California Academy of Sciences
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Free Admission Days
There are numerous opportunities to visit the Academy free of charge, including:
- Wachovia Wednesdays: Free general admission to the Academy on the third Wednesday of every month is made possible by Wachovia.
- Neighborhood Free Days: San Francisco residents in each zip code enjoy free general admission on select weekends, including Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Ticket Discounts
Visitors can receive $3 off their general admissions tickets by 1) Taking public transportation to the Academy or 2) Biking or walking to the Academy. Discounts also available if you're a AAA member.
52 Reviews for California Academy of Sciences
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1 family found this helpful
"Tis the Season for Science "
After hearing so much about the California Academy of Sciences and how it’s the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a four-story rainforest, a planetarium, and a natural history museum all under one roof, I drove up from Sacramento to visit with two boys (ages 3 and 4.)
Now through January 16, the Academy celebrates 'Tis the Season for Science', the science behind some of our most familiar holiday sights, sounds, and traditions. The wintry festivities made an impression on me from the moment I entered the building. It was a winter wonderland in the Academy’s central piazza. Twice an hour the Academy makes it snow inside. We lucked out because it was snowing right as we walked in! I saw children try to catch the artificial snowflakes on their tongues. I longed to enter the "Snowman Theater"—an immersive digital dome (imagine a huge inflatable igloo) shaped like a giant snowman, but alas, the opening looked like it might be a tight fit for my two giant strollers and I wasn’t sure how much elbow room my wriggly young toddlers would have once inside. I had visions of my son trampling everyone inside and bringing the entire dome crashing down. Where does snow come from? How is it formed? I guess I’ll never know since I missed the show!
I felt the nostalgia of Christmas gone by when admiring the taxidermy specimens of the real birds mentioned in "The Twelve Days of Christmas.” For the first time my son was able to perceive the differences between a swan, a goose, colly birds (colly means "black"), hens, doves, and a partridge. The beautiful taxidermy birds are way better learning tools then the flashcards I buy for him from Target. I found myself wishing I had a taxidermy version of every animal at home to show him.
Next we had an up close and personal experience with a pair of live reindeer in the museum’s East Garden!! To get here, the mountain reindeer traveled up the freeway in a trailer from Tehachapi, California, a journey which takes about 6 hours by car. Had they hoofed it, it would have taken ten days. It may sound like a long trip when compared to car travel times, but reindeer actually migrate farther each year than any other land mammal, up to 33 miles each day. The children and I were able to touch a reindeer antler and I learned an interesting reindeer fact: lichens and mosses are the reindeer’s favorite food. One species of lichen is so commonly eaten by Santa’s sleigh-pullers that it’s called “reindeer lichen.”
Outside in the East Garden the boys enjoyed the freedom to run around and burn off some energy before we headed to the hot and humid four story rainforest. The rainforest environment is ideal for frogs because their skin is a thin, not so ideal for my toddler dressed in denim overalls and a long sleeved Mickey Mouse shirt. For the sake of science we pressed on after I rolled his pants to his knees for extra ventilation. The sounds of exotic animals from around the world transported us to the tropics. In fact, this exhibit is so spectacular that my son actually thought he was in a rainforest! He clung to my leg at every unusual sound and cried, “Mommy, scary monster!” He ran from the beautiful butterflies like they were flying piranha fish. (Sigh, only my son, but what a great experience for him to see them up close!)
I could not have been more impressed with this exhibit. It was truly out of this world incredible! I saw parrots, bats, and butterflies as I climbed into the canopy of a living rainforest. I cannot wait to go back and visit the rain forest again.
The soothing sights of swimming fish at Steinhart Aquarium were the perfect thing to calm my little one down. He happily sat in his stroller while I ogled over the impressive Philippine Coral Reef, one of the deepest exhibits of live corals in the world. At the Northern California Coast Gallery there's a Discovery Tide pool where children and adults can touch and examine a wide variety of ocean creatures. I love touching sea creatures! I was instantly a kid again! The aquarium is huge and diverse and mind blowing. I saw jelly fish, sting rays, and an albino alligator. I so wish Sacramento had an Academy of Sciences. People of San Francisco – I am very jealous!!
