Griffith Park Observatory, Los Angeles

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The Griffith Observatory (pic 3) is amazing, it‘s a small museum, a planetarium and a theatre at the same time. It is open Tuesday-friday (12.00-22.00) and weekends (10.00-22.00). There’s no entrance fee except some specific shows from time to time.

We went up to the Griffith Park on our last day in LA, it was just before sunset so we saw the city lights and this was great as a memory to carry with us back home. The view from the Griffith park is really great day and night, you can see down to downtown but also far away to the beach! It is also a good spot for the Hollywood sign pictures of you, some people want to prove that been somewhere by showing in front of the landmarks, I prefered to spend the whole time just admiring the landscape, a sight to behold(pics 1-2). The park is nice for hiking too and we noticed a lot people jogging at the stip road.

You need to wait until just after a rainy day (I know we don't get a lot, but we do get them) and the view from the observatory is incredible. Here is what it looked like a few days ago (www.photopilot.com/blog/index.php/2009/12/09/griffith-park-observatory). Don't miss out on checking out the Observatory after this storm passes!!

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The Griffith Observatory has finally reopened after many years of restoration and renovation. The views of Los Angeles are spectacular from the observatory. Unfortunately, it's not so easy to get to. Refer to the website on which shuttle works best for you. We found it easy and convenient to park at a covered public parking structure at Hollywood and Highland (part of the Kodak Theatre Center). Parking costs $10 there for all day. We purchased our shuttle tickets online and it was easy to find where to catch the shuttle. There is a show you can watch at the observatory that explains our universe, planets, stars, etc. The show is an additional cost, the seats are comfortable. The Hall of the Sky exhibit is very cool. Gives you a perspective of what size the earth is in relationship to the other planets in our solar system. You can also see how much you would weigh on each of these planets. My boyfriend was skeptical - wasn't convinced it was all that accurate. All in all, I thought it was a worthwhile visit.

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The Observatory Reopens! I got in line, got my reservation, got on the shuttle bus and saw the wonder! The four year, 93 million dollar rehab has transformed the Observatory from an aging, sentimental hulk into a world class museum. Whether you're fascinated by the heavens or looking for LA panoramas a trip to the observatory grounds and a hike through this massive urban wilderness park is a must for any visitor. Don't miss the bizarre sculpture of James Dean(commemorating the knife-fight scene from "Rebel Without a Cause" filmed at Griffith). It's frightening & hilarious. And, if you hike nearby, watch for rattlesnakes. They are EVERYWHERE.

The views are phenomenal if the smog is not too thick. One caveat: The delayed opening created a flurry of interest, and the Observatory has limited parking. Initially, you had to reserve and use a shuttle bus, but this restriction has been lifted...for now. So, you can drive up at will, but don't be surprised if during peak visiting hours/season you need to reserve ahead of time and use a shuttle.

Griffith Observatory is a national leader in public astronomy, a beloved civic gathering place, and one of southern California's most popular attractions. The Observatory is located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, just above the Los Feliz neighborhood.

The Griffith Park Observatory finally reopened! And with the free shuttle from Hollywood and Highland (there's a subway stop), this is really one of those must see local sights. This is one of the few true monuments in LA, and it is fantastic. Going at sunset is a sight to behold. Plenty of hiking in the area, and the renovated planetarium and museum is awesome.

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if you like to learn while sight-seeing. If the cosmos are your thing, this is a first stop on your Los Angeles journey. Now (as of November 2006), the observatory has opened, much to big local fanfare. Stars of Los Angeles are not just the ones on the sidewalks of Hollywood and in the glaring lights of studios and paparazzi cameras- the stars of the world's sky can be best viewed atop the hills of Los Feliz.

On the official weekend opening, I attended the spectacular Grecian-like renovated structure on LA's unofficial acropolis.I will add more ifo here but for now I say that this is a must-see landmark for all kinds of tourists and for those who live nearby. Even the shuttle ride leading up to the observatory was entertaining.

For now, the Observatory requires an $8 reservation for the observatory, HOWEVER, from what I experienced anyone who can make it up the arduous hill to the Observatory without a car can just walk into the building. There was no checking of reservation tickets at the entrance. The $8 is really for reservation to board the convenient shuttle bus. There is a separate charge for viewing the special Planetarium inside, which is $7 -$8.

Some tips:

Try for going to the observatory on a weekday. There will be less people. Also, try to go in the Spring or Fall to avoid the high-tourist summer season. Much of the hype of the place will die down likely in the fall 2007.

Wear comfortable shoes. be prepared for much walking.

Bring bottled water, especially on a hot day like I experienced.

Bring a lunch or snacks and eat on the front lawn. The new cafe is average, nothing special and has long lines early into the reopening season. Don't wait 40 min to sit down and eat a measley turkey sandwich at the table!

Okay, The Griffith Observatory is being renovated and expanded for three years, beginning 2003 and ending in Fall 2006. In the meantime, you can visit the Griffith Observatory Satellite, which is nothing nearly as good as the big one. They have a small display of exhibits, a lecture area, and a telescope to view the moon and planets at night.

The Griffith Observatory Satellite is open from 1 p.m. - 10 p.m, but closed on Monday.

It's Free!!

The main observatory is very cool, so visit when it's open. They have a monument to Hipparchus (?-125 B.C.), Copernicus (1473-1543), Galileo (1564-1642), Kepler (1571-1630), Newton (1642-1727), and Herschel (1738-1822).

There are three big telescopes, a theatre, and a Foucault Pendulum. This experiment proves the earth spins on an axis.

A ton of stuff has been filmed at the observatory, but the most famous is Rebel Without a Cause...you'll see a bust of James Dean on the grounds.

Lots more to see and do there.