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August 2023 by Shing-Lai Ng
2023/08/18I had a nice shopping experience there. One staff Anna was really nice and friendly.
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April 2023 by Shelli H.
The California Academy of Science is a must go for everybody. I grew up going to field trips here, then chaperoned field trips here when my kids were in school. First time taking my granddaughter! So fun!The rainforest is always a treat. I love the clear examples of how we are all connected. Every living thing. So much to learn and wonder. And then, butterflies flying all around you? Who isn't mesmerized by that?Quick note about the rainforest, it gets hot! Wear layers so you can continue learning without sweating your butt off. All of these visits and this is first time I noticed the 4 eyed fish! I always gotta say hello to my old friend the white gator.The planetarium is reservation only so we skipped it this time.They have a cafe, but we brought lunch from home and ate outside where there is a nice area for the littles to run around and play and to build a nest like a squirrel and other activities. We also indulged in expresso from the coffee booth out front. And hung out by the fountains listening to some great live music. Last tip, tickets are cheaper online and early than at the door.
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April 2023 by Christen D.
I have been wanting to go here for the longest time since moving to the peninsula and finally got to go on a Sunday with entry between 11am-12pm. What a lovely experience! A really sweet employee at the entrance met us and encouraged us to make reservations for the Planetarium showings that day as they usually sell out quickly. I read reviews from people who didn't know that reservations had to be made so I was really grateful that she reminded us to do this as soon as we entered.The Planetarium experience was awesome! A little dizzying for me but that's because I'm pretty sensitive to motion sickness (which was warned in the beginning of the show). We saw the Big Astronomy showing and it was very interesting to learn about the different telescopes in Chile and how they are maintained. I would have loved to learn about the Universe but the showing was only offered at 10:30am and 4:30pm, which was sort of a bummer because that looked like the most interesting show! I wish it had more times.The Aquarium was very cute and informative. Lots of exhibits, but this is definitely for people who have NOT been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium as I found most of it pretty repetitive (though I have no problem with it as I am a huge fan of Marine Biology). For others, though, whose first time it is to the Bay Area and want to learn about the marine life we have here, it is wonderful!My favorite exhibit was the Rainforest exhibit. Definitely an experience to remember. It was very immersive and I'm happy to see that the flora and fauna are maintained very well. There are several feeding stations for the butterflies that you can walk up to and see them up close, and they are free to fly all over the room along with the different birds (that are quite hard to find - but they are there!). There are lots of stations on sustainability and how to help save our rainforests and eat responsibly that I appreciated very much.Was it worth the $40some entrance fee? Yes! Would I go again for that price? Probably not, but I'm glad that I finally got to. A very lovely experience for someone into the sciences.
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April 2023 by Cat L.
Love the Academy!! We've been family membership holders for more than a decade and it's worth every cent! The employees are helpful and friendly, the exhibits are engaging and beautifully presented. I was a bit bummed that they've Americanized their menu, it used to have a wonderful, international options and seems to have segued into pizza, nuggets, burgers and pre-packaged salads - that part is so disappointing. I'd recommend bringing a lunch with you! Other than that, it's a must see and do for children and adults alike.
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April 2023 by Vanessa B.
I wish I had much more time to visit here instead of just a few hours. This museum is wonderful and has so many great exhibits to view and look at. I especially loved the biome in the middle filled with butterflies! It was beautiful and a wonderful way to experience tropical creatures. I purchased my son the book about Claude and the stuffed animal to go with it as something to bring home to him. Now all he wants to do is go to California to go visit Claude. I cannot wait to be back!
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March 2023 by Thomas M.
We moved from California to Texas and came across a new house guest in the last few months. So far 3 have shown up. Small right now, only a 1/4 inch in size. We would like to know what type of spider this is.
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March 2023 by Pam M.
This was wonderful place to go. We were not able to see all of it. What we saw was a lot of interesting things. The only downside was there were large groups of students and they were so loud. The child I was with was on the spectrum so it was hard with it being so noisy.
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March 2023 by Yuli O.