I can’t possible describe everything worth mentioning at the Academy in this review so just trust me when I say, the Academy of Sciences is nothing short of “astonishing-amazing-oh my goodness-magnificent -I can’t wait to visit again-tacular!!”
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL EXCURSION:
1. Parking: While I’ve heard parking can be a challenge here, I was able to secure a free spot at the back of the building with little effort. It was a short beautiful walk from the car to the museum.
2. Where to Eat: The cafeteria is expensive and there is no kids menu. I threw goldfish and grapes in Tupperware containers in the back of my stroller for my son to munch on when we braked for lunch. I purchased a grilled cheese sandwich, a banana, a cup of coffee, and a bottle of sparking water for $20. I did not see artificial sweetener at the coffee bar.
California Academy of Sciences provided my family with complimentary tickets for this review. California Academy of Sciences did not request that I express any particular point of view and my reviews always reflect my honest opinions.
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It's helpful2 families found this helpful
"Magical"
We always go visit the butterflies and birds, and then go down into the acquarium to see the fish. My kids are always excited and enthralled and this museum truly captures their budding imaginations. The only downsides are that it is a little expensive to visit especially if you have small kids and only want to be there for a couple of hours, and also that children under 5 can't go into the planetarium - I understand why, but for me, that' a shame.
3 families found this helpful
"Membership is 100% worth it"
Without going over all of the highlights and drawbacks that other trekaroo members have mentioned, here are a few tips to help make your Cal Academy time the best it can be:
Entrance Fee: Most local venues offer free entrance to children *under* 3yo. CalAcademy is free for kids "3 and under" making this the best spot for that 3rd year (plus there are plenty of activities for this age group). There are free days, but it's packed so we avoid them. Some discounts can be found so don't think you have to pay full price.
Membership: If you're a SAHM with a 2-3yo, get yourself a individual membership and take your toddler here as often as you can. Bring your partner on the weekend or meet another parent/toddler and get them in for free as well. The individual membership includes entrance for one other adult (or an older child). This year, I got my membership during a February special for 20% off. However, they do not participate in any reciprocal programs.
Lines: No doubt about it, the rainforest and planetarium will have lines on weekends and weekdays during the tourist season. The thing is there is so much else to do, why limit yourself to these parts.
Toddlers: Do NOT miss the Kids Cove, the excellent indoor playground designed for the under 5yo set with a padded area for pre-walkers, a ship with galley and bunk, and a multilevel tree, with lots of books, puzzles and the cutest LEGO set I've ever seen. Expect to take your shoes off and yes, it does get full sometimes, but 75% of the time we go, we get in within minutes. They even have crayons and tables covered in paper for coloring to keep the kids occupied while you wait. If your child is older than 3yo or so, and it's too busy, go upstairs instead and play puzzles, read books on bean bags or play video games at the Naturalist Center, one of the quietest places in the museum (membership includes borrowing privileges). Or go next door to the most kid-friendly gift shop and play with the displays (but consider buying the book, Pierre the Penguin, it's great!)
Cafe: Yes, it can get pricey fast, though you get a fair amount of food that is crazy better than most museum cafeterias (compare it to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, I dare you). After you've chosen some dim sum or slow-roasted ribs or a large bowl of mac&cheese, take your tray out to the covered porch (with heating lamps) then let your kids eat their fill and run around the garden, climb on the seal statues and play hide and seek behind the trees, confident that they're not going anywhere cause it's completely fenced in. What is particularly amazing about this cafe though is that whenever I've been there by myself with my wriggly son on hip, a staff member magically arrived at my side to help me by carrying my tray to any remaining stations, then the cashier then table of my choice, stopping by the condiment bar to get napkins, hoisin sauce and silverware. Brilliant and worth tipping.
Our favorite activities: Waving at Claude, the albino alligator. Watching the penguin feeding (or just watching them frolic) . Ogling at the replica of Lucy's bones, the whale skeleton, or the T. Rex skeleton at the entrance. Watching the rays and sharks swimming beneath us through the floor windows. Picking out different kinds of fish in the aquarium tunnel.
