Griffith Observatory

Currently, the Griffith Observatory Museum is open from Friday through Sunday. The neighboring areas are accessible every day. The structure itself, both inside and out, continues to be the main draw. This landmark is a must-see on any trip to Los Angeles because of its notoriety for appearing in both beloved (Rebel Without a Cause) and hated (Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace) movies. It's also possible to argue that it's the one place that locals never grow tired of seeing. Any perspective makes the Art Deco building beautiful, as do the views of the city below.

The displays and performances here are long enough to last you an hour or two. The Foucault pendulum, located directly beneath Hugo Ballin's renowned mural on the central rotunda, the handsome, cutting-edge Samuel Oschin Planetarium, and the complementary Hall of the Sky and Hall of the Eye exhibits are all located on the ground floor. These exhibits focus on how humans relate to the stars. The Cosmic Connection Corridor's cheesy jewelry displays lead down to the downstairs, where there are a variety of other brand-new exhibits.

You can watch a brief movie at the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater on the observatory's past and recent revival. The impact that meteorites and other falling debris have had on Earth is vividly and illuminatingly described in Pieces of the Sky. The Gunther Depths of Space has a bronze bust of Albert Einstein, clear descriptions of the planets, and a massive 2.46-gigapixel image of the night sky that was captured by the Palomar Observatory in San Diego County. Additionally, the Café at the End of the Universe serves above-average munchies. Parking at the observatory is $8 per hour, but you can also take the DASH bus from Los Feliz for just 50 cents.

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0

Location: 2800 E Observatory Rd Los Angeles 90027
Contact: griffithobservatory.org

Phone: 213-473-0800
Price: Free admission. Planetarium $7, $3-5 discounts, free under-5s (only admitted to first show daily).
Opening hours: Tue–Fri noon–10pm; Sat, Sun 10am–10pm