United Airlines will resume flights to Taiwan in late March. Among the many attractions recommended by the San Francisco Tourism Board, the Snoopy Museum and Exploration Hall are excellent choices for family trips.
Snoopy is a daydreaming dog from the famous American comic strip "Peanuts." Its creator, Charles M. Schulz, passed away in 2000. The place where he lived and worked for many years has been turned into a memorial, commonly known as the Snoopy Museum.
The Snoopy Museum is located in Santa Rosa, north of San Francisco. The entire museum is filled with childlike charm—every wall, corner, and even the restrooms feature scenes from the Snoopy comics. The characters from the comics, such as Snoopy, his owner Charlie Brown, and Charlie’s friend Lucy, seem to come alive before your eyes.
Inside the Snoopy Museum, there is a full-wall tile mural created by Japanese art master Yoshiteru Otani. Using 3,588 Snoopy comic panels, he assembled a portrait of Charlie Brown and Lucy. The artwork offers different charms when viewed from afar and up close.
The Snoopy Museum also preserves the studio where author Charles M. Schulz created his comics, along with his manuscripts and a biography. There is also a classroom where children can draw, allowing them to sketch their own adorable versions of Snoopy after visiting the museum.
The outdoor garden features large figures from the Snoopy comics. Both adults and children can’t help but take photos with them. Whether it’s Snoopy sleeping in his doghouse, sitting on a chair eating cookies, or wearing roller skates, all the poses are amusing and draw crowds for group photos.
Next to the Snoopy Museum is the Snoopy-themed restaurant. The first table on the right at the entrance was Charles M. Schulz’s favorite spot to dine during his lifetime. That seat is now specially reserved for him, with his photo and an original Snoopy comic drawing on the table.
The fireplace, walls, kitchen, countertops, menus, cookware, and even snacks in the Snoopy Restaurant are all Snoopy-themed. The hot dog plates are even shaped like dog bowls. If requested, the staff will even create Snoopy latte art on your coffee.
The San Francisco Exploratorium has relocated to Pier 15 in San Francisco. Built from a repurposed pier warehouse, it is an eco-friendly building equipped with 6,000 solar panels and seawater filtration systems. The museum aims to be self-sufficient in electricity and water usage.
The Exploratorium has over 9,000 square meters of indoor space. It reopened in April 2013 and features 650 scientific exhibits covering astronomy, geography, biology, and more. It’s not only fascinating for kids but also educational for adults, making for a rich intellectual journey.
The Magic Mirror is one exhibit that captivates both adults and children. Depending on where you stand, the mirror reflects some people upside down.
The Exploratorium is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. At one seaside spot, there is a tidal change board. By gently moving the board, visitors can learn about tidal patterns over a month.
The museum has a drinking fountain that makes people both curious and hesitant to try—it’s actually a toilet. A sign on the wall assures visitors that the toilet is clean and the water is drinkable, emphasizing the safety of San Francisco’s tap water. However, most people just smile, then opt for the regular drinking fountain nearby.
Some kids even made bets on who would dare to drink from the toilet-shaped fountain. One brave soul took a sip and walked away laughing.
In addition to interactive exhibits, the museum also showcases its maintenance workshop where all exhibits are handmade. If something breaks, it can be repaired on-site—an aspect worth learning from for science museums in Taiwan. 1030308
(Central News Agency)