, to rice with a turkish potato curry to a black bean soup which looked like and tasted close to indian dal maakhani :)
Overall, you can spend an intersting educative day here and hence the round off.
I found myself very disappointed with my visit yesterday. It was the first time I had come in since the remodeling. I felt that there was less to do or see from when I was younger and would come in on a field trip. Was it because I was younger and more excited? I feel there is way more "architecture" and less "science". I was told I would not be able to see or do everything all in one day, but I was I was able to see everything and see shows with plenty of time to spare. Won't be returning anytime soon.
The price of admission is STUPID EXPENSIVE. It is definitely NOT worth it (luckily I got hooked up for free).
There are, however, events outside of the Academy that are MIND BLOWING. These definitely make up for the sore price point (I think the events occur on Thurs nights).
Went to the museum this last weekend with a friend. $25 for regular admission is definitely pricey, and I didn't think that there was anything in particular about the museum that was so special and unique which warranted that sort of price hike above other science museums. The architecture and exhibits and beautiful, and the planetarium and 3D bug show are fun, but I think a science museum needs more "hands-on" activities for kids.
Went to lunch and the grab-and-go place (not the Moss Room), and it was crazy expensive, but good. I got the shrimp spring rolls (made fresh for me and delicious) for $7.50 and a cup of coffee (blegh) for $2.
The living roof was cool but I think they should put giraffes up there.
Place should be $15 to go into, not $25. I think you are better off going to the De Young museum across the street for a full day of interesting things to look at.
The old one was much more accessible. This one looks great in photographs, but is mostly empty- of exhibits. It is packed with people, each of whom has paid $25 for their trouble. The aquarium is tiny and doesn't flow, and is poorly ventilated. The atrium is quite glorious- ideal for you-name-it private party rental- but is filled with cheap furniture for people to eat hot dogs on when the museum is open.
It basically sucks, I guess is what I'm saying. Sorry guys, but that's how it went down.
This place was pretty cool. I went last night...the exhibits were not extrememly exotic but it was entertaining. I would definitely come here again.
I like it here but I was SCARED by the butterflies' legs and swift black bodies. You might think they are so pretty but if you go in there with a bright yellow shirt on the butterflies bomb you and their legs are spidery! Your private fears of insect torsos quickly become public knowledge when you twist and squeal away from them and smash into toddlers. Nobody understands when girls are afraid of butterflies. I'm sorry little child I stepped on, maybe one day when you are an abused, neurotic adult you will understand.
Like other reviewers, I really wanted to like this place, but it just didn't live up to the hype. First, it was way overpriced. We did get the $3 public transport discount, but it was still $21.95/ person.
We did as we were advised and got on line for the Planetarium right away. That was disappointing. It was all computer graphics and had a random theme of "Fragile Earth". Meh, I felt like I was on one of the rides at Disney, not in a planetarium.
The rainforest area/ exhibit was closed and will be closed for the next week. They told us that before we bought tix though, so I'll give them that.
The aquarium and the amazon were probably the best parts, but again, not worth $21. The tanks in the aquarium that had multiple fish had small screens w/little tidbits about the species that would change but not soon enough. Didn't feel like standing around waiting for the screens after a couple of minutes.
The staff and volunteers were very nice and informative. The food in the cafeteria was good but overpriced. $34 for two bowls of soup, a Caesar salad, two ginger ales and a bag of chips. Ouch.
The living roof was a huge disappointment. The flowers weren't in season, so there was nothing special up there. It looked cooler from the street than it did up close. The climate change area was the worst area. I've seen the same tired stuff in the older areas of the Museum of Natural History in NYC.
Honestly, I wish it was just an aquarium- b/c that was the coolest part.
For all the hub-bub and brouhaha, it's really a run-of-the mill science/natural history museum.
The 'evolution islands' (or whatever they were called) were pretty boring compared to how cool evolution actually is; just a bunch of "this is what we found on the Galapagos Islands" and not enough "this is the science behind evolution."
