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Griffith Observatory
The Observatory is located in Griffith Park is an icon in Los Angeles and a favorite by all who visit it. Not only is the observatory a cool place to hang out (especially with the kids), the admission to the Observatory building and grounds is FREE!
This photo of the Observatory is from TripAdvisor.
It is also a great place to take in the beautiful views of Los Angeles and in particular the Hollywood sign.
This photo of the Griffith Park Observatory is from TripAdvisor.
This is an amazing place to watch the sunset and admire the views, both in the day and after sunset to enjoy the stars. There are some permanent and temporary exhibits that may have a small fee. Some exhibits include: the Universe, astronomy and the planetarium show (about $7).
If you plan on visiting the exhibits, plan on a couple of hours at the Observatory. Don't miss the planetary orbits that are inscribed on the sidewalk, they will give you an idea as to the cosmic size of the Universe. The Griffith Park Observatory is located in Griffith Park on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood and is 1,134 feet above sea level.
We visited the Observatory in February of 2012. It was better than I thought it would be! The views were spectacular and the Lenord Nimoy Show is not to be missed as it is free and it gives you a great perspective on the Observatory and who Griffith was and why he created it.
If you go in the evening (when it is dark) you can look into the telescope that Griffith bought and made available for everyone to look into. We went in the day so we missed it but here is a photo of the telescope through the glass.
The Griffith Observatory is not just for families. We saw many couples having romantic picnics and strolls around the Observatory. In fact we even ran into a bride and groom taking photos there!
Tips
During busy times (mainly weekends) use the shuttle bus to avoid parking hassles.
The Planetarium show is not for small children. Bring a sweater if you are staying into the evening as it may get quite chilly after dark.
People on TripAdvisor an we (we saw it when we visited) suggest seeing the 22 minute "The Once and Future Griffith Observatory" that is shown in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater. It is shot in HD and narrated by Leonard Nimoy himself.
Great attraction for teens interested in science.
Hours:
Weekdays: Wednesday to Friday - 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm
Weekends: Saturday & Sunday - 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Parking:
As we drove up the mountain we saw that many people parked on the side of the road and walked up. We decided to drive to the top and see if there was any parking. There was! So we didn't have to walk up the hill. If there wasn't any parking, we figured that it would be easier to find a spot going down the mountain than up it.
Don't miss the James Dean memorial statue by the lookout for the Hollywood Sign in the front garden area of the grounds.
Video on Griffith Park Observatory
Watch more Los Angeles videos at tripfilms.com
See if your favorite California Tourist Attraction is listed here.
Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor.
If you have visited this California tourist attraction before, please comment below we would love to hear your review and experience of it!
Other California Vacation Ideas
J Paul Getty Museum
A beautiful museum in Los Angeles is a free museum that is rated in the top 5 tourist attractions in California. Make sure you check it out!
Griffith Park
4000 acres of an urban park in the center of Los Angeles. A great place to take a walk, hike, check out the Griffith Observatory, enjoy the views or have a picnic.
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