Attracting over a million visitors every year, this academy is one of the world’s most respected scientific institutions.
Opened in 1853, the California Academy of Science includes a planetarium, an aquarium and one of the world’s largest natural history museums.
As well as being a popular attraction with the public, the academy is home to a world-class team of botanists, geologists and anthropologists who all work behind the scenes in the name of human scientific research. The academy was completely rebuilt in 2008 and now one of the city’s top attractions.
The Steinhart Aquarium is home to some 38,000 live species from all over the world, contained within a four-storey dome that has been developed to replicate the climate and biological diversity of the rainforest. There is everything here from sharks and stingrays to African penguins.
Head on over to the state-of-the-art Morrison Planetarium to see the universe in all its glory, before moving on to the Kimball Natural History Museum. The Museum has exhibits that delve into all four corners of the earth, and explores evolution from prehistoric times right up to the present day.
Check the academy’s website for a schedule of the behind-the-scenes tours that take place daily around the aquarium and the rest of the academy. The friendly and helpful guides will really help you to appreciate and understand the incredible amount of information on display. The Academy Café and the Moss Room serve up delicious meals to help you recharge your batteries after all that learning!
Located in the Golden Gate Park, you can reach the California Academy of Sciences by public transport, shuttle services, car or bicycle. If you drive, remember that the parking fills up quickly during weekends and holidays. The academy is open every day except Christmas and Thanksgiving.
