The Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium are both fascinating places to go in San Francisco. They both Include exhibits that teach and pique your curiosity. But they have several major differences that may influence your decision if you can visit only one or the other (please note this is by my experience, which may differ from yours).
The Academy is focused on life, mostly marine life with some terrestrial. The Academy has a huge glass sphere which houses a jungle. This area is hot and humid, but has a surprising lack of trees (you may be able to guess why. If you can’t, ask a docent). Inside, you climb up a ramp 1 story past hundreds of butterflies, and two macaws, before reaching an area housing several enclosed animals, such as snakes and frogs. Then go up 2 more stories with terrariums displaying more animals, before plunging with an elevator into the underwater section of the Academy ( brush off any and all butterflies ).
This area houses many fish, both large and small, and several glowing jellyfish. Much of the academy is below ground, displaying a water tube where you can walk with fish on three sides of you, and plenty of viewing areas. Their coral reef is astounding, with fish so brightly colored that one might assume they were in a picture book.
Don’t miss the planetarium, a dome displaying several shows, with new ones all the time. Also, be sure to visit Claude, an albino alligator. They also have a great earthquake room ( you can guess what it does ). Please note I have visited The Academy many times. The Academy is a great place to visit with exhibits that let you sit down and watch life.
The Exploratorium does not share the academy’s love of animals. Its variety of exhibits is astounding, with everything from a replica of the rover “Perseverance” to a man-made water vapor tornado, to a fluid dynamics model. It has a small section of electronics when compared to The Academy, but even that section roams from electrical fires ( contained, of course ) to using your body to complete a circuit. They even have a section on bubbles for some fun. They have lots of little tidbits such as a spinning plate. On which one can put balls and discs. There is a section on sound waves, with one exhibit being making sound waves visible. They have a small natural section with sensitive plants to touch, three geysers, and an interesting talk/discussion/exhibit on plankton from the bay (it might be gone by the time you arrive, but something will most likely replace it).
If you like to tinker, then they have a section for building projects out of an assortment of things. Please note I have only visited the exploratorium once. There are many things that I have not mentioned, because I have not seen everything. The Exploratorium is a place visitable several times without getting bored.
Overall, I prefer the Exploratorium. I love how many different sections it has, and how interactive it is.
The Lighthouse 