Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
broaden artistic horizons, from Oceanic ceremonial masks and Bulgari jewels to Califor-
nia photographer Anthony Friedkin's 1970s portraits of gay liberation.
California Academy of Sciences
MUSEUM
$34.95/24.95, discount with Muni ticket $3;
9:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm Sun;
;
5, 6,
31, 33, 44, 71, N)
Architect Renzo Piano's landmark, LEED-certified green building houses 38,000 weird
and wonderful animals, with a four-story rain forest and split-level aquarium under a 'liv-
ing roof' of California wildflowers. After the penguins nod off to sleep, the wild rumpus
starts at kids-only Academy Sleepovers and over-21 NightLife Thursdays, when rain
forest-themed cocktails encourage strange mating rituals among shy first dates.
Japanese Tea Garden
GARDENS
Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr; adult/child $7/2, before 10am Mon, Wed & Fri free;
9am-6pm Mar-Oct, to
4:45pm Nov-Feb; ; 5, 44, 71, N)
Since 1894, this 5-acre garden has blushed with cherry blossoms in spring, turned flam-
ing red with maple leaves in fall, and lost all track of time in the meditative
Zen Garden
.
The 100-year-old
bonsai grove
is the legacy of founder Makoto Hagiwara, who tended
them until his family's forced deportation to WWII Japanese American internment camps
- and spent decades afterwards restoring these priceless miniature evergreens. Don't
miss green tea and fortune cookies (invented for the garden's opening) at the
tea pavil-
ion
.
Conservatory of Flowers
GARDENS
adult/child $7/2, 1st Tue of month free; 10am-4:30pm Tue-Sun; 5, N)
Flower power thrives inside this restored 1878 Victorian greenhouse, where orchids
dangle from the ceiling like trapeze artists, lilies float contemplatively and creepy carni-
vorous plants make lunch of passing insects.