It's a whole different experience for older kids and adults, but my 3yo never ever gets tired of this place.
1 family found this helpful
"Rainy day, sunny day - great anytime!"
We've been members of the Academy now for 3 years and this membership is probably the useful and utilized membership that we've ever had. My children are 3, 5, and 7 and there's always been something interesting and wonderful for all of them starting from when my youngest was still an infant. There's an infant/toddler room that many folks don't even notice but it's a good place to be able to take off your shoes (mandatory, so bring socks if you're not wearing any that day), and let your kids crawl/walk/explore with puzzles, role-playing, read -- there's a treehouse, a miniature boat, and a bathroom adjacent for diaper-changing. For the older kids there's the rainforest and the living roof. The African animal exhibit and the aquarium (with hands-on tide pools) are winners with all ages and plenty of seating and room so that even the most crowded days don't feel too claustrophobic. Okay, then there's also the food, which is reasonably-priced, extremely diverse, and much better than most attraction cafeterias that we've been to (e.g., Scharffenberger chocolate pudding! Vietnamese pho! And wine/beer...plus the good standbys like mac-n-cheese, quesadillas). Finally, there are also 2 outdoor areas where you can usually find a table (heat lamps also are there for the cooler days) and your kids can run around the grassy lawn without you having to corral them, quiet them down, etc. This is definitely one of my favorite go-to spots to take the kiddos whether it's rain or shine.
1 family found this helpful
"California Academy of Sciences"
Ok, it's better than what it was in its old location, but its still not that great. I never was a fan of the Academy of Sciences. Come on, we're San Francisco. We should have a building devoted to each of the three areas covered (Aquarium, Observatory, Museum), but instead we have all three crammed into one? I'm a big fan of all three separate museums in Chicago and found the small quarters and lack of information at the Academy of Sciences pretty sad and pathetic. My kids liked the Rainforest and the way you were walking above the fish underneath. It was fine if you didn't know any better. The food in the cafeteria was expensive and to me, the whole thing was not worth it.
0 families found this helpful
"WOW!"
The new California Academy of Sciences is wonderful from living top to bottom! I went with some friends on a weekend shortly after it opened and it was very crowded! Even still, we enjoyed ourselves. Some highlights are the aquarium and the I-Max type movie on outer space. I would recommend going during the week if you can and get there early to spend the whole day. There is food available there but it is over priced and I recommend bringing a lunch to eat on the grass outside. We didn't get to see the rain forest exhibit (it was far to crowded) but it looked super cool from the outside :0)
0 families found this helpful
"California Academy of Sciences"
We spent an entire day here with my 7 year old stepson. The rainforest was awesome and we easily spent an hour in that. I would suggest getting tickets for shows early since they were gone by the time we got there. Also the line for lunch was insane and it was tough to keep track of everyone in our group and find seating. The museum is interesting and there is a lot to look at so plan on spending an entire day there.
0 families found this helpful
"Well worth it!"
Ticket prices are steep ($25) and combined with parking prices, I only visit once in awhile. i would recommend going to Nightlife (if you are going without Children) because the tickets are for $12 instead of $25. Although you cannot go to the Rainforest Section or watch the Planetarium show, its a great glimpse of what the museum has to offer and you get to see the whole place in a different light.
0 families found this helpful
"It was alright :l"
I went to the academy of siences a couple years back with my now 12 year old daughters class. It was a good expirience and both me and my daughter enjoyed going, she especially liked it, partly because she was with her class, but she genuinly enjoyed it, and so did I.
1 family found this helpful
"Perfect place"
If you want to be amazed by architecture and overwhelmed by science exploration, this place is perfect. It also has a tot spot for little ones called the tiny explorers cove. It is really expensive but I have a secret way of sneaking in with members:) Just ask! sometimes they will let you:) It is also a start to a wonderful day in the park as well.
0 families found this helpful
"Expensive, but worth it"
My whole family loves this place. My 2 year-old could easily spend the whole day there. There is just so much to see and everything is so well thought through.
My daughter loves the observatory with butterflies and the penguin feeding exhibit. I personally love the amazon exhibit. There is also a nice cafe in the building, so you can go grab a HEALTHY lunch (they have soups, sandwiches, salads, etc).
