The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park is a fantastic educational museum for people of all ages and a perfect way to spend a day in San Francisco. The CA Academy of Sciences has many exhibits that explores all four corners of this earth as well as the history and makeup of it. Below is only a sampling of the many, many displays at this museum, so see a complete map here.

Rainforests of the World puts you in the exhibit. A spiraling pathway takes you up this 4-story dome (above left photo), starting with the understory of a rainforest up to the tops of the trees. Birds and butterflies fly inches from your face and perch on dewy plant life all around. The center of the dome is a large pool of water, mimicking the flooded floors of the amazon. Along the way to the top are other rainforest creates displayed in glass cases, including a poisonous small green frog. There are many places to stop at level platforms for a wheelchair user if needed (above middle photo) but no restrooms. This is a very popular exhibit, so it's recommended you get in line in the morning or wait for a good moment during lunchtime.

The African Hall comes to life with beautiful dioramas of zebras, lions, gorillas, and more. In addition, there is a little information about the historical evolution of man in Africa. The hall is completely level and very spacious for a wheelchair user. At one hall ends is a live African Penguin exhibit with over a dozen penguins to watch above and below water (below right photo).

The albino alligator can be view above and under water.

Ocean, Amazon, and Swamp Aquariums can be viewed above (above right photo) and below (below right photo) so one an see all sides to these underwater creatures. Some displays to look forward to are the stingrays, electric eel, angelfish, and Amazon Boa.

In addition to live animals, there are tons of educational and hands-on displays where you can learn more about the environments and creatures you have been seeing.