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A Rainforest in San Francisco

I am not delirious when I say I visited a rainforest in San Francisco.

The truth is that I love rainforests.  I believe this infatuation started by the many visits I made to El Yunque.  This is a rainforest located in the east coast of Puerto Rico (the only one in the United States) and it is considered one of the greatest natural sights in our beautiful island.  Since moving away from my tiny pearl on the Caribbean, I have visited forests in Hawaii, Mexico, Central America and Brazil.  In fact, hiking and wildlife viewing are some of my favorite things to do.  Who would guess that? Hmmmm.

Enough about my personal preferences.  You may wonder how a cold, foggy, obscure place like San Francisco can sustain a rainforest. Ok, I am not trying to be deceptive so I will confess the truth.  I am not referring to a real rainforest (dahhhhhh).  The one starring in this post is inside the following place.

California Academy of Sciences Entrance

 

Yes, there is a rainforest inside the California Academy of Sciences.

Here is a view of the place from above.

Osher Rainforest is located inside a giant sphere

 

The Osher Rainforest is located inside a giant sphere.  The climate inside this transparent ball is controlled to give visitors a feel of the tropics. The exhibit focuses on the rainforests of Costa Rica, Madagascar, Brazil and Borneo.  Each “floor” showcases living creatures (including snakes, yuck) and information aimed to educate people about these fragile ecosystems.  Another interesting feature is that every “floor” represents certain altitude in the forest.  For example, in the bottom floor, you are going to find plant and animals that can only be found at that altitude.

The interesting thing is that you somehow feel like in a forest.  The heat, the humidity, the trees, the waterhole, the animals, they are all there.  I enjoyed too much seeing the butterflies and birds flying around.  I even saw guys trying to lure butterflies to land on their fingers. Isn’t that cute?

Plus, there were some really cool chameleons and poison dart frogs. Lets also add this is the perfect solution if you don’t have plans of visiting a rainforest soon (I do have so plans so I don’t fall in that group).

Well, today is photo day so I will leave you with some of the photos I took during my visit.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Rainforest roof

 

People enjoying the rainforest

 

Rainforest's waterhole

 

Blue Macaws

 

Butterfly drinking some nectar

 

Butterfly over flower

 

Butterfly over orange flower

 

Green lizard

 

Tree frog

 

Super cute frog

 

Oh, forgot to mention that the actual rainforest roof is alive!!!!

Living roof

 

Me in front of the living roof

Have you ever visited a rainforest (real, controlled or imaginary, just kidding)? Let me know in the comments section below.

