The Griffith Observatory is one of LA’s greatest cultural attractions and, from its lofty perch on Mt. Hollywood in Griffith Park, it’s also one of the best spots for spectacular views from the Pacific Ocean to Downtown LA. The observatory and exhibits were first opened in 1935 and were an immediate sensation — the wonders of the cosmos being pretty inaccessible to the public back then. Today you can peek through the powerful telescopes, watch a live show in the planetarium or just gaze out at the city in all its terrestrial glory. griffithobservatory.org