Exploratorium

The Exploratorium has always been recommended to me, but I never got around to visiting until recently when my boyfriend and I decided to go as part of my birthday celebration. We attended the Thursday After Dark event and were pleasantly surprised.

At first, we were taking our time through the exhibits, thinking we had seen most of it. However, by around 9 PM, we realized there was a whole other section we hadn't explored yet. I highly recommend taking the time to explore all six sections (if I'm not mistaken), rather than just sticking to the first few visible ones near the lobby.

I particularly enjoyed the human experience exhibits and the interactive activities. There were some cool AI-based games, though I found it a bit odd to have platforms like ChatGPT and MidJourney included as part of the exhibit. I felt there could be more innovative uses of AI, but overall, the experience exceeded my expectations. I will definitely be coming back.

The Exploratorium in San Francisco is a fantastic destination for kids and adults alike. It's an incredible place that makes science come alive, helping kids understand the science behind everyday things in a fun and engaging way. As an adult, I found myself learning just as much as the kids, which was a delightful surprise.

We didn't manage to finish exploring everything in one visit, so we're definitely planning to go back and continue our adventure. I've heard they offer after-hours sessions for adults, and we're excited to experience that. It sounds like a perfect opportunity to explore without the bustling energy of excited kids.

I 100% recommend the Exploratorium to anyone. Whether you're a family with curious children or an adult looking to delve into the wonders of science, this place has something for everyone. It's an educational and entertaining experience that you won't want to miss!

This is a classic science museum that has aged well. I remember some of the same exhibits from the 80s, plus much more. Now there are gorgeous views of the Bay. The museum focuses a lot on perception and the senses, engineering, and physical science. It has hands on and engaging activities. There are a couple of floors.

Highlights: the view from the camera obscura deck, the monochrome room, the different exhibits with lights and colors, the altered perception room outside. And more!

This is best for ages 4-13. Expect to spend 4-5 hours here. The food is outrageously priced, but you can bring your own. It can get bananas crowded.

I've actually never been to the Exploratorium before and I had no idea what it really was besides some sort of walking museum. I was really excited to go with a handful of children to watch them experience while engaging in all their 5 senses.

I especially loved how all the auditory, learns could partake in certain activities, while the visual learners were over stimulated in the Lens/prisms section. Not to mention, there's definitely something for EVERYONE that's a kinesthetic learner!

I'm not too sure if I'd attend this hands-on museum with adults, but it was breathtaking to watch the young children I was with explore and learn and then ask me questions as the activities expanded their minds.

I would definitely love to come back here with another group of children. I think I'll attend the Cal Academy of Science with my friends for an After Dark/21+ night! Hee.

It should be a five-star, I know but memories... I was shocked when we pulled up because I remember the old location. Before the pandemic, my husband and I did a staycation and we walked by. The people who greeted us told us that this was a temporary location while they were remodeling. So imagine my surprise when we pulled up. No longer the dark, cavernous place with the high ceilings and the good thing is that it isn't too far off the freeway or too far from BART. The bad news? This isn't the place I remember and I do have feelings about this.

The good...
1. They are still around
2. They managed to cram a lot of stuff into this location - so much to see!
3. The field trip check-in process - I felt cared for.

The bad...
1. Too many kids
2. They managed to cram a lot of stuff into this location - too much to see in one visit
3. Their food is way too expensive. I don't know how they expect kids, parents, teachers to want to pay those prices.

The verdict...
I won't be back unless I'm chaperoning on a field trip, not because I don't like it, but because it was way too much to take in at one time. This says more about me than it does about them. But, the nice, laze-like stroll though there

The Exploratorium must stay in Pier 15 as a perfect location, so that I get to explore again since back in the Palace of Fine Arts. A couple of decades ago, I was with my classmates and my teacher tried out unique exhibits. I sure missed the Tactile Dome. If I have a rare opportunity this year for myself, I might do it since it's safe according to experts who put together an amazing obstacle!

Last Saturday, my brother, my daughter, and I got to visit and try out some of the unique exhibits once. Like me, my daughter explored many different things around us. I'm glad she had a good time; hopefully, she learned something new for a change. Though none of us got to dine in to Seaglass restaurant, we had to go somewhere to eat based on my daughter's likings. I might try the Seaglass restaurant the next time I visit the Exploratorium.

We spent most of the day at the Exploratorium. Took the Ferry to get there (which was really easy), and it had so many things to explore, we couldn't get to them all. It was clean, and well staffed, they were always around if we had questions. The exhibits were really cool and a majority were interactive. But they also had many art exhibits on display.
My kids had trouble with all the reading you had to do in order to try something and have it work successfully. Adults or children with more patience had no issue with this.
Overall, it is a great experience for all ages, because it has something for everyone!

The coolest and biggest STEAM educational museum for kiddos and adults! It's humongous ! We should have started much earlier but we were only in SF for one day and we made the best of it ! This museum had 5-6 HUGE sections indoor and outdoor. 2 were outdoor. We only got to experience maybe 4 rushed in about 2 hours.
I def recommend bringing your own snacks, drinks, even food. I didn't see any drink, snack stations and if so they closed super early!
Helpful hint! Def bring a stroller for your little ones.. think Disneyland and lots of walking, your kids will be so tired ! So thankful we brought ours and Apple air tag bracelet for little ones toos! I witnessed two parents whom lost their kiddos talking to security! Some highlights: the bamboo string braiding, hard to miss in section 1 . The shadow boxing, bubbles, skin magnifying tool, blow dryer with ping pong ball, the marble run, the outdoor music playing human connection by holding hands (pretty cool)
We will def like to visit again in the future. I think this museum is designed for 4 1/2 yr and up.
Nothing really for babies or toddlers to do.

If I had a 9 or 10 year old kid, this would be a 5-star for me, no doubt.

Sure, I played with and enjoyed several of the interactive exhibits and I saw several parents doing the same. But let's face it, it's primarily designed for really young kids.

I went because I had seen an ad for the ExtraOrdinary exhibit, which looked cool and took my young adult child to check it out. We were a little disappointed that a) there were so few parts to the exhibit (only 8) and b) they were spread around the facility instead of being grouped together.

Ah, whatever, we had an OK time nonetheless.

My young teens loved this place. There was so much to do and so many hands on opportunities and cool photo ops. The tactile dome wasn't a huge hit with them, but I think they just got nervous.