The planetarium is just an Omnimax theater. Cool in it's on respect, don't get me wrong. And maybe it's just me, but there's something mysterious and magical about a real planetarium with a huge projector in the middle of it. As for the show, I think it's really cool that they created their own in-house at the Academy -- that's awesome! At the same time, I would have preferred actual video (not CGI) of some of the natural wonders we've caught on film. Maybe from a RED camera, or something else super high resolution.
I'm a sucker for aquariums, so the basement made me pretty happy. Lotsa jellyfish and funny looking fish that I get to look at up close. If it reminds me of Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, I'm happy.
The rainforest wasn't that exciting. I didn't see a single goddam parakeet.
So some good, some bad. It's definitely worth checking out, but try to get discount tickets if you go more than once. I'm glad this is around and is always so packed though. Go science!
If you like nature, science, or just a different place to check out, the Academy of Sciences one of those must see attractions. I would have to say it's not comparable to the Monterey Bay Aquarium when it comes to their ocean related exhibits, however, how the Academy differs is it's breadth of nature exhibits such as the albino alligator, rattle snake, giant anaconda, in addition the many other nature exhibits such as the aquarium, planetarium, rain forest and other areas.
I'd recommend signing up for a pass to the planetarium first before browsing around to reserve a seat and time. Then you can browse around and come back 15 to 30 minutes prior to start time. I highly recommend getting a seat in the upper third top area for best viewing.
Although, not as large as some aquariums, I did enjoy browsing through the Steinhart aquarium. The giant sea bass and moray eels were definitely interesting sights among the many exhibits. Another thing to note, is that to get to the giant anaconda, rattle snake, piranha, giant catfish, arowanas, underwater floor of the rain forest and few other interesting exhibits you have to go to a somewhat hidden corner, near the rest rooms downstairs in the Steinhart aquarium area. I almost missed that whole section.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day there with my girlfriend, however, we both were very disappointed to see the downsizing of the swamp from 8 alligators to just 1. I also didn't see some of the unique attractions from years past, such as the 2 headed snake. This made it a little less exciting as I had remembered it from many years ago.
Also maybe just a fluke, but while I was there the Jellyfish exhibit was leaking water and pouring over the floors. Someone quickly attended to that, but that's just a little uneasy. Good thing they don't have a large shark tank.
All in all, this the day there was very fun and I definitely recommend you go check it out.
Every 3rd Wednesday it's actually free. $15 to $25 is the regular admission price. Children under 6 are free. $159 if you buy a family membership pass (2 adults and all kids under 18) for unlimited access all year and special member hours.
One final tip for those driving from outside of SF. If you have GPS and you can't find 55 Music Concourse Dr., try plugging in just 55 Concourse Dr. instead. Although, you really can't miss Golden Gate park ;-)
This is absolutely a great place for couples, families, and the traditional school field trip. If you enjoyed the types of things I described here, you will definitely have a fun day hanging out at the Academy of Sciences.
This place sucks. Maybe I'm spoiled from living in DC and seeing the Smithsonian museums and the Baltimore Aquarium, but damn.
First of all, I wandered aimlessly for a long freaking time in Golden Gate Park trying to find it. Signs are curiously rare in this park for some reason. Maybe it's easier to find if you drive into the park, but it's harder if you're walking or taking public transportation (like me).
Second, it wasn't cheap. Expect to fork over at least $20. I'm guessing the price is to pay for the renovation that it just had.
Third, the design is very cold and empty looking. Exhibits are so-so. I guess that's the best they can do in CA. I don't know.
Don't even bother w/ the planetarium show. The moderator at the beginning seemed nice enough until she started droning on and on about nothing. Finally, the little movie "The Fragile Earth" started.
That seemed pretty cool at the beginning because it makes you feel like you're on some simulated ride, but then they start talking about planets and boring things. Now, I usually love the planetarium and learning about stars, but I fell asleep through part of show! It was that dull and boring!
