"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change."
Charles Darwin
Point made. Case closed. And in the unlikely event that you have any doubt at all that the Bay Area is on the precipice of American mass awareness of global warming and the absolute necessity for change in almost every aspect of our needing to be greener mode of modern living, get yourself down to the new and incredibly spectacular Academy of Science in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
This stunning, fully sustainable building is simply one of the best modern museums to be found in the world today, with a calming, cooling, encapsulating architecture to keep you coming back time and time again.
Time and money well spent on an enlightening, educational, environmentally sublime day out in the park. Thanks to Petaluma School District for choosing to celebrate Columbus Day a week later than the rest of the Bay Area, I was able to whisk the boys down the 101 this Monday mid-morning with relatively little traffic to contend with and only half the typical throng in line for an opening-month meander through the Aquarium, African exhibit, Rainforest Dome, Planetarium and quite a lot more.
Running into several P'Town friends, I'd recommend taking a tip from Christina and purchasing a family pass if you think you might make it down to the Academy at least twice in the coming year. Pack a picnic lunch, though, for the lines for a canteen-style lunch (though a goodly selection of healthy fayre) were long and unruly. A lovely outdoor lawn area with benches and plenty of shady spots makes for a welcome step outside from the selection of natural-world undercover.
Located at 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118, the Academy of Science ticket lines are currently quite long. Book ahead on-line at www.calacademy.org or utilize credit card ticket machines in front of this beautiful building. Stand in line if you'd like to use your AAA card for an adult ticket slight discount of a few dollars.
Though this is not a cheap day out, a remarkable, environmentally unique and refreshing experience it absolutely is. Value for money for all ages.
Co-incidentally, during our visit we were interviewed by KRCB Radio as to how there were so many people packed into the place during such a time of extreme economic uncertainty. My only explanation for this is that we're all far better off spending any superfluous, hard-earned entertainment dollars on teaching our offspring to be better stewards of the natural world than numbing their senses with anymore rubbish games and disposable movies. A trip to the Academy of Sciences. Priceless!
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