Conference excursions will take place on Thursday October 1st, after the morning scientific program. Currently 3 activities are offered, with a 30 person capacity on each option. During registration, select only one excursion option.
There is a $50/person cost to join an excursion. The 2 excursions out of San Francisco, to Muir Woods and the Bay Model Visitor Center, can expect to return to the hotel around 6pm on Thursday.
1. SFMOMA:
Take inspiration from a visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), a cultural institution showcasing modern and contemporary works in painting, sculpture, photography, design, architecture, and media arts. Explore seven gallery floors of informative and interactive exhibits with notable works on display by influential artists such as Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and Henri Matisse.
The museum is located downtown, a 20 minute walk from the conference hotel, and in close proximity to many other landmarks such as Union Square, Yerba Buena Gardens, and Salesforce Park.
Trip Information:
- Plan to walk from the hotel to the museum. Transportation can be arranged if requested.
2. Muir Woods Hike
Along the quiet, foggy coastline of Northern California is an incredibly unique ecosystem, home to the largest trees in the world. Prior to massively destructive logging during the 19th and 20th centuries, ancient coastal redwoods and giant sequoias trees towered hundreds of feet off the ground, covering an area over 2 million acres across the Pacific Northwest. These forests are also home to a number of endangered species which are uniquely adapted for life under the soaring tree canopy. Today, only about 5% of old growth coast redwoods remain, under the protections of various government jurisdictions, as well as the stewardship of private trusts, conservation groups, and indigenous tribes.
One of these sanctuaries is a mere 45 minute drive north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge. Muir Woods National Monument was established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, and named for the American conservationist John Muir. This 550 acre grove contains 6 miles of trails, and is a popular attraction for Bay Area residents and visitors alike to enjoy a true spectacle of the natural world.
Trip Information:
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The drive in each direction averages 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic.
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We will have about 2 hours to explore the woods, plenty of time to complete the main trail.
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This excursion is entirely outdoors, bring a jacket, appropriate shoes, and water
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Cell Reception in the woods is generally unreliable. Make sure you can keep track of time so that everyone returns to the bus on time.
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The main trail loops that follow Redwood Creek are highly accessible, paved with a flat boardwalk path.
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Capacity of 30 people
3. Sausalito and Bay Model Visitor Center
The city of Sausalito is a charming waterfront community located north of San Francisco on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. In addition to its picturesque views of the Bay, and colorful neighborhoods of floating houseboats, it is also the site of a former research facility with a fascinating history. The Bay Model is a scientific instrument that was constructed in the 1950s by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to study the circulation of water throughout the San Francisco Bay, and the environmental impact of proposed infrastructure projects. It is a 1:1000 scale model of the Bay Area waterways and the California Delta, complete with working hydraulics to simulate ocean tides and river currents, and was still in use until 2000.
Though the model is no longer used for research purposes, it was converted to an educational visitor center for those interested in Bay Area hydrology, and to preserve a little known piece of local history which prevented an ecological catastrophe.
Trip Information:
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The drive in each direction is approximately 30 minutes
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Scheduled tour with a park ranger that will last approximately 45 minutes
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Capacity of 30 people
- Depending on timing, there will be some opportunity to explore the town and walk along the seaside after the tour.