Trip Report: We went "Urban" Exploring?

[Obi..]

California Academy of Sciences is a great place for a student or even parent's to "escape for a little bit"!

The wife and I decided that since we had the time today we'd take the little one out and visit the Steinhart Aquarium (California Academy of Sciences). I hadn't been there in over 10 years and I gotta say the new design is really nice and the changes made it so worth it.

We left town (East bay) around 9am, traffic wasn't too bad until we got onto the Bay Bridge, where the construction (s-curve) put a delay into action, but it only took about another 15 minutes to make it to the underground garage. We got a primo spot right next to the elevator and headed up towards the Tea Garden and off to 9th to get some great French Toast @ Park Chow restaurant. From there we went onto visit a couple of friends @ Roaring Mouse Cycles where I caught up with Chris Lane (owner) and a friend I haven't seen in a long time, Sean, who's now wrenching for him. From there, it was back into the park, with a nice detour to blow off some of those calories from breakfast and right into the Academy.


*Major note: If you're rig's pushing the 7' mark, avoid the garage, I had just enough space in a couple of spots and luckily didn't hang up on anything.

**There are Student as well as AAA discounts so the wife got $3off while I got $6 or $7 off admission. Bring the ID's and/or card w/ you.

We had a wonderful time, saw a lot of cool things, learned some stuff, and best of all, didn't have to spend an inordinate amount of money to temporarily find some solace from the hustle and bustle of daily life and parenting.

OK..enough chit chat though, onto the pics, if anyone wants to do something like this anytime soon be sure to hit us up.

Our first "Little Friend" of the day..
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The little one was loving all the "Little Friends" as she kept giggling.


As we wound our way up and around the ramp on up to the top of the globe we ran into all sorts of nice things to see and even more beautiful butterflies!
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It's always nice to see this guy around, as long as it's with him on the other side of the glass! Mr. Electric Eel..
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Then we wound our way out onto the roof and I could swear there was something a bit familiar to me about the place..


I got it!! Now I know where we are, but where are all the TeleTubbie's at?
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*There's way too many pics to edit them all right now, as soon as I get the chance I'll add them in.

[DHC6twinotter]

That's a cool looking roof.

[reggie 00]

That place is cool.
I Spent a couple Weeks working on the lighting systems.
I got backstage access to alot of stuff, got to see it all go in and see it before the public. Did you see the albino alligators? Watched them bring them in and check them out after shipping and then later put them in the habitat. Did you get a pic of that HUUUUUGE fish dont remember the name lives like a 100 years or something. Would like to see Bob try to real that sucker in.

Real good Burrito place right down the street. for the life of me couldnt direct you there but could walk there.

[Obi..]

The burrito place I know of is El Castillo. Used to go there all the time after getting off of work late, nothing like a great burrito at 11-12midnight.

Pics of the endangered fish as well as one of the albino alligator. I kept laughing and saying "Puuuutttt the baaahhbbbeee innn maaaahhhh bbeeeellleeehhh??" The curators didn't get it apparently.


*Sucks that her camera kept moisture-locking on me after the jungle though, pics could've come out way better IMO.
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*Big thing is there must've been a wedding or something going on, we saw all these guys in their tuxedo's.
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