If you’re in the Los Angeles area, you have to visit Griffith Observatory. It offers the most stunning views of LA and gives prime viewing of the Hollywood Sign. If you’re a sucker for city skylines, the trip to the park won’t disappoint. It’s popular at sunset and is free (besides parking).

The Observatory is located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park. It’s 1,134 feet above sea level and is visible from many parts of Los Angeles. Its unique hybrid of public observatory, planetarium and exhibition space was created to inspire individuals to observe, ponder and understand the sky.

If you’ve seen “La La Land,” Griffith Observatory might look familiar. Parts of the movie were filmed there. It’s an iconic spot that is even more spectacular in person. Jurassic Park was also filmed there.

Tips for visiting Griffith

• It’s extremely popular to visit at sunset — allow enough time to park. The parking lot near the observatory is small and many had to either park near the bottom of the mountain or on the way up and the hike can be long!
• Afer the sun goes down, walk around the outside of the observatory. The views of LA at night are breathtaking!
• Bring a jacket or extra layers at night, it gets chilly (even in the spring/summer).

While I loved experiencing it during sunset, I also loved seeing it once the sky was dark. The city lights up like a thousand stars and if you’re out on a clear night, the moon is visible too.

I’d definitely recommend it and plan to visit the next time I’m in LA. Do you have favorite spots in California? I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment or reach out on social media @fearlesseyes97.

For more information, visit the Griffith Observatory website.