0 families found this helpful
"visited twice"
i have visited this place twice, my daughter likes fish in aquariums and sea horses.
i like amazon rain forest dome, aquariums, lively African animals, roof of the building.
admission and food are expensive
admission is free on third Wednesday of every month (expect long lines)
1 family found this helpful
"Very Educational if You Can Get Near Anything"
If you're headed here anytime soon, pack A LOT of patience with you and prepare for crowds. This place has a lot to offer and a lot to learn from if you can get near any of it!!! The crowds were so overwhelming, I think it would be a great idea for the SF Fire Chief to hightail it over there and monitor the situation. We weren't able to see a single show ---- apparently they offer a spectacular bug show and some planetarium thing but, by noon there were no show passes to be had. You could view a rain forest housed in a three-story terrarium bubble, if you cared to wait two-hours in a line. Have you ever waited in line with an active 7-year-old and an anxious 4-year-old? Hell, doesn't even begin to describe it.
There were three eating choices in the place ---- the largest, which was just off the entryway , was so crowded, people were eating on the floor. The second choice had a 40-minute wait in line and the third choice, labeled as fine dining, cost a small fortune.
So people, here is what I suggest you do should you want to see this place:
Get a membership. A family membership is just under $160. You can write it off on your taxes and visit multiple times in a year. You also avoid waiting in the massive (and I mean MASSIVE) ticket line to get in. Arrive during members-only hour (which is the hour before the museum opens to the public), collect any show passes you want at that time and see as much as you possibly can before the throngs crush through the doors.
If you need to eat --- walk out of the park toward Irving (just walk in the direction of the bandstand in between the academy and the De Young and keep going until you hit the edge of the park) and patronize a local restaurant (there are many over in the area of Irving) where you won't be treated like just another number in the sea of humanity. You can return to the museum after your meal satiated and ready to learn as the folks who lined up at the same time are fainting from hunger or fuming with frustration.
0 families found this helpful
"California Academy of Sciences"
I took my 15 month old daughter to the California Academy of Sciences for the first time. It looks so different now since they remodeled it. They even have a nice toddler area for them to play at. When it gets crowded, you have to wait in line a little bit. I took my daughter to the aquarium area. She loves looking at the different kinds of fish. We also went to see the rainforest. It was very nice. We need to go back to see the rest of it.
0 families found this helpful
"Great Fun & Educational Experience"
This place has so much to look at its amazing! There's a great rain forest walk through, and the astronomy show is a must-see, especially since there's not additional cost. The Aquarium is nice as well, and the penguins are adorable. Just keep in mind the food options are not cheap.
0 families found this helpful
"Good for new parents on leave"
We had a family membership, and I wish I had visited more often during my maternity leave, when my baby and I could go on a weekday.
The aquarium was a big draw for us; my baby enjoyed eyeballing the fish and other animals, and it made a nice, restful change from just walking around the neighborhood. Plus it was easy to nurse discreetly in the back row of seats facing the big tropical tank.
Like other reviewers, I'd recommend sticking to weekdays if possible and making short trips rather than trying to squeeze in every sight. I was also glad I could use a carrier rather than a stroller in those crowds.
2 families found this helpful
"Awesome Visit"
Although I grew up in San Francisco and going the California Academy of Science, I haven't been back since the Academy re-opened last year. So, we were very excited to be asked to review the new Extreme Mammal Exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. I must say that the Academy did not disappoint! From young to old, we all found something interesting and exciting to be enjoyed at the Academy.
Cast:
Grammy, 67. Never visited the Academy before.
Heather, 37. Visited the Academy on field trips as a kid, but haven’t been since the remodel. BLOWN AWAY by the remodel!
Joshua, 6. Animal expert. He’s been twice before with school. He acted as our guide.
Natalie, 5. Never been. She loves sea turtles and clown fish. She was not disappointed.
The first stop we made at the Academy was at the very rare albino crocodile. I had never seen such a thing! The kids were fascinated and delighted in observing the crocodile and watching him move. Helen, our docent, explained that the crocodile hardly ever moved, so it was a rare treat to see him active.
