Aquarium, Planetarium, Rainforest, Natural History Museum… and more!
WOW – what an amazing museum! The California Academy of Sciences is our favorite museum in San Francisco. It’s the only place in the world that houses one of the world’s largest Planetariums, an Aquarium and Coral Reef, a Natural History Museum, and a glass-domed Rainforest – all under the same roof.
Skip-the-Line Tickets
Plan on spending the whole day here – there’s SO much to see. Get a Skip-the-Line California Academy of Sciences General Admission Ticket and save yourself the hassle of waiting in long lines.
Planetarium
The Planetarium offers an incredible experience! See what it feels like to travel into space and explore the universe. We recommend that you get your Planetarium show tickets when you arrive at the museum before they sell out (they’re included in the price of admission). The shows are extremely popular and the line gets longer throughout the day.
Rainforest
Our favorite area of the museum is the Rainforest. Judging from the crowds, we’re not the only ones! Head over to the Rainforest early before the line gets too long. Costa Rica (the top level) is truly magical. Peer over the railings and look down through the center of the Rainforest where you’ll see free-flying birds and butterflies, and fish swimming below. It’s truly stunning!
Amazon Forest & Aquarium
What’s even more amazing is the view of the Amazon-flooded Forest, located three levels below. Watch people under the 25-ft long acrylic tunnel as they gaze up at the fish swimming overhead. After visiting the Rainforest, take the elevator down to the museum’s spectacular 25-ft deep Aquarium. It houses the world’s deepest (and the nation’s biggest) interior Coral Reef ecosystem. It contains over 3,000 exotic fish, including sharks, rays and sea turtles. Be sure to check out the Moon Jellies too. We could have stood there watching for hours. The sea life is incredible!
Penguins & Sleepovers
Don’t miss the Penguin feeding (10:30am and 3:30pm) at the far end of African Hall. That’s when they’re at their most playful. Arrive early if you want to get a good view as this is one of the museum’s most popular attractions and the room fills up quickly. The museum also offers Penguins+Pajamas Sleepovers for families and groups. Contact the museum for more info on prices, schedules, and advance ticket reservations.
Living Room and Observation Terrace
Take the elevator up to the 2.5-acre “green” Living Roof and open-air Observation Terrace. The views from the top are spectacular, especially on a fog-free day. Get a bird’s eye view of Golden Gate Park, the Music Concourse (and Bandshell) and the M.H. de Young Museum. The Living Roof features almost two million native California plant species, including perennial plants and colorful native wildflowers. Specialists are on hand to answer your questions, so don’t be shy.
White Alligator in the Swamp
When you get to the Swamp (another popular museum exhibit), say hi to Claude. He’s the first White Alligator we’ve ever seen and he’s quite stunning.
Nightlife at the Academy
Experience the museum at night with your family and friends. Nightlife is held every Thursday from 6-10pm. Adults 21+ with ID. Advance Tickets are highly recommended as this is a popular event. We experienced one of the first Nightlife’s after the museum’s opening and it was a lot of fun!
Book Skip the Line: California Academy of Sciences General Admission Ticket