What happened to the laser light shows?!
UGH. Terrible. Don't waste your money.
Truly underwhelming.
The main exhibit seems to be the Academy Cafe. It's a massive interactive exhibit that presents a field collection of present-day foodstuffs and shows, in real time, numerous examples of contemporary Homo erectus engaged in food consumption.
There are also several Academy Store exhibits, which are ingeniously designed to illustrate the compulsive shopping proclivities of modern-day human families.
If you're one of the hundreds of people who love reading placards, this place will be heaven on earth for you. There are numerous places where you can look at pictures of something and then read corresponding placards.
If you love the lines at Disneyland during peak season, you'll love waiting in line for the rainforest exhibit! While many of the rainforest animals on display were very cool (and I have to assume that the man incessantly taking flash photographs of the animals would agree) you'll have a much better rainforest experience at the Conservatory of Flowers.
I feel bad for the African penguins, all cooped up in that tiny habitat at the end of the Hall of Stuffed Animals. If they could talk, I bet they'd be saying, "Let's get the fudge out of here."
The aquarium was by far the most interesting part of the museum, but its design is not conducive to crowds, and the quality of the exhibit really pales in comparison to the Monterey Bay Aquarium
I feel bad for the African dwarf frog in the "Employee Favorites" section of the aquarium, lying there dead, upside down, apparently having gotten stuck in one of the ill-conceived plants in its habitat. I can't remember which employee had chosen the African dwarf frogs as their favorite, but whoever it was, I'd hate to see how he treats his least favorite animals.
The parking lot is an excellent bargain. You can park there while you visit the Academy of Sciences for only $16.75. You love a good bargain, don't you?
Comment from Amie W. of
California Academy of Sciences
9/29/2009
Hi, thank you for sharing your comments here. We truly value…
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I really want to like the Academy of Sciences. I love the Monterey Bay Aquarium, so I figured this would be similar. My main complaint with the Academy is the price- there are no student or senior discounts and a ticket costs $25. For that price I need to see a mammal or two.
The coral reef is really neat and there are some unusual animals, but a lot of the animals are kept in really small containers for their sizes. The eel is about the same size as its tank and some other large fish are in small habitats as well. I'm not a marine biologist, so I can't provide much insight to habitat quality, but it just struck me as a little sad. I also wish that the planetarium could show some galaxy shows instead of power point presentations on the earth.
The crowds are another story. This is not a huge place, at least compared to the Monetery Aquarium. It's super crowded, at least on the weekends it is, and unless you are ok with a million children running around I'd recommend going during the week. I'm all for education and animal exhibits, but the Academy is really overpriced. I'd suggest buying food around the corner on 9th to save a few bucks on your museum excursion.
Our plan to make short return trips to the California Academy of Science and check out a different portion of the place each time as members is so far working out.
On this, our second visit, the Bay Bridge closure worked to our advantage. While still crowded, the academy wasn't crazy packed. We got into the Morrison Planetarium where we took a digital tour of the solar system with Sigourney Weaver as our narrator. We also managed a visit to the three-story rain forest terrarium that had a three-hour wait wound around it the first time we came to the academy. Home to numerous creatures and lush plant life, butterflies flutter around often landing on patrons and even attempting to accompany them down the elevators to the fabulous Steinhart Aquarium, where visitors can mingle with aquatic life from all over the world.
Unlike our last visit, we ate lunch at the academy this time. It was still organized chaos in the museum's cafeteria but, the food was very good. Made with mainly fresh organics ingredients, the menu offerings are international. I highly recommend the chicken and shitake mushroom buns.
And while this place from its ecology history lessons and studies of living creatures to its living roof and educational displays has a lot of cool factor to it, I just find it overwhelming. There are simply too many people and no crowd control. We have six months left and about 1/3 of the museum to see before our membership runs out and we have yet to come up with a reason to renew. In the end you are simply a number here. There is nothing special about being a member aside from members-only hours that run when most members are working and a pitiful discount at the gift shop along with the education I received during my multiple visits.
