A
day at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park may seem
expensive. It is worth the price.
For the thirty-dollar adult admission, there is much to see and
learn. You can attend planetarium shows about planets and stars, earthquakes,
weather, or other topics without further charge. There's a shaking house
that simulates the movement of three different magnitudes of earthquakes. Visitors learn about the
San Francisco earthquake, the causes of earthquakes, where fault lines run, and
about how to be prepared for an earthquake. The academy has an extensive and beautifully
designed aquarium that could by itself provide hours of viewing and learning. There is the African hall with
a variety of dioramas, some with mounted animals, and others with live animals,
including an entire colony of African penguins. They have the largest spherical rain forest exhibit in the world, with a spiraling walkway going up four stories from the underbrush to the
canopy. There's a living roof, carpeted with plants native to California, with walkways
accessible to visitors. At
the working science labs you can learn about a variety of topics from the
experts. The cost of a day’s admission
is a worthwhile bargain.
go to
 |
| Jennica Dorsey and a new friend at the California Academy of Sciences -- photo by Claudia Dorsey |
 |
| Butterfly in the rainforest dome at the California Academy of Sciences -- photo by Claudia Dorsey |
go to
