[San Francisco, CA] Steinhart Aquarium in the Academy of Sciences

Welcome to the Academy of Sciences' Steinhart Aquarium. Although the majority of the ocean is still unexplored and unexplained, the Steinhart Aquarium opens up a small window of the Ocean's biodiversity through interactive aquariums containing up to 900 species!

I remembered the Steinhart Aquarium quite differently as a child. It was incredible back then, but nothing like it is today. The Steinhart Aquarium was first opened in 1923, but in 2005, the Academy of Sciences started renovations and was completed in 2008. So what you see today is the more modern version of what it was like back then.

[San Francisco, CA] Academy of Sciences' Philippine Coral Reef

What a beautiful display of the Philippine Coral Reef! I guarantee you will get your breath taken away when you come across this section of the Steinhart Aquarium in the California Academy of Sciences. As you step into the room, you are greeted by the color Regal Blue. The color of mystery, calmness, and wonder. The main window of the 212,000 gallon aquarium, stretches in curvatures across the room, from ceiling to floor, behind a thick sheet of glass where you can see hundreds of different kinds of fish, swimming in and out of rocks covered in coral reefs, soft sponges, and other living creatures. Find your Doris and Nemos here! There are dozens of them swimming around!

[San Francisco, CA] The Academy of Sciences' Claude, "The Albino Alligator"

Meet the Academy of Sciences' most famous resident, Claude "The Albino Alligator". He lives in The Swamp among his Alligator Snappy Turtle cousins, along with other aquatic neighbors. You may find him on his favorite rock, or you may find him in a corner like I did when I payed a visit. You can also get as close as eye level with him on the lower levels of the museum to see what life is like at the bottom of a swamp.

[San Francisco, CA] Academy of Sciences' Indoor Rainforest!

Have you ever been curious of what an actual rainforest is like, but not really interested in flying to the Amazon or Madagascar just scratch an itch of curiosity? Well, the Academy of Sciences located in San Francisco has recreated an indoors, four-story living rainforest, the Osher Rainforest!

This rainforest is incased in a 90 ft diameter glass dome. The walls are also made out of glass, so you can admired the magnificence from the outside. As you walk inside, you will immediate notice the climate change. The temperature is kept around 82-85 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 75%. 

RELATED POST: [San Francisco, CA] Academy of Sciences' Living Roof

As you walk up the three stories, you will encounter three different ecosystems that exist in an actual rainforest. Although the levels in this rainforest's replica is inspired by different rainforests around the world, just keep in mind that all rainforests do have different levels, each with their own ecosystems. 

So at the ground level, you experience the Bornean Forest Floor. This ground level is suppose to be a replica of the Borneo Rainforest, an island located in Asia. The second level you will find the Madagascan Mid-Story, and we all know where Madagascar is. The third level is the Canopy of a Costa Rican forest. Once at the top floor, you get an elevator ride to the "basement" level where you get a view of the Amazonian Flooded Forest inside a 100,000 gallon tank full of fish life.

The Academy of Sciences state that there are 1,600 living creatures in this rainforest. Unfortunately, the majority of the living creatures are contained in glass aquariums, but of course, a lot of these animals are poisonous and for obviously safety reasons, it is safer for them to be in these little habitats. The only animals and insects that are allowed to roam free in the forest are numerous butterflies and colorful birds. It gets pretty exciting when one of these beautiful butterflies fly and land close to you, if not on you. 

It seriously is whole another ecosystem inside the dome. It is definitely one of the best exhibits the Academy of Sciences has to offer. Not only do you learn more about the Rainforest, but you also get to experience a snippet of what an actual rainforest is like, especially the climate. It would be even cooler is they made it rain as well, but of course a feature like that will require a lot more maintenance and monitoring to keep things in check, but a feature like that would definitely add to the imagination.

Happy Wandering, Alice.

[San Francisco, CA] Academy of Sciences' Living Roof

Without their Living Roof, the Academy of Sciences will go into chaos. The Living Roof may look like an oversized garden, but it does so much more than to look pretty. 

It is known as the Heart of the Academy.

What does it do for the museum as a whole, you ask?

[San Francisco, CA] The Art Bistro (6900 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121)

Bagel Sandwiches and Authentic Thai Tea; these are what The Art Bistro is know for. 

Dear Travel Diary #4 (Part1): Great Heights of SF

Dear Travel Diary,

San Francisco is a city built on top of hills. A lot of hills! Today I was able to experience the extent of these hills from 3 famous San Francisco hill locations: Twin Peaks, Turtle Hill, and Golden Gate Park.

My cousin, Jane, who is a local, was wonderful enough to be my chauffeur, as well as, my tour guide today.

We started the day with a visit to the Twin Peaks. I have driven through there before, and I even checked out the view at night, but I had never been there during the daytime. Nighttime is great with all the lights, but it was nice for a change to be able to see the buildings individually than just an abundance of fluorescent lights. The view is incredible up here and even more incredible on top of one of the peaks (where you are allowed to climb up).

My favorite part of the day was the climb to Turtle Hill. It is an experience that I think everyone must take. You start your journey at the foot of the Hidden Garden Steps. These steps consist of hundreds of ceramic tiles that come together to create a picture in each section. This flight contains 11 sections, so you get 11 beautiful garden themed pieces, each with a story that you can read about on their website.

The next stairway you need to take is even more incredible than the Hidden Garden Steps. This stairway have two different names. It's nicknamed by the locals as "The Moraga Steps", but its real name is the 16th Avenue Tiles Steps. I personally like the nickname better. This stairway is a beautiful, mirrored ceramic mosaic masterpiece. It is magnificent during the day, but come when the moon is full, and the mirrored pieces just glistens wonderfully in the moonlight.

The last stairway to the top is less glamorous but it takes you to a view of the City worth seeing. The view at Turtle Hill is one of the best in San Francisco (in my opinion). Also, Turtle Hill is a nickname given to it by the locals because at a distance the hill looks like a giant turtle, but it is formally know as "The Grandview Park". I think Turtle Hill suits it better, don't you?

Finally, the last great view I was able to see today is in the wonderful Golden Gate Park, particular a great up close view of The Academy of Sciences, in Hamon Observatory Tower located in de Young Museum. This viewing platform is free to enter for all visitors, and it gives you a wonderful 360 degree view of its surroundings.

Another great spot within the park that also offers the visitor a wonderful view is on top of Strawberry Hill. I did visit part of Strawberry Hill that day, but unfortunately did not climb to the top. I will definitely do so for the next visit!


Happy Wandering, Alice.

To watch my day, here is a link to: "Travel Vlog: (Part 1) Great Heights of San Francisco.