Did you know that the California Science Center was originally a racetrack and fairgrounds? Or that you can walk to the 7th Street Metro station from Los Angeles Self Storage and get off right across the street from the California Science Center? Well, I didn't either! Let's check it out!
Last Thursday, Mike and I had the chance to visit the famous California Science Center, located right across the street from the USC campus. As we walked onto the property, we were immediately greeted by their very own A-12 Blackbird Trainer. This is the only A-12 Blackbird Trainer ever built; it has flown more flights and spent more hours in the air than any other Blackbird. Getting to see this aircraft up close was kind of surreal for me because I've only ever seen it in movies. For anyone who's not a nerd like me, the Blackbird is essentially what the X-Men fly in in the comics/movies; specifically, a modified Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
Another cool thing I loved about the Science Center was where the Blackbird rests. This massive craft is propped up by huge metal beams that elevate it so you can see it from the front parking area, and it has a slight tilt, so it appears to be in flight! After checking out the Blackbird, we spent the rest of the day exploring the rest of the Science Center. We saw exhibits on everything from space exploration and aircraft to the human body. We even got to ride a simulated roller coaster through the human brain!
One of our favorite exhibits was the Space Exploration exhibit. We learned about the history of space exploration, from the early days of rocketry to the latest missions to Mars. We even got to see a real moon rock! The human body exhibit was also very interesting. We learned about the different systems of the body, from the respiratory system to the digestive system. We even got to see a real human brain!
Here are some of the things we loved about the Science Center:
- The A-12 Blackbird Trainer was an amazing sight to see. It's hard to believe that this plane was actually used in the Cold War!
- The space exploration exhibit was really fascinating. We learned a lot about the history of space travel and got to see some amazing artifacts, like a real moon rock.
- The human body exhibit was also really cool. We learned about all the different systems in the body and got to see some amazing models and exhibits.
- We also really enjoyed the OmniMAX theater. It was a great way to learn about science and space in a fun and interactive way. There's also a concessions stand with all the movie snacks you could want!
All that walking, learning, and going up and down stairs left us feeling tired and hungry. Luckily, we found Trimana: Grill, Market, and Coffee Bar just past the lobby/front desk area. This little café/market offers a variety of great lunch options. The Grill has a variety of hot and cold items, such as wraps, sandwiches, salads, burgers, pizza, and hot sandwiches. The Market currently offers a limited selection of prepackaged sandwiches, wraps, salads, snacks, and drinks, perfect for a light snack on the go.
While all of that sounded good, we were feeling a bit picky. Across the street from the Science Center and USC, where many of our student tenants come from, we saw Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and Cold Stone Creamery. In addition to these three restaurants, there are many more options within walking distance.
If you don't feel like walking, you can hop on the A line and ride the newly merged metro rail to Little Tokyo, where you can enjoy some delicious sushi or ramen.
We had a fantastic time at the California Science Center. It was a fun and educational experience that we will be recommending to our customers. If you are looking for an exciting and educational experience for the whole family, we highly recommend visiting the California Science Center and the other museums in the vicinity. It is a great place to learn about science and technology, and it is simply a lot of fun!
California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037
(323) 724-3623
https://californiasciencecenter.org/
