Exploratorium, Aquarium & Ghirardelli Square

 Day 3 – More exploration

We started off our day with breakfast at the Cable Car Cafe, and a cable car ride up to the wharf.  With the Go card, we were entitled to one cable car ride per day ($6 per ticket).  I don’t know if there’s ever a good time or day to ride because the cable car line was ridiculously long.  We could’ve walked to the wharf and back in the amount of time we waited to board it.  At least there were street performers to keep us entertained.

I’m so glad Michael had Adelyn on this trip.  They were all giggles and smiles!!

Don’t worry, we weren’t hanging out of the car while it was in motion…

 

This is what they did when we asked them to put their arms around each other.

  At the wharf, we caught a bus that took us to the Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts.  The Exploratorium isn’t just a huge science museum – its an ongoing exploration of science, art and human perception.  They have scientists working in the back coming up with new interactive exhibits and activities.  I particularly enjoyed this museum because it’s about everything I loved studying…science!  Nerdy, I know.

The camera was actually supposed to capture what a water droplet looks like after it comes into contact with water (or something like that).  The kids just liked seeing their picture taken and viewed on tv!

  Michael loved the xylophone studio where he could make music.

The museum was overwhelming with gadgets and gizmos.  Michael jumped from thing to thing so quickly that it was hard to snap pictures.  He loved anything that spun, made noise, got you sticky (like bubbles), and of course everything that involved balls.

After the museum, we headed back to Pier 39 for a late lunch.  It was the most peaceful meal of the whole trip because both kids were fast asleep!  We actually finished our food for once.  As soon as we paid the check, they woke up – and we walked over to the Aquarium of the Bay.

The only neat part was that we stood on this people-moving belt to move through a glass-tunnel underwater, and saw schools of fish, sharks and sea stars.

Since the kids missed lunch, we took them to Ghirardelli Square for a nice, yummy ice cream snack.  This is definitely a must when you visit SF.

Michael devoured Mint ‘n Chip ice cream in a chocolate dipped waffle bowl.  Jason had “the Domingo” sundae in the back.  There was no need to ask if it was good…it was all gone.

More chocolate ended up on Michael’s face than in his stomach.  He makes ice cream look so good.

  Nicole was nice enough to buy Michael a balloon sword.  It had a longer lifespan than we originally expected.  He was hitting everything in his path as walked to Hooters.  When it popped, he didn’t understand how his sword disappeared.

At Hooters, we met up cousins Wes, Lanette and Jordan, who were visiting the wharf from San Jose.

By the time we got to the hotel, we realized that we forgot to eat dinner.  We got caught up with all the sightseeing, we didn’t realize how hungry we were.  The hotel concierge recommended a Chinese restaurant called Brandy Ho’s – who quickly delivered the food straight to our room.  We cleaned up our mu shu pork and chicken fried rice.  Michael was so hungry that he asked for seconds and thirds.  He says “Mommy, my hungry!” when he wants to eat, and has the cutest, saddest face ever.

Our days still ended around midnight because Michael had trouble sleeping in the hotel.  He cried every night to sleep in his house, in our bed.  It got a little easier by the 3rd night, but by then, we were already exhausted.