Cal Academy of Sciences
Rating: All-Star
Sometimes the best thing you can do is scoop up your toddler, step away from the noise, and head out for a one-on-one adventure. That’s exactly what we did with a trip to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park—a day full of dinosaurs, snacks, and lessons in rolling with whatever family outings throw your way.
Parking in Golden Gate Park is always an adventure in itself. Instead of circling endlessly, we parked a little farther out on 5th Avenue and walked in. Honestly, it was the right move. Toddlers need to burn energy before stepping into a crowded space, and I appreciated a few quiet minutes before the chaos kicked in. Sometimes the long way around is the better way.
At the entrance, I learned the hard way that our membership didn’t cover Saturdays. My first thought: rookie mistake. But instead of turning back, we upgraded on the spot and walked through the gates. Parenting has taught me this—there’s always a curveball. You can fight it, or you can adapt and move forward. That day, we chose to move forward.
The cafeteria was buzzing with families grabbing pizza and fries. Tempting, but we aimed for balance: chickpea puffs for the crunch, a fiesta salad for greens, dino mac & cheese for comfort food (because sometimes kids just need mac & cheese), and a mezze box for protein and variety. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked. The lesson: meet your kid where they are, slide in some healthy wins where you can, and don’t overcomplicate it.
The dinosaur exhibit was pure joy for my son—roaring, running, tossing wood chips like he was king of the Jurassic. Some parents raised eyebrows. One mom even muttered about “manners.” I smiled, nodded, and let it go. To me, there’s a difference between misbehavior and play. Dinosaurs are supposed to be loud and messy. Sometimes, letting kids be wild in the right environment is the point.
From there, we let the day unfold—wide-eyed wonder at the aquarium tanks, full sprints down the African Hall echo chamber, a few quiet minutes in the Butterfly Zone before charging off again. The trick was simple: let him set the pace. Some moments were calm, others were pure chaos—but that’s parenting in a nutshell. Fighting it only makes it harder.
We left tired, messy, and full of chickpea crumbs—but also full of laughter and little victories. At the end of the day, that’s what these outings are about. Not perfect photos. Not checking every exhibit off the list. Just being there together, in the middle of the noise and the wonder, making space for joy.