A iconic landmark in a major city that makes you feel like you're far from one!
Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory
One of the main attractions to Griffith Park is the observatory, this is a must see! You also must understand that everyone will also be visiting this sight so plan on there being traffic. This observatory is free to enter and as you walk around inside, you'll learn lots of cool information about the sky and about the history of the observatory itself. On the outside, enjoy an absolutely breathtaking view of Downtown Los Angeles and the surrounding area. On a clear day, you can see not only the Pacific Ocean but sometimes Catalina Island, San Clemente Island, and Santa Barbara Island which is part of the Channel Islands National Park. This view is stunning whether you visit in the daylight or night time.
There are always crowds here because this location is so iconic for locals and tourists but the most crowded is typically around sunset so to avoid the heaviest crowds, visit on a weekday well before sunset. Sunsets are amazing here though so if you plan on doing that, get here several hours early and go for a short hike or explore the observatory first. It's also cool to see all the people who visit from so many different countries and hear all the different languages being spoken.
Old L.A. Zoo
Originally opened in 1912 as "Griffith Park Zoo," this site is over 100 years old which makes it pretty noteworthy. After closing in 1966 due to the opening of the nearby Los Angeles Zoo, this location was just left in ruins and eventually became known as the Old Los Angeles Zoo. You can walk into most of these old enclosures and see how small these living conditions were for these animals which is why this location was closed down. Some of the enclosures now have picnic benches inside of them so you can sit and have a unique lunch.
Hollywood Sign
When tourists visit the Los Angeles area, the Hollywood Sign is usually on their mind as it is a must see and must photography location. While the sign is visible from many areas, getting close enough for a great photo can be tricky since the area is surrounded by residential homes and lots of no parking signs. The residents who moved into these houses all knew what they were getting themselves into but still, they don't seem to want outsiders around which seems quite ridiculous. However, there are a couple spots for great vantage points but they're not easy to find. You can see the sign from Griffith Park Observatory so if you're on a time crunch, that will do just fine. If you have the time to access a better photo op thought, you'll want to drive to Lake Hollywood Park, Hollywood Reservoir, or Brush Canyon Trail. Brush Canyon Trail requires an easy 1 mile roundtrip hike but also takes you by the iconic "Bronson Caves" aka "The Bat Cave" where they filmed the first Batman movie.
Bronson Cave
Located in the southwest corner of the park, most people walk right by these caves without even realizing how famous they are. This area was originally a rock quarry that operated between 1905 and 1920, after it became popular for movies due to its unique landscape and close proximity to the major film production studios. Over 120 movies and TV shows have been filmed there including Batman, Mission Impossible, Star Trek, The A-Team, and The Dukes Of Hazard.
To visit this area, you'll need to drive from outside the park as this area is not connected by roads to any other part of the park, only by hiking trail. Drive to the end of Canyon Drive or put "Canyon Hike" into your navigation.
Travel Town Museum
This outdoor museum celebrates the part railroads played in the history of Southern California. Actual locomotives, freight and passenger cars, cabooses, trolleys, and horse-drawn cars are on display. For a small fee, take a miniature train ride around the museum perimeter
Open Space
At over 4,500 acres, Griffith Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the country and a the largest historical landmark in Los Angeles. The park is filled with manicured grass lawns, picnic areas, wilderness, and many attractions! Over 150 species of plants have been documented in the park.