Take a Weekend Day Trip to the Exploratorium This Season

Make the most of your precious weekend, and take a day trip to San Francisco’s historic Embarcadero with your family. Enjoy the glorious waterfront views, pick up local goodies at the Ferry Building’s famed farmer’s market, and take advantage of the Exploratorium’s special weekend programs. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time at Pier 15, here are four reasons you’ll want to visit the Exploratorium this season.

1. Saturday Cinema
Watch the ideas that animate the Exploratorium come alive on the cinematic screen. Pulled from our extensive Cinema Arts collection, this program of fun, experimental films and animations is carefully curated for kids of all ages, whether they’re 3, 13, or 63. Ignite a passion for the art and science of cinema through works that blend observation, poetry, and surrealism, and celebrate films that use unique, handcrafted processes. Get the whole family involved as active viewers and join the dialogue after the films to share your thoughts.

2. Explorables
Ever wonder what to do with extra popsicle sticks? Obsolete CDs? Forgotten paper cups? In this hands-on program, use everyday materials to create models and other tools for exploring the world. As kids build fun creations, such as Paper Rockets, Popsicle Stick Harmonicas, and Anamorphic Mirrors, they engage in open-ended investigations that let them follow their hunches to aha! moments of scientific insight. Although ideal for kids ages 4–12, these take-home projects are a great way for everyone to experiment, explore, and play.

3. Full-Spectrum Science
Travel the depths of space, time, and the universe in this dynamic series led by Exploratorium staff scientist Ron Hipschman. Through interactive activities and exciting demonstrations, explore different aspects of physics that will have you examining the truths within science fiction, discovering new ways to make colors, ooh-ing and aah-ing over lasers, and more.

4. Tactile Dome
Do you have what it takes to enter total darkness for a hands-on adventure through the Tactile Dome? Crawl, slide, and bump your way, using the sense of touch as your only guide, through our famous Dome’s pitch-black chambers. Discover surprising textures and sounds. Brave the darkness alone—or use your voice and sense of hearing to help you and your family navigate. As long as you’re over seven years old, you can experience this safe, exhilarating space. Challenge accepted?

Bonus reason: More Surprises

Special exhibitions such as Curious Contraptions and Glow, annual events such as Science of Cocktails and Afterglow, and a calendar of special programs . . . there’s always something new brewing at the Exploratorium. Be sure to visit our calendar to save the date for upcoming programs.