Next, we toured the ground floor where our docent showed us several “highlights” including the rain forest dome, and the “teaser” exhibit for the Extreme Mammals exhibit. She also answered questions on the various differences between the new Academy and the Academy I remember from my youth. I thought the renovation was exquisite and tasteful. Just enough of the old to respect the history of the building mixed with enough of the new to propel the Academy through several more decades. The one thing I really appreciated was they kept the sense of exploration and learning that always existed in the old Academy.
One of the main highlights the Academy is the Rainforest Dome. To get into the Rainforest, you enter another guarded door, where it is explained to you that you must climb to the top and then take an elevator down to the aquarium level. There is no other exit. For this reason, do not go into the Rainforest unless you can spend at least 20 minutes in there. However, once you’re in, you’ll discover that the Rainforest is awesome. There are butterflies flying by you, parrots, and all sorts of creatures. You ascend on a winding walkway which takes you through the various levels of the rainforest – from the ground up. Once at the top, you can overlook the Rainforest as if you were in the canopy! Two warnings: as it is a Rainforest, it is very temperate inside. If you do not tolerate warmer temperatures, this is an exhibit best observed from outside the exhibit. Second, ou will have butterflies flying on you, at you, and all around you! While inside the Rainforest, we even saw a bird busy building its nest. It was noisy, hot, and colorful in there – its hard to describe, but it felt like we had been transported into a real rainforest! It was great!
Once done, we descended by elevator to the aquarium level. Unfortunately, we did not have much time left before I had to leave for work, so we just made a brief visit to the aquarium. I cannot wait to go back for some more time! The aquarium has several sections, all filled with amazing views of the fish, sea turtles, sharks, and other creatures of the deep. There is even a peek-a-boo spot just for kids! The kids loved that part the best – especially since they had to describe what they were seeing to me and Grammy. According to my kids, “[it was] AWESOME!”
Finally, we just *had* to check out the gift shop. Here, we found quite a treasure or two! There are all kinds of neat and unique gift items here. They have an expansive book collection, organic clothing and bags, and beautiful artwork. The best part is that it was, for the most part, reasonably priced.
We had a really amazing day at the Academy of Sciences and cannot wait to go back. We hope to become members soon so we can spend our time exploring each of the areas extensively. While you can do a short trip like we did, it is best to save the trip for a day when you can give it a lot of time. Keep in mind that we went on an off-day; during the weekend and especially during holiday weeks, it can get quite crowded.
The best deal, in my opinion, would be to become a member – even if you are only visiting for a short time. Family memberships are reasonably priced and most come with discounts you can use at the shop. Single-day tickets can be steep, especially when you add-on parking.
*This review is based on a complimentary visit to Academy of Sciences. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
0 families found this helpful
"California Academy of Science"
There is no doubt that this is a fantastic day out for older kids and adults- the exhibits are awesome and just the building itself is worth seeing.My kids are pre-school age and younger and so the value we got from the day was fairly limited. They really enjoyed the aquarium which has a very cool walk through tank, and the kids zone turned out to be a huge hit, but the admission is a little too steep to justify these two areas alone. I will definitely go back, but not for a few more years...
0 families found this helpful
"Wonderful place to spend the day"
I couldn't believe it at first when my daughter said that she wanted to go here. I was almost knocked off my feet. But once I went there, I could completely understand why! It was a total blast! She spent countless hours in the children's playroom and kept herself occupied. I had to almost drag her out of there in order to get lunch, where once again, I was impressed! The food was outstanding and I'd love to recommend this place to everyone~
1 family found this helpful
"Great SF addition"
We went for the first time last year. We will be back many, many times. The aquarium is absolutely fantastic. The planetarium show is like nothing I have seen before and is well worth the effort of getting ing. Reserve a spot early!!! The penguin show is very interesting. SF has done a fantastic job of making science and nature accessible and fun all in one roof. We appreciated the eco-friendly building and messaging. The location is central to many other attractions. Easy to get to.....parking, well is SF what do you expect? The cost is fair. Plam on spend a day or two. Fun for all ages.
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