Admission-Free, Griffith Observatory In Southern California Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination
Danielle Schwartz
Author
Looking for the perfect day trip but hoping not to spend too much? It can be a challenge to have a whole day of fun in LA without spending a lot of money, but you can absolutely achieve this feat at the beautiful Los Angeles Griffith Observatory.
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Let's stop by the Griffith Observatory in LA so see the view of the city below and learn about this fascinating attraction in Southern California:
Los Angeles’ Griffith Observatory is the ideal place to take your family for a day of fun and enlightenment. Learn about our universe while enjoying life on Earth! What’s your favorite part of going to Griffith Observatory? Is it the view of the city below or the heavens above?
Take a look at the Griffith Observatory website and the Griffith Observatory Facebook page.
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More to Explore
More observatories in Southern California
Where can you see the stars in SoCal?
Whether you are looking for an official observatory (there are 45 in the entire state) or you just want a spot where you can get out in nature and enjoy the night sky, there are lots of places where you can see the stars in SoCal. Here are a few you can check out:
- Mount Wilson Observatory, Pasadena, CA: The largest observatory in California sits atop a 5,710-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains. It was built in 1904 and at the time had two of the largest telescopes in the world. As time has passed bigger telescopes have been built, but the views you can get of the universe above are still incredible.
- Palomar Observatory, Palomar Mountain, CA: In San Diego County is another astronomical research observatory that allows visitors to hunt the skies for stellar treasures. If you plan to visit this observatory how about making it a weekend camping trip? The Observatory Campground is only five miles away inside Palomar Mountain State Park. Even without a high-powered telescope, the views of the night sky are incredible.
- Big Bear Solar Observatory, Big Bear, CA: This university observatory is operated by the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Public tours are available for groups of up to 16 people led by the Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society. Booking a reservation is the best way to secure your spot, even though walk-ins are accepted.
- Joshua Tree National Park, Near Los Angeles, CA: If you are looking for one of the best places in Southern California to see the stars with your naked eye, a Dark Sky Park is the way to go. Joshua Tree has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. This means it is one of the very few places on Earth where you can still see the Milky Way without needing a telescope because there is very little light pollution.