A memorable visit in LA. You can see the entire city from the observatory! If you are fit enough, you could hike all the way up by going on nearby trails, or just take a cab or the Dash bus line to go all the way up. There are lots of things to see inside the observatory for free, like small games, information about planets and even a Tesla coil in some specific times (I think it is activated every hour). Some presentations take place every hour as well, and I watched one called Centered in the Universe, which was truly amazing and unforgettable. The adult ticket costs just 7 dollars, and it lasts for about 45 minutes, where the presenter discusses about our own existence. If you like science, astronomy, or if you are just curious and want to have an amazing experience, this can't be missed! One important note: don't forget to bring a hat and water! If you are waiting on the outside for your cab, or for a bus down, you need to be careful with the sun, as there is almost no shade to hide from it. Data reception is also pretty poor.
The observatory can get crazy during the weekends with traffic and tourists so might be best to visit during the week.
You need to pay for parking if you want to park near the observatory, or do what I do and park for free near the Greek theater and hike .6 miles back up. Don't be lazy.
Great views of downtown LA and close to the Hollywood sign. We parked near The Greek for free and hiked up to the observatory - it’s a long walk that I wouldn’t recommend with kids. The line for the telescope was very long (on a Tuesday night) and didn’t budge for 10 minutes so we decided to skip it. Gorgeous architecture, lots of view points but come expecting it to be very busy.
Also the conservatory is free, but you can pay extra for a movie which I highly recommend.
An amazing place to visit in LA. You can't beat the views! Great pictures to take with the entire city in the background or the Hollywood sign. You can hike to the sign from the observatory, 8 miles roundtrip.
I took my future wife here on one of our first dates in 1978. She was a pretty, tall, young lady with flowing long brunette hair. She had a sweet sense of humor and temperament. We came on a weekend when they were presenting the laser light show on the domed planetarium ceiling with accompanying music. One of the songs played was "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright, which had become popular around that time. Virginia and I leaned back in our seats to watch the display and she soon fell asleep. She was weaving dreams to the psychedelic display and I was glad she was so comfortable. Later, we went out to the walkway that encircled the observatory and strolled along hand in hand and shared a kiss or two. The city lights of L.A. glistened below us like a magic carpet of sparkling gems. We had brought a few beers and drank them while leaning against the handrail, talking and laughing together. At that time there were no security cameras and things were a little more laid back. Some of you may recall the movie; "Rebel without a cause." with James Dean and Natalie Wood from the 50's and the scene where James Dean is in a switchblade fight with some hard guys in this very spot. Well, we can't all really be quite as cool as James Dean or Natalie Wood but you could weave a dream of your own while floating high above the twinkling sea of lights at the edge of the City of Angels.
The cafe has some nice food too.
This is really cool if you like astronomy and space. Make sure to stick around til sunset because you'll have the best view in LA.
Griffith Observatory is a US Museum based in Los Angeles, California. Griffith Observatory is located at 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
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