Today let's focus on the extremely popular Museum of Ice Cream.
About the Museum of Ice Cream
The excitement when the Museum of Ice Cream started selling tickets turned many ordinary museums calm. Tickets for most museums are not snapped up that quickly or in large quantities.
Photo opportunities at previous locations in New York and Los Angeles have been filled with photos of many museum visitors in their happiest moments. By the time the Museum of Ice Cream got to San Francisco, the hype was at its peak. So many people wanted to visit the Museum of Ice Cream that tickets to the Los Angeles location sold out in under five minutes.
Arrival
Because visitors may have to wait in line to enter the museum, arriving early is advised.
After checking in, guests enter in groups of about 15. Employees relay a few basic house rules and make it sound exciting. Some groups are assigned names, and one person is chosen to be the ‘group leader.’ This person supposedly oversees the fun, but they quickly disperse and do their own things as part of the opening energy.
Inside
Once the doors are closed, the real fun begins.
Prior to the group entering, a very brief history of ice cream is given and questions are asked based on what is on the walls. In fact, most people spend their time exploring and taking pictures rather than reading the text because the rooms are so visually stunning.
What is in the Museum?
The Enchanted Door
The experience begins in a large doorway to a colorful world of ice cream.
Everyone is invited to relive their childhoods. Just play!
Cream Ring Toss
The next room is filled with activities, including a ring toss where no one seems to win, although it is very fun to try! You can also take animated photos on a TV to send to yourself.
Trivia Corridor + Bi-Rite
The corridor wrapping around the corner is filled with ice cream trivia. Each answer panel is a fun, easy way to learn something along the way.
What would an ice cream museum be without ice cream?
Bi-Rite was San Francisco's featured ice cream shop! The bright pink bar is where you can sample it and the vintage record player is a great photo op!
The Samples Keep Coming
The mochi was super good, available in chocolate and strawberry, with all the flavors available! Each person could get three.
Right next to the mochi ice cream was a line for cotton candy. The tasting stations come so fast that the sugar overwhelm a little!
The cotton candy was super sweet. Those with an immense sweet tooth might be able to finish the entire cup, but for most guests half was more than enough. Cotton candy is exactly what you would expect to see as a snack before the next room. The lights designed to look like cotton candy are small but soft and playful like cotton candy and the setting creates an illusion of clouds for you to walk through. Great place for pictures with cotton candy. If you hold on to your cotton candy for too long, you might have to throw it away. That was the case for many guests. This installation is another social media hit. It features giant popsicles. You can hold one, hug one, pretend to take a bite, or sit on one. You can do almost any pose. Wear white. Each room has a different color palette, and white will work with all of them. The next few rooms blend together, and it makes sense to think of them as one Unicorn World. The first room has a prism theme and a small wall, but it captures a lot of childhood wonder. And this is the unicorn photo op that a lot of guests were waiting for. Next to it is the last tasting station with what was probably the best ice cream of the visit: unicorn ice cream. It is very sweet but also very tasty. Next to the unicorn display, there are two tiny doors that guests have to crawl through. Adults have to crouch to enter the space, and can only take seated photos, but the finished product is absolutely stunning. Additionally, there is a mirror for a quick touch-up, and it offers an abundance of light. Climbing Wall and Jelly It is time to get active after becoming a photo model. A pink climbing wall awaits anyone willing to take on a challenge. Visitors to the jelly wall next door can grab some popping candy that is strawberry flavored. After taking pictures, the arrows lead you up – even the bathroom doors are pink. The staircase around the corner is particularly attractive, though it is a busy passageway, so anyone hoping for a photo needs to move quickly. Tips: This is just before the last room, so if you haven’t captured plenty of pictures here, take your time before moving on. The Sprinkle Pool Finally, the main attraction has arrived. The famous sprinkle pool may be what first captured the interest of many of the Museum of Ice Cream followers, and it is also one of the most packed sections. There is a hefty wait, as groups of about 10 are allowed to enter at a time, and 10 minutes are given before the next group comes in. Be quick: you will enjoy and photograph a lot in a very short time. Before you enter, the staff will explain the simple rules. The sprinkles are plastic, and are not for eating—so do not eat them. Please put shoes and other small items that could get lost in the pool in the shoe cubbies.
Pool visitors have a bit of a unique experience as they have to clean themselves before leaving the pool. Instead of using water, air blowers are provided.
Little Rooms Ready for Photos
Following the last major installation, there will be three or four more minor ones. Three of these will have swings, and visitors will be able to queue. A bit of patience is required with such a dense crowd.
Arguably the most formal spot to take a picture in the entire exhibition is the museum couch.
Those who still have energy can play a little table tennis nearby, although that may require another wait.
Gift Shop
It is a rule that no museum visit is complete without a gift shop, and this one is no exception. It is hard to leave without considering a souvenir.
The End
This marks the end of the very pink museum experience. As a museum, it is not terribly effective educationally; the installations are simply too beautiful and distracting for most visitors to read the text about the history and evolution of ice cream. That is both its weakness and its charm.
It is, however, undeniably a triumph as an entertaining museum. While the subject is quite modest, it has transformed it into a spectacular and imaginative attraction, creating a level of excitement that many more traditional museums struggle to achieve.
【Ticket Reference】
Although advance reservation are needed, booking far in advance does not guarantee a ticket. For more information, visit the official website at: *** Average Cost Reference Approximate Average Cost: $41 per person Address: 1 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
