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California Academy of SciencesvsExploratorium
Both Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences are recommended by expert reviewers. Overall, Exploratorium scores marginally better than California Academy of Sciences. Exploratorium ranks #1 in San Francisco with approval from 12 publications like Travel + Leisure, Michelin Guide and Time Out.
California Academy of Sciences
Fodor's
Concierge
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Condé Nast Traveler
Afar Magazine
Where
Atlas Obscura Atlas Obscura Travel + Leisure Show All Reviews
55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118
From $0/night
Fodor's "The Cal Academy is one of the city's most spectacular treasures." Full review
Concierge "The California Academy of Sciences is as renowned for its collection—over 26 million specimens gathered over the past 150 years—as it is for the building that houses them."
i
Be sure to pick up tickets for the hourly shows at the state-of-the-art Morrison Planetarium, the world's largest all-digital planetarium; sit up high for the best perspective on the 75-foot-diameter dome.
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Architect Renzo Piano's 2008 landmark LEED-certified green building houses 38,000 weird and wonderful animals in a four-story rainforest and split-level aquarium." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The Museum, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, extends green, sustainable architecture in unprecedented ways." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Renowned for its collection—over 26 million specimens gathered over the past 150 years—as it is for the building that houses them." Full review
i
Even on a foggy day, when mist twirls in the treetops, the park views from atop the roof are stupendous.
Afar Magazine "The California Academy of Sciences is an unfortunately stuffy name for an institution that is anything but staid." Full review
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) It would be easy to spend an entire day or more seeing all of the Academy's exhibits, so be prepared to pick and choose among them.
Where "The academy is an international center for scientific education and research and the only museum in the world to house an aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum under one (living) roof." Full review
Atlas Obscura "Over 315,000 preserved amphibians and reptiles in jars. " Full review
Atlas Obscura "A century and a half of research in the sciences and natural history, still going strong. " Full review
Travel + Leisure "The California Academy of Sciences covers a broad reach, blending innovative and interactive exhibits that make this a local favorite." Full review
Exploratorium Fodor's Concierge
Frommer's Lonely Planet Travel + Leisure Condé Nast Traveler
Not For Tourists
Michelin Guide Afar Magazine Where Show All Reviews
Pier 15, on the Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111
From $0/night
Fodor's "Walking into this fascinating "museum of science, art, and human perception" is like visiting a mad-scientist's laboratory." Full review
Concierge "Adults as well as kids will enjoy blowing giant bubbles or entering a tiny room that scrambles one's sense of perspective."
Frommer's "Scientific American magazine rated the Exploratorium "the best science museum in the world" -- and I couldn't agree more." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Find answers to questions you wished you'd learned in school, at San Francisco's thrilling hands-on science museum." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Prepare to spend several hours here; rotating exhibits like “Making Sense of Sound,” where visitors don headphones to hear how deer, snakes, and other creatures process sound." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Designed... to teach you about science and perception through play." Full review
i
New, larger, oceanfront location and excellent restaurant
Not For Tourists "Experimental hands-on museum of science, art, and human perception."
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"This innovative museum of science, art and human perception has served as a model for similar science museums around the world since its opening in 1969." Full review
Afar Magazine "This is not, however, a museum simply for kids—though curious kids will definitely be entertained while learning. Instead, its exhibits aim to raise the scientific literacy of visitors of all ages." Full review
Where "This educational center offers an array of interactive scientific exhibits and hands-on displays that stimulate the senses and minds of the young and old alike." Full review
