Photo-Worthy Museums in SF

Looking to take some dynamic travel photos while you explore the city? Here’s a round-up of the most photogenic museums around San Francisco.

Museum of Ice Cream

This pop-up museum that opened last year was such a hit that it’s here to stay. Located just six blocks from Stanford Court Hotel near Union Square, the Museum of Ice Cream is pure eye candy. Swim in a pool of rainbow sprinkles and indulge your inner child with pink-colored pop art rooms celebrating all things ice cream. Locals and visitors alike are eating up this museum – just check the #moic hashtag on Instagram. Located at 1 Grant Street. Buy tickets in advance.

Exploratorium

This hands-on learning lab is like food for the mind. Its dynamic experiences and visually-stimulating exhibits fascinate all ages. Play with your shadow on the colored shadow wall, fall into the abyss in the infinity room or see how your feelings change with different mood lighting. Plus, big kids (18+) get the museum all to themselves on Thursday nights for Exploratorium After Dark! For prices and news on upcoming programming, check out more info at Exploratorium After Dark. Exploratorium is located at Pier 15 on Embarcadero and Green Street. 

Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts isn’t a museum, but it’s so important to San Francisco that we had to include it. Loved by generations because of its graceful design, the structure has been featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, the cult classic film The Room, and is the backdrop to Janis Joplin and her psychedelic Porsche in a very famous 1968 photo. Today, the area is a popular venue for wedding photos. Take a walk around the man-made lagoon and pretend it’s your special day for beautiful travel photos.

Musée Mécanique

For something completely different, check out the penny arcade from another era at the Musée Mécanique. Located at Fisherman’s Wharf, this no-frills “museum” features a collection of over 300 vintage arcade games from the 20th century. Feed quarters into bizarre machines such as the Grandma Fortune Teller, Laffing Sal (an automated character that scares small children and annoys adults with laughter), skee-ball, or opt to arm-wrestle a masked luchador. The best part is that all the machines work so you can see how far we’ve come in the gaming realm – and have some laughs along the way. Take photos with these vintage machines and bring cash to see them in action.

California Academy of Sciences

An aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and living rooftop are just some of the attractive exhibitions to see at the California Academy of Sciences. Take in 2.5 acres of rolling hills on the academy’s living rooftop; bask in the bioluminescent depths of the aquarium; or hang out with the lizards in the rainforest dome. Wake up your senses with the vibrant, natural exhibitions at the Academy of the Sciences located in Golden Gate Park.

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Stanford Court Hotel loves its murals – that’s why our lobby is decked in art from different local artists. Visit us or plan an evening of drinks and dinner at Seven Stills Nob Hill to see what we’re talking about.