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California Academy of SciencesvsJapanese Tea Garden
Both are rated highly by professionals. Overall, California Academy of Sciences scores slightly better than Japanese Tea Garden. California Academy of Sciences has a TripExpert Score of 86 with accolades from 7 reviewers like concierge.com, Afar Magazine and Travel + Leisure.
California Academy of Sciences
Fodor's
Concierge
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Condé Nast Traveler
Afar Magazine
Where
Atlas Obscura Atlas Obscura Travel + Leisure Show All Reviews
55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118
From $0/night
Fodor's "The Cal Academy is one of the city's most spectacular treasures." Full review
Concierge "The California Academy of Sciences is as renowned for its collection—over 26 million specimens gathered over the past 150 years—as it is for the building that houses them."
i
Be sure to pick up tickets for the hourly shows at the state-of-the-art Morrison Planetarium, the world's largest all-digital planetarium; sit up high for the best perspective on the 75-foot-diameter dome.
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Architect Renzo Piano's 2008 landmark LEED-certified green building houses 38,000 weird and wonderful animals in a four-story rainforest and split-level aquarium." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The Museum, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, extends green, sustainable architecture in unprecedented ways." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Renowned for its collection—over 26 million specimens gathered over the past 150 years—as it is for the building that houses them." Full review
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Even on a foggy day, when mist twirls in the treetops, the park views from atop the roof are stupendous.
Afar Magazine "The California Academy of Sciences is an unfortunately stuffy name for an institution that is anything but staid." Full review
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) It would be easy to spend an entire day or more seeing all of the Academy's exhibits, so be prepared to pick and choose among them.
Where "The academy is an international center for scientific education and research and the only museum in the world to house an aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum under one (living) roof." Full review
Atlas Obscura "Over 315,000 preserved amphibians and reptiles in jars. " Full review
Atlas Obscura "A century and a half of research in the sciences and natural history, still going strong. " Full review
Travel + Leisure "The California Academy of Sciences covers a broad reach, blending innovative and interactive exhibits that make this a local favorite." Full review
Japanese Tea Garden Fodor's Lonely Planet Condé Nast Traveler Afar Magazine
Not For Tourists
Michelin Guide Where Atlas Obscura Afar Magazine Afar Magazine Show All Reviews
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94117
From $0/night
Fodor's "As you amble through the manicured landscape, past Japanese sculptures and perfect miniature pagodas, and over ponds of carp, you may feel transported to a more peaceful plane." Full review
Lonely Planet "Since 1894, this picturesque 5-acre garden and bonsai grove has blushed with cherry blossoms in spring, turned flaming red with maple leaves in fall, and lost all track of time in the meditative Zen Garden." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States... located in Golden Gate Park, is a wonderful spot to relax while exploring the park." Full review
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Locals get a discount on entry ($5 instead of $7), so be sure to bring your ID.
Afar Magazine "Visit the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco for a calming escape from the hustle and bustle of the city." Full review
Not For Tourists "Peaceful place to ponder."
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"This tranquil, five-acre garden has been a premier attraction since it was built for the Midwinter Fair of 1894." Full review
Where "Take a slow stroll among bonsai trees and koi fish in the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States." Full review
Atlas Obscura "Relics of the 1894 Midwinter Exposition continue to delight visitors today. " Full review
Afar Magazine "While Japanese gardens have come to be an expected feature of many botanical parks around the world, the Japanese Tea Garden, which opened in 1894, was the first public tea garden in the United States." Full review
Afar Magazine "After taking in the beauty of the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, save time for tea and a snack at the tea house, located inside the Tea Garden, next to the Gift Shop." Full review