We visited the academy on a Tuesday around noon. It was pretty busy at this time with field trips and other visitors, but it wasn't over crowded! There was a bit of a line to get tickets which took about 20-30 minutes of waiting. Once inside, you can figure out how you want to navigate the academy! The first floor has the rain forest and planetarium (which requires a reservation). The bottom floor has the aquarium and the top floor has a mineral exhibit and some preserved animals. My favorite part was definitely the aquarium. There are so many aquatic species to see and it is a beautiful part of the academy. The planetarium was a bit underwhelming. The graphics weren't great and people were talking and coughing non stop during the show which was super distracting. The macaws in the rainforest were another highlight of my day. There may be a line to get in the rainforest but it moves pretty quickly! All of the staff I interacted with were super helpful and friendly! I will definitely be back.
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March 2023 by Jessica Q.
The last time I was here was when this place was around the time this place just opened (2009) so it's been a long while.A fair amount seems the same as before but they've updated a good amount of things in the museum. My cousin, his girlfriend, my boyfriend, and I stopped by to enjoy the Night Life (for 21+). We watched the last showing in the Planetarium about Dark Matter. This event felt like an anime convention meeting a museum. Several additions included: an arts-and-crafts station, dance floor, claw machine to win the alligator plush, alcohol stations, and a live orchestra playing various video games' content. Doors open around 6:00 pm and the line moves quickly to get in. The rainforest dome closes around 7:30 pm and the line for this is extensive. There's a fair share of things to do so you have to pick wisely. Parking- Free street parking or the garage below. Only one pay station and no payment when exiting.Restrooms-Located on every floor but only the one nearest the exit is available when closing.
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March 2023 by Mitchell Brunelli
The shirts are cheaply made. I bought two of them and both had loose or frayed stitching before even washing. Doesn’t look like they will be lasting very long.
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February 2023 by Nancy C.
Quick take: Can't believe I haven't reviewed this placeI've had a membership to the CA Academy of Sciences for many years. This is a great place to spend half a day ir a full day. Love the flexibility of coming whenever we want.Definitely recommend this place as a date or a family outing.
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February 2023 by Rimi K.
*^Lots of exhibit, good for all ages, kid, friendly, toddler area, live roof^*I've been here before kids, and after kids. Both were absolutely amazing and completely worth it. Great for work events.Lots of fun exhibits with multiple floors. Interactive exhibit's, four children and adults alike. Easy to spend the entire day here. Periodic local days. Highly recommend.
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July 2022 by Jessie B.
Went for a friend's birthday. Went on a Thursday around 1pm. Didn't realize it was part aquarium, although I should have because I knew they had a crocodile lol. Penguins are adorable! The annoying thing is the tickets are so frigging expensive ($44) you end up getting the membership since it's tax deductible and can include a guest. If you're a couple or a family it just makes sense if you're ever gonna go again. The cafe was good, had a burger with fries and sparkling wine. So elegant, I know Definitely want to go back for the nighttime version on Thursdays, because there were so many kids and camps there, was hard not to get run over by a herd of children.
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July 2022 by Ricky K.
California Academy of Sciences is basically your essential science museum that makes SF so special. It's practically been here for so long that it should be a must see for anyone who wants to visit the city! I have been here since I was a kid on field trips so it's cool being able to see so much of evolve. From exhibits like the tropical rain forests, the bugs, birds, fish, the infamous albino alligator, the planetarium, fossils, there's quite a lot to see at this place! There's so much to see, so much to learn, and it's so fun to come with friends here. I went with two of my coworkers for the Nightlife part of the academy and it was a great experience! One of my favorite parts is definitely the Planetarium room. It's kind of like this cutting-edge visualization room that's shaped like a dome where you get to sit back and enjoy stellar visuals of the galaxy and more! It's so relaxing, you can learn a lot from this place, it's visually stunning, and if you're tired like me, you might calmly fall asleep too haha. Definitely make a stop in this room when you get the chance! I'm always fascinated by insects, so the bug exhibition is also really cool too. But overall, this is an amazing place. There's a lot to do and a lot to see and learn and it would make sense since this place has been here for years. My only caveat to this is that parking is extremely hard unless you go in the parking lot and the food is basically common cafeteria food. I'd rather get food elsewhere before/after coming here!
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July 2022 by Alden C.
If you are ever visiting SF or are from here, the California Academy of Sciences is always worth going because of how unique each section of this museum is. My favorite is the aquarium without a doubt especially the tunnel where all sorts of marine life are swimming above your head. I had to sit there in awe for a solid 15-20 minutes in that area. I have tons of memories as a kid going here and it never gets old.
