There aren't many places where you'll find roughly 40,000 animals in the same building, but the California Academy of Sciences is one of them. Located in Golden Gate Park, the academy is a museum of natural history showcasing the history and envisioned future of life on earth and the environment. The various venues of the museum include a living four-story rain forest, a planetarium dome, and an aquarium housing a variety of marine exhibits.
Best and worst time to go to the California Academy of Sciences
Try to avoid going on school holidays or weekends as the museum can get pretty packed with parents and their children. Weekdays during the school week are ideal, especially in the afternoon since most school field trips come in the morning and are gone by then.
Must see/do at the California Academy of Sciences
Everybody loves penguins, and you can see a colony of them frolicking in the African Hall. Everybody also loves the extremely popular Morrison Planetarium, which is the third-largest completely digital planetarium dome in the world. While everybody make not love humid weather, the immersive experience of the rainforest is worth the sweat.
Admission to the California Academy of Sciences
The cost of admission ranges from $24.95 to $34.95 depending on age, and gives access to all of the museum's exhibits and attractions. Children under 3 are free. The museum also has various days throughout the year that are free of charge. Check their website for more information.
Parking and public transportation at the California Academy of Sciences
There is a city-operated parking garage nearby but is subject to rates imposed by the city and often fills up quickly, so public transportation is your safest bet. The #44 O'Shaughnessy bus stops in front of the building, and the #5 Fulton bus stop just outside of the park. The Amtrak Station at the Ferry Building is also less than a 10-minute walk away.
Food at the California Academy of Sciences
The museum offers two restaurants for food: the Academy Cafe, featuring local favorites, and the Terrace, which puts an upscale spin on fast-casual dining. Both locations offer a variety of dishes that won't break your wallet, with prices ranging from $2 to $17.
Insider tip for visitors to the California Academy of Sciences
Shows at the planetarium require separate tickets, free of charge, that get gobbled up very quickly. If you arrive in the morning, head to the planetarium first to get your tickets before venturing into the museum to be sure you don't get shut out.
Author's bio: Dennis Biles is a freelance journalist who was born and raised in the Bay Area. When he's not writing he can often be found losing his mind at Oakland A's games in the Right Field Bleachers.
Herreshoff Marine Museum / America's Cup Hall of Fame is a facility celebrating the history of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and yachting in the area. It offers guided tours, various educational programs, including sailing lessons and boat-making classes, lectures and more. The America's Cup Hall of Fame portion of this facility honors distinguished individuals in the America's Cup yachting competition. Please visit the website for more information on the museum, its programs, membership rates and related information.
The Seattle Aquarium is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. This iconic waterfront landmark is a must-see, particularly for families with children, although it's a great place to visit for anyone who wants to get a fascinating look at the area's spectacular underwater world. With its wide array of colorful marine creatures in award-winning exhibits and touch pools, guests of all ages and tastes are sure to find something to enjoy. One of the best ways to enhance your visit is to check out the host of sea life that can be found in the Pacific Northwest at the aquarium, and then head out on an adventure to see what you can find in the Puget Sound waters or in the tide pools along the state's breathtaking, rugged coastline.
Parking and public transportation
The aquarium is easy to get to by car or public transportation, located on Pier 50 on the downtown central waterfront. Inexpensive metered parking is available right across the street below the Alaskan Way viaduct. Metro Transit offers many bus routes that will bring you within a short walk of the aquarium, including Route 99, which stops directly in front of the building.
Best and worst time to go to the Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is open every day of the year except Christmas Day at 9:30 a.m., with the last entry accepted at 5 p.m. and exhibits closing up at 6 p.m. The best time to get here is just after 2 p.m., when the crowds typically begin to thin out whether it's on the weekend or a weekday. Most visitors tend to arrive shortly after the aquarium opens, making it more difficult to get good views of the exhibits without having to bump elbows with others, particularly during the months of June, July and August.
Admission to the Seattle Aquarium
Admission to the aquarium ranges from about $15 to $22 depending on age with children three years old and under admitted free. Discounts are available for seniors, persons with disabilities and active military.
Must-Dos at Seattle Aquarium
Touching some of the fascinating creatures that live in the tide pools on the state's outer coast and the inland sea of the Puget Sound is a must. Visitors can feel the prickly spines of a sea urchin and discover the rough texture of a colorful starfish. The Underwater Dome provides the opportunity to be surrounded by fish and other creatures by heading down a short tunnel and stepping into a 360-degree tank filled with a variety of species, including sharks, sturgeon, vibrantly-colored rockfish, lingcod and more. The aquarium is also home to marine mammals, like playful sea otters and harbor seals that provide practically endless entertainment with their antics.
Other places to visit near Seattle Aquarium
With some of the city's best restaurants located just steps away from the aquarium, you might want to plan lunch or dinner around your visit to the aquarium. If you like fresh oysters, Elliott's Oyster House offers some of the freshest oysters around, while Ivar's Pier 54 Fish Bar serves up Seattle's famous bread bowl clam chowder as well as amazing fish 'n' chips. Argosy Cruises is located right next door to the aquarium, offering a variety of tours, including a narrated one-hour sightseeing tour that allows visitors to view many of Seattle's iconic landmarks like the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier from the glistening waters of Elliott Bay.
Insider tips for visitors to Seattle Aquarium
There are several indoor/outdoor open air areas of the aquarium that allow visitors to watch the seals and sea otters swim in the waters of the Puget Sound. If you're here on a nice day, walk out onto the dock and enjoy the fresh air, spectacular views and see these entertaining creatures in a less crowded environment.
Author's bio: K.C. Dermody is a travel writer living in the Seattle area with hundreds of travel articles both online and in print. She has traveled the world and is the author of 'Best Travel Guide for First Time Visitors to Ireland,' but especially loves showing off the beautiful region she resides in.
Dedicated to educating Americans about the historic USS Constitution and remembering the Old Ironside stories, the USS Constitution Museum sits on the Charlestown Navy Shipyard right across from the naval vessel. Opened in 1976, the museum receives up to 275,000 visitors annually. Its current exhibits include A Sailor's Life and the Old Ironside in War and Peace, as well as several temporary exhibits. A gift store is located near the entrance and features everything from apple cherry candies to printed T-shirts and caps.
The Mystic Aquarium, located on Coogan Boulevard in Old Mystic, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and care for the planet's ocean life through research and education. The Aquarium features indoor and outdoor aquatic exhibits with an expansive array of sea creatures, reptiles and exotic birds, the immersion theater with daily shows, a cafe and gift shop.
Hands-on learning opportunities and classes abound through the Nautilus Live Theater, science education for kids from grades four to eight and interactive exhibits. Tickets can be purchased at an extra cost for wading with the Beluga whales and hanging with the penguins. It is located right next to Olde Mistick Village. Facility rental is available for weddings, cocktail parties, birthday parties and corporate events.