“This Christmas, I’m going to write to Santa and ask for Ripley’s books!”
These are words that I was not expecting to hear from my 6-year-old at all. My mouth gaped open at a loss of words before sputtering incredulously, “Are you sure? I thought you wanted that fancy Beast Lab that we saw at Target the other day.” My child looked back at me and matter-of-factly said, “Yes, I’m sure.” Now, he’s not your typical Libra – he is very decisive and usually doesn’t change his mind easily. “You’re okay with not getting toys from Santa?” I pressed on. “Yes, mommy. I want the Ripley’s books.” replied my exasperated offspring. Well, what do you know?! All it took was one trip to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! San Francisco.
Growing up in Toronto, my recollection of Ripley’s attractions was pegged to weekend trips to Niagara Falls in my younger days. I remember seeing a statue of the world’s tallest man and other oddities that were equally intriguing and spine-chilling. In hindsight, I really should have known that these are the kinds of things that are right up my son’s alley. When we visited the Ripley’s at Fisherman’s Wharf this summer, I first felt a wave of nostalgia, before being pleasantly surprised by all the ‘wow’ factors that were being unearthed by the kids. So, moms, if you have kids who are curious (yes, that’s everyone) and are fascinated by the odd, make sure you check out Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! San Francisco.
Located right across from the iconic Fisherman’s Wharf sign and conveniently down the street from a big candy store (be warned), Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco is a landmark attraction with local roots tied deeply in the Bay Area, with its founding father Robert Ripley hailing from Santa Rosa. Fortunately for us, Ripley was generous in sharing all the discoveries he has made and brought us portals to the world of the weird, odd, and extraordinary! The attraction is a well-balanced blend of a discovery museum, a science center, an art gallery, an escape room, and a carnival.
At Ripley’s Believe Or Not! San Francisco, we discovered bizarre tales of incredible people, fascinating truths of unbelievable artifacts, and works of staggering ingenuity – such as a life-size woolly mammoth sculpture made out of upcycled rubber tires. There are HUNDREDS of rare and unusual artifacts as well as interactives that everyone can get their hands on. Through the 450 exhibits, we embarked on a new adventure around every corner. Note to self: learn from Ripley’s incredible use of space. We marveled at oddities from different cultures and incredible works of art, and (I) avoided eye contact with interesting characters (my son’s favorites were the Lizard Man and the guy with crocodile teeth).
After making it through the mind-bending Vortex Tunnel (there’s a detour for those who would prefer to skip it) we were transported into another dimension at the Mirror Maze. We went through the Mirror Maze 3 times and managed to craft a different journey each time amidst the reflective world of LED lights and never-ending reflections. What a perfect way to challenge our sense of perception, direction, and fun!
I consider Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! San Francisco both an iconic San Francisco attraction and a hidden Bay Area gem. It has earned and secured its place in our top mom picks of must-see attractions – and you will quickly see why once you visit! Located in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! San Francisco is open 365 days a year. Pro tip: if you’re planning on visiting with family and friends, inquire about possible group rates at ticketing. Get weird!
