San Francisco Aquarium

Rating: Role Player

I took my son one afternoon and we ended up going “reverse mode” — snuck in to see the otters first to dodge the crowds. Honestly, he wasn’t impressed. The real hit was the touch pool where kids can feel fish and stingrays. He and a few other kids were having a blast splashing water around.

The fish and shark tunnels were also a highlight — mesmerizing, even though packed with people. On our way out, he wanted one more round of splashing fun at the touch area. That’s when the loser employee shut it down: “no splashing.” Killed the vibe. We just left.

Some good moments, but they need to loosen up and let kids actually enjoy being kids. Bonus points though — kids 3 and under are free!