Took a visit to the Randall Museum the other day. Passed it a million times on the way to Red Rock, but (as its usually late at night) never ventured inside. This time it was broad daylight and the lure of petting bunnies was too much to pass up.
Lots of animals inside, mostly those you'd see around northern California (this may be the point of the museum, I think) and interactive displays geared towards kids (also the point of the museum). They even have a small petting zoo with the fabled bunnies (lots of petting) and a chicken and duck (not so much with the touching).
Bred for meat and show? New favorite description.
This guy seemed pretty smart, though.
They also have this awesome replica of the relief shacks people lived in after the 1906 earthquake, complete with an old sewing machine, steamer trunk and little coal burning stove.
I think I spent a full ten minutes in there memorizing exactly how it looked so I can hammer one out in the backyard.
The make-your-own-bird-machine reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.
The mural on the way to the bathroom got pretty exciting.
Marine life's rough.
On the way out we noticed this awesome woodshop downstairs. Not sure if they have adult classes, but we aim to find out.
Then up to Red Rock (aka Corona Heights of Chronicle "clean up" fame) for a look at our domain. Not a bad looking city, I love to admit. Spotted a patch of trees that we couldn't identify and decided to hop in the car and find it. Always a fun game.
Turned out to be Lafayette Park. Quite similar in layout to Alamo Square, but surrounded by gigantic and very expensive houses, the old kind with gated courtyards and fountains and six brand new cars behind the hedge. I wonder if kids still roller skate down the marble hallways when their parents are gone...
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Where to start? The Randall Museum is at 199 Museum Way, which is up there by 16th St past Castro. If you're at the museum, Red Rock is right above you and there's a set of nice steep stairs that'll take you right on up. If you want to start at the top, you can enter the park off Roosevelt St and then climb down. Lafayette Park on the other hand, is up on the big hill between Laguna and Gough and Sacramento and Washington Streets.