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There’s a great kids’ nature walk called the Discovery Trail that’s less than a mile if you have really little ones. The bigger hikes offer a great variety of sights. There are several hikes up to different peaks, with outstanding views of the mountains and desert. You can hike out to a palm tree oasis or walk through the boulders and include a little scrambling on your hike. The one thing to watch out for is the heat – it’s no joke at Joshua Tree, so come prepared and enjoy! VIsit the Sunny Jim Sea Caves By April from SoCalFunFamily La Jolla is known for the locals who hang around the beach. And no, I am not talking about the hodads, you know, non-surfers, but the friendly seals lounging right there on the sand. It’s also known as an incredibly fun family area, for its good food, and having the coolest sea caves. However, there is only one cave you can explore without a kayak. And that cave is only accessible through Sunny Jim’s Cave Store. From the exterior it looks just like any other beach themed gift shop, but upon further review you might see the long dark tunnel leading what looks like directly into the ground. This is the access to Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave, which was dug out in 1902. To reach the bottom you will pay $5 for adults, and $3 for children, walk down 145 dark, narrow stairs and come out on a damp wooden platform to take in the waves and views from below. This hidden gem is a unique experience if you are in the area. But, make sure to mingle with the locals on the shore below and check out the free, smaller caves right there as well. Read More: One Day in San Diego Pedal Boat At Lake Murray By Martina from Stack Your Dollars One of the best and most relaxing things to do in sunny San Diego is to take a ride on the water at Lake Murray. On a hot day, getting on a pedal boat is a great way to get a nice breeze and cool off. You’ll also be putting those leg muscles to work and getting in some fun exercise! Lake Murray is a 171 acre reservoir with a 3.2 mile shoreline; it can be found on the border of San Diego, La Mesa, and Santee. To rent the pedal boat, you have to go into the concession stand by the parking lot. It costs about $15 to rent per hour, with an additional $15 for a deposit. The boat fits about 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. This low-cost activity is a great way to get out and have fun. It allowed my family to stick to our very frugal budget. If you would prefer, there are also kayaks, canoes, row boats, and motor boats. However, the pedal boat is my favorite because it also has a canopy to block the sun! Whale Watch in Newport Beach By Rebecca from KwaFare One of the most thrilling outdoor experiences you can have in California is to get up close and personal with some of the largest animals on earth. Whale watching in Southern California can put you right in the migratory path of humpback, minke, fin and gray whales. Even orcas are spotted from time to time, as well as sperm whales and blue whales, the largest animal to have ever lived. An excellent spot for whale watching is Newport Beach, which is only about an hour from LAX airport or downtown Los Angeles. Newport Beach is a cozy community where you’ll find Balboa Pier and Island and some great beaches. My go to whale watching company here is Davey’s Locker. And for good reason. First, they regularly have sales for their whale watching tours on Groupon. So, for about the price of a movie ticket you can take a front row seat to these magnificent creatures for over a couple of hours. But what I really enjoy is hearing the excitement of the crew every time we get to see a whale out at sea. This testifies to just how electrifying it is to witness these deep sea giants in their natural habitat. Despite how many times they get to see them, every time it’s a thrill. And the thrill is definitely contagious. You just never know what you are going to see when you get out on the boat. However, if you want to up your chances of sighting whales go out during their migration times. In general, winter and spring are great times to see gray whales, humpback and minke whales. And summer and fall are ideal for blue whales, finbacks, orcas and sperm whales. So whether you find yourself in the middle of a pod of hundreds of dolphins or next to an enormous blue whale, this is one of those things to do in California that is not to be missed! Visit the Center of the World By Theresa from The Local Tourist Just inside the border in the southeast corner of the state, you can put your toes on the officially designated Center of the World. Felicity, California, is home to the Museum of History in Granite and the Center of the World and is a destination worth a visit that's a whole lot less kitschy than it sounds. In 1985, Jacques-André wrote a children’s book titled “Coe: The Good Dragon at the Center of the World.” Somehow, this Frenchman and Father of American Parachuting convinced the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and Institut Géographique National, the French Mapping Agency, that property he owned in Imperial County should be declared the Center of the World. You can visit this town, population two, and not only make a wish inside a pyramid but also browse granite tablets etched with history. They're designed to last 4,000 years and the goal is that they'll preserve the entirety of humanity for millennia to come. It's a quirky destination with a noble promise, and should definitely be on any southern California itinerary. ATV in the Imperial Sand Dunes By Kay from The Awkard Traveler It isn't general knowledge, but California has sand dunes. Some of the best California sand dunes are found in Southern California. Specifically, the Imperial Sand Dunes State Park right near the border of Mexico. Winter is arguable a better season to visit, especially when summer temperatures can easily reach over 110F. But that also means winter is the most busy time to visit. So, pick your poison. From San Diego, the drive is about 2.5hours, 2 hours from Palm Springs, and 3 hours from Los Angeles, making the Imperial Sand Dunes an easy day trip if you do not want to stay nearby. However, there are camping and RV options at the state park! To enter the park, permits are required from October 1 through April 15 each year. Permits are $35 per week in advance and $50 per week if purchased onsite. Season permits are $150. America the Beautiful National Park pass also counts for this park. Once you are all settled into the park, you're ready to ride! But before you get into your off-highway vehicle (whether it is ATV or a bike, or other), make sure to remember the basics. Wear a protective helmet, pay attention to "closed to vehicle signs," and tall visible red flags are REQUIRED on your vehicle for visibility and safety! There you have it! Tons and tons of ideas on things to do in California. Hope you find this article useful when planning your next getaway! More of California Los Angeles Ultimate Bucket List Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles Ultimate San Diego Bucket List 150+ Places to Go in Orange County Places to Visit in Santa Barbara What are your favorite things to do in California? Let me know in the comments section below. Pin “Things to Do in California” for later!, Pigeon Point LighthouseThings to Do in California: Golden State Best McArthur-Burney Falls, Places to Visit in California: Bucket List for TravelersPlaces to Visit in California: Bucket List for Travelers

Comments

  1. Christy @ Technosyncratic says

    This is really cool – I had no idea you could find this exhibit in SF! I’ve never seen the rainforest before, but hopefully someday. 🙂

    Reply

  2. Jan Ross says

    I had no idea this was in SF and we were just there a few months ago! We sent to Muir Woods, but not the rainforest. I have seen a rainforest in Mexico though and rainforests in the Northwest although they are not tropical rainforests.

    Reply

    • Ruth says

      Jan,
      It is a relatively new place (but has been around for some years). I also want to visit the rainforests in the Northwest. I have seen some beautiful pictures of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.

      Reply

  3. Camels & Chocolate says

    My absolute favorite attraction in all of San Francisco! I used to live just a mile from here and go on the monthly free day.

    Reply

  5. Cathy Sweeney says

    I’ve really been wanting to go there — just haven’t found the time. I’d especially like to walk on the living roof — very cool.

    Reply

    • Ruth says

      For some reason, we tend to forget about the great places around us. Just set a time and date to go. It even offers free entrance once a month!!!

      Reply

  6. Dayna says

    I love that you had to clarify that you were not, in fact, delirious! An informative post with some amazing photographs, thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  7. Michael Figueiredo says

    How pretty! I’ll be going to SF in March or April so will have to check it out. (I love the little frogs!)

    Reply

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