Academy of Sciences?

The Academy of Sciences re-opened in Golden Gate Park today and Sarah, Ruchira and I were among the thousands and thousands of people who flocked to the park to see the super-de-duper museum. We left our apartment an hour before the museum opened, thinking we would have PLENTY of time to find parking and get in line before the doors opened. However, what we weren't anticipating was that we wouldn't be able to find parking in the park. After searching up and down several streets - almost parking 8 blocks away - we lucked out and found a spot on Fulton and 3rd Ave. next to a pathway that led to the Conservatory of Flowers. (Not super close, but at least it was doable. I was looking for a good map to illustrate where we parked in relation to the Academy of Sciences, but this is the best I could do. (I cropped it so you could focus on just the part I was talking about - yes, the GG park is bigger than this.)


So when we reached the front of the Conservatory of Flowers, we noticed a line that was extending beyond our sight ... in the opposite direction of the Academy of Sciences. We followed the line to Bowling Green Drive, but decided against finding the end of it. Here are Sarah and I at the intersection of John F. Kennedy Drive and Bowling Green Drive (looking down Bowling Green). YIKES!


This is when I said, "Let's not do the Academy of Sciences today." Ruchira suggested we go to Stowe Lake and ride the pedal boats. It sounded fun, so off we went.

We passed the Academy of Sciences and realized that although we weren't anticipating quite the crowd that was there, the Park Personnel obviously were. Look at all these port-a-potties!



When we got to Stowe Lake we realized we didn't know where the boat rental was. But it was fun to take a break and sit on the park bench and watch Sarah quack at the ducks!


After going around the lake, we finally reached the boat rentals. (I say finally because I am so hugely pregnant that walking that much was quite the effort.) Little did I realize that I would be exerting quite a bit of energy to pedal around the lake! It took 45 minutes and I was quite exhausted by the end of it, but it was super fun.



Thanks again for the great adventures Ruchira! We'll have to go to the Academy of Sciences in a few months for real :)