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3/22/2009
If you're headed here anytime soon, pack A LOT of patience with you and prepare for crowds. This… Read more »
I would give this 3.5 stars. I've been here twice, last October which was crazy packed and this year, past March or April.
It's gorgeous inside as everything is newly built. My favorite part is the rainforest exhibit. I would advise people to view this first as the line can get really long fast. I like how in the aquarium exhibit downstairs, scientists got to name their favorites and what they worked with. That felt like that was a personal touch and appropriate since they're the ones responsible for putting together and caring for the exhibits. The food in the cafeteria can get costly but it's really good. Everyone is nice there and helpful.
However, I do miss parts of the old aquarium, like the round-about, live tank and the original, evolution of man exhibit. There were parts of the aquarium that just felt like fillers, like the Galapagos Islands exhibit.
The highlight of my family's visit was exploring the four story
Rainforest...that was darn cool. We adored all the beautiful
butterflies in that exhibit. The ambiance was impressive and
a lot of fun. Look around with sharp eyes...some itsy-bitsy
'lil frogs hang out atop of plant leaves.
Note:
Dress in layers when visiting...it is very warm and humid in
the Rainforest. And the crowds are thick...really thick. Many
exhibit areas heat up with all those bodies.
For underwater world sight seeing, my family agreed that we
all preferred the Monterey Aquarium.
CA of S had some cool fishies in their "deep blue seas" such
as a rock fish, spinny fishies, jellyfish and a smidgen of seahorses.
So, some cool and unusual fishies, yet we found some fish exhibits
to be kind of boring.
Several of the reptile exhibits were empty...reptile-less. :(
Planetarium...
we did not get to see that exhibit as there were no passes available.
That was a big bummer. Even if we had gotten passes, the people
in line waited a long, long time to get into the exhibit.
One thing I thought was neat-o were the small built-in-the-wall
mini exhibits that were at kiddo eye level. The 'lil visitors seemed
to have fun.
Other highlights include the awesome Waxy Monkey Tree Frogs,
the albino alligator and really cool froggies and a ginormous toad.
NOTE:
Parking
is
very
frustrating.
We were at this place for less than 3 hours, parking was $10.
AND there was only
one.
yes
one.
parking ticket paying machine on the entire and huge parking level.
The line was ridiculously long. The machine location is
downright stupid...right in the path of cars driving in the ramp.
We had to drive here as we had other stops to make during the day.
Yet, if you can avoid driving...don't drive.
Would we visit again?
Nope.
For us, it was one of those places that was cool enough to visit
once. No regrets for our visit
at
all.
Just far too spendy to consider revisiting; $24.99 per person.
***Photos are OK to take. PLEASE follow the "NO FLASH" rules
in exhibits. The creatures are sensitive. Sadly, we saw too many
people flashing. ***
I posted several no-flash-fotos so you can see some of what we saw.
I was back here yesterday for the second time with a friend who is a member. We saw the brand new planetarium show. It was as good or a little better as the previous one that was narrated by Sigorny Weaver. The new show is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg and focuses more on stars and is a bit more scientific than the previous one. Kids may have a hard time understanding the concepts and following along but it's well put together and is very visually stimulating.
Because of the Anniversary weekend they had lots of extras going on today. Dancers in large dragon suits dancing out front. African drummers in the garden which were very good. Telescopes were up on the living roof. I got to check out solar flares through a filtered telescope and see sun spots on the sun. Incredible.
We also got to chat with one of the docents about human evolution and chimps downstairs. He has replicas of skulls and was very educated and a lot of fun to talk to.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/25/2009
I have mixes feelings on this place. Okay, yes it's over priced. I likes the butterfly habitat. I… Read more »
