Tickets for the planetarium shows cannot be purchased online or in advance. They must be purchased…read moreabout 30-45 mins before each show starts. Usually the lines are long if you try to purchase the tickets near the front entrance. But there are a few kiosks and other box offices available inside the observatory. Kiosks are the easiest way to purchase the tickets and avoid the frustratingly long lines. It is advised to go inside the planetarium at least 20 mins before the show starts. For some shows, the entrance to the planetarium is from the West terrace. On a cold night, it can get very chilly and the lines and wait times could be long. So, make sure to wear warm clothing. Coming to the planetarium shows, I viewed the 'Signs of life' and 'Centered in the universe'. Both of them are well made, perfectly timed and very informative. I enjoyed them thoroughly.

first of all, the ticket line was way too long, I had o wait under the sun forever just to buy them…read moreand honestly that already killed my vibe. On top of that, parking was $10 per hour -- I mean, come on, that's crazy. I was already a little in a bad mood, so maybe that didn't help, but still they should really fix how they do the ticket distribution. It felt super disorganized. Now, the good part, the dome is beautiful, the projections look amazing, and the whole vibe inside is actually pretty cool. But I just couldn't fully enjoy it with all the stress before the show.

I love the observatory! I come here almost every day to…read morerelax and enjoy the views! It's an educational exercise;)

On my most recent trip to LA, I had a pocket of time that I could get away from the family and do…read moresome exploring. Griffith Observatory is one of the most popular attractions in LA on TripAdvisor. And it's a landmark that has appeared in quite a few movies over the years. I stopped by on a Sunday morning. Let's start off with the challenge. If you're down for a long walk, you can get free parking. I am, but I was with my mom, so that was off the table. If you park at the observatory, it's all paid parking. And you have to pre-select the amount of time you'd like to pay for. Which is a bit annoying as it's tough to predict exactly how long it'll take to explore the attraction to the full extent. I did three hours, which worked out, as some parts of the observatory were a no-go since it was a cloudy, foggy, and rainy day. You also have to pay for admission and a surcharge for shows in the planetarium. Now, let's get to the good stuff. The Observatory itself is quite impressive. It's a major observatory with some pretty awesome equipment, artifacts, and more. You learn a lot about astronomy and the Observatory is well laid out. I recommend paying extra to see a show in the planetarium. The one I saw was educational and entertaining. There's a lot to explore and they also have a cafe on the property if you get hungry (I didn't check it out). And here's another highlight...Griffith Observatory is a great vantage point to see the iconic Hollywood Sign. You can find it to the right of the entrance of the Observatory (facing the Observatory). Since it was muggy when I was there, I only had a partial view of the sign. Bad luck, but it was still cool to see it. Despite some of the logistical challenges, and the fact that it's a popular spot, Griffith Observatory is well worth a visit!

Last minute decision to visit the Natural History Museum, I've never been and I've lived in Los…read moreAngeles all my life. Parking was a bit small but there were spots available, it was a flat fee of $20. It's next door to the Lucas Narrative Museum that's opening in September and it looks amazing. It was $18 for an adult ticket and the overall experience was enