Exploratorium in San Francisco Well Worth Families Exploring

Editor’s Note: We explore the Exploratorium with our San Francisco Dads Group co-organizer Andy Chen as our week-long celebration of “Summer in Our City Dads Group Cities” rides into the sunset.

The SF Dads Group had a meetup recently at one of the coolest venues in our city by the bay – The Exploratorium.  

What makes this museum so cool is the sheer number of interactive exhibits and activities (600+) that are sure to capture the attention of both dads and kids, preschool and up. Some of the exhibits are purely for fun but many are also educational.

Here’s some info from its website:

“The Exploratorium is a public learning laboratory exploring the world through science, art, and human perception. Our mission is to create inquiry-based experiences that transform learning worldwide. Our vision is a world where people think for themselves and can confidently ask questions, question answers, and understand the world around them. We value lifelong learning and teaching, curiosity and inquiry, our community, iteration and evidence, integrity and authenticity, sustainability, and inclusion and respect.”

The Exploratorium, opened in 1969, was the brainchild of Frank Oppenheimer. At various times, Frank was a professor, a high school teacher, a cattle rancher, and an experimental physicist and this wide range of interest in learning and discovering shows in today’s finished project.

A bonus of the Exploratorium is its location at Pier 15 by the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s within walking distance of the Ferry Building marketplace which is loaded with great places to grab a bite.

Insider’s Tip #1:  Buy tickets online so you can avoid the line for buying tickets in person, especially on the weekend.

Insider’s Tip #2:  Saturday mornings can be very busy in that area due to the farmer’s market at the Ferry Building.