5 ways the Exploratorium is making science cool again

Forget the unicorns and millennial ball pits, the Exploratorium’s visually-striking inflatable exhibition will be, ahem, blowing up on Instagram this summer. Opening May 26, Inflatable gathers the air-filled creations of international artists such as Jason Hackenwerth and design collective Pneuhaus. Remember the giant inflatable bunnies that recently invaded SF’s Civic Center? Those were the works of Amanda Parer, whose floor-to-ceiling, billowing human figures will be looming in and around the museum throughout the summer. It’s the stuff of fantasy: after you’ve marveled at a world of glowing, inflatable sea-like creatures, you can squeeze through a forest of towering cylinders, lit from within.

Imagine adventuring through 650 mind-bending exhibits like a massive kaleidoscope; trippy upside down mirror; or a strobe-lit zoetrope made from Batman Legos… and then add a couple of Negronis. The Exploratorium gets it, which is why they host the adults-only After Dark event every Thursday eve with cocktails, wine, and craft beer on tap. The lively shindig features a different theme each week with guests speakers, performances, and films. You might learn everything there is to know about caffeine, discover how fireworks are made, or roll up your sleeves and go all artisan at a Tinkering Studio workshop.

Our must-see SF attractions? Golden Gate Bridge. Alcatraz. Tactile Dome. Yep, it’s that good. Created in 1971, the geodesic dome quickly reacquaints you with your sense of touch via a maze-like path that winds through a pitch-black, multi-level interior. Little can prepare you for the giddy fun of scrambling around in the dark—sometimes on your hands and knees—seeking the way forward and encountering textured surfaces and strange objects along the way. You didn’t hear it from us, but ask the staff, and they might even share a few lesser-known items to seek out with your hands.

It’s not just the occasional naked roller skater that perks up a stroll along the waterfront Embarcadero. The Exploratorium enlivens the bustling promenade with outdoor exhibits that are free to the public. Join the crowds scampering across the 150-foot Fog Bridge that envelops pedestrians in a thick, misty cloud—generated from desalinated water pulled from the bay and sprayed through 800 nozzles—throughout the day. These aren’t the light misters that cool overheated tourists in Palm Springs. We’re talking Lucasfilm level production here. Nearby, the Buckminster Fuller-inspired Buckyball beckons passersby with its groovy, glowing orbs. Duck into the museum’s techy, gadget-filled gift shop, and you can create a spinning vortex inside a water-filled tank and nab small artworks from an Art-O-Mat vending machine.

When you’re seven blocks from the gastronomic temple that is the Ferry Building, a cold turkey baguette isn’t going to cut it. Thankfully, the Exploratorium’s two in-house eateries dish up genuinely interesting and delicious grub, from poké bowls to current it-dish, the Impossible Burger. Their signature Seaglass Restaurant boasts a stunning waterfront setting, interior design by hot shot designer Olle Lundberg—check the hypnotic, aquarium-like countertop filled with water and smoking dry ice—and a contemporary menu of sushi rolls, kale salads, and pork tacos. Plus, the Seismic Joint Café has espresso drinks and quick takeaway bites, including the revolutionarily juicy vegan burger that sent the foodie world into a tizzy.