The CA Academy of Sciences

Lions and T. Rex and Tide Pools, Oh My!
The world’s greenest museum is just a day trip away.

By Jason Adair

My family and I just got back from the future. We spent a full summer Sunday breathing the fresh air of tomorrow inside the glass and concrete walls of the newly redesigned California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.

Beneath the rolling hills of the Academy’s two-and-a-half-acre living roof, is a colossal game of tug of war between nature and architecture. At first glance it doesn’t seem possible that any of the thousands of fish, bugs or plants will be able to pull your attention away from the twin spheres (both four stories tall) that appear to be outgrowing the building. The one on the right is encased in glass and contains an honest-to-goodness rainforest. On the left is an opaque white sphere, containing all the wonders of the Morrison Planetarium. The complexity and beauty of the architecture is almost enough to make you forget all about the nature housed within it – that is, until you come face to face with something that lives there.

Inside the ninety-foot sphere of the Rainforests of the World exhibit, live over 1,600 animals in three different rainforest habitats. Walking the spiral pathway from the bottom to the top, you get to experience the sights and sounds (and temperature and humidity) of an actual rainforest.

Inside the other sphere is the all-digital Planetarium, offering an amazing look at our world and beyond. It fills up quickly, so be sure to stop there first and pick up tickets for one of their hourly shows. If you have a choice, pick one of the early shows, because after a day of walking around the Academy, many people are overcome by the urge to nap through the 4:30 show. And many of them snore.

If you remember visiting the Academy as a kid and worry that your favorite parts have been destroyed in the name of progress, don’t panic. The African Hall and the Foucault Pendulum are still there. In fact, the African Hall has been painstakingly recreated in such amazing detail that you might never notice it’s been totally rebuilt, save for a few great additions, including touch screen panels and a bunch of live penguins. The animals of the Steinhart Aquarium, once confined to their own hall, are now found throughout the building.

Walking around the Academy for five hours allowed us to see probably half of what they had on display, so visit the Academy’s Web site—full of helpful hints, floor plans, and exhibit descriptions—before you go, to make the most of your time there… Because when you’re planning a trip to the future, every second counts!

Jason Adair is a frequent contributor to Sacramento Parent's "Let's Go!" column. He lives in Auburn, where he loves hanging out with his wife and two kids when he's not busy writing, performing or travelling.