This is a fun and different way to spend an hour (max) if you happen to be close by, or at one Golden Gate park's other attractions. It's very pretty and peaceful and my kids love to wander through and follow the paths.. they spent a while climbing up and exploring the barrel bridge, but ultimately there is a limited amount of things to do here. I also suffered sticker shock at the price of a small cup of tea and some crackers! Lovely place to take photos of your kids.

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...

Getting to the Zoo itself during a busy period (Xmas) in terms of traffic and parking left a lot to be desired, however the experience once inside the zoo gates was worth it. Such a huge variety of animals and a lot of ground to cover, would actually merit a 2-day visit. This zoo has it all, and appeals to all ages. Make sure that you have a stroller for young kids as the enclosures are big and spread out so this means a lot of walking (or waiting around for the zoo shuttle to take you on a tour)... but it truly is a fabulous place. if you are only there for one day, your biggest challenge will be deciding what not to see....

This place is just fantastic for all ages. Yes, it is an expensive day out (definitely worth getting the membership if you are local) but even as a one off, I think you get your money's worth. Such an amazing variety of marine life, and so tastefully and almost artfully displayed. The kids area is just great (mine would spend the whole day there if I let them) as it lets them get wet and burn off some energy.. the touch pools fantastic too- my 4 year old daughter is obsessed with star fish, so she really gets her fix. There is an amazing sea horse exhibition on at the moment, well worth seeing these wonders of the ocean close up.. and the thing that my kids loved this time was the new turtle tank- the little guys were so friendly and playful, coming right up to the glass- my kids just couldn't get enough of them. Be prepared to get suckered into to the gift shops- I find it very hard to try and avoid that place as my kids want everything in there. The cafe inside the aquarium is quite good, but if you fancy going out there is a good selection of kid friendly eateries within a five minute walk. They will stamp you for re-entry so that you can come back in to burn off your lunch whilst watching the diver feed the fish in the amazing kelp tank..

LOVE this place! We have worn out our membership as it is just a great place to spend a few hours with the kids indoors when the weather is no co-operating. The only negative thing that I can say is that it does get very very busy at times which makes it more of a challenge with three kids, but on the days when it is quiet (late afternoons, mornings in the early part of the week) it doesn't get much better. We can spend two hours in the wonder cabinet alone (designed for pre-school kids, array of activities including a very popular arts and crafts room). Don't forget a change of clothes as your kids are undoubtedly going to get soaked in the water or bubbles area. There's not much room to eat inside if you bring your own lunch, and the line for lunch can be long and slow if you try and eat at the cafe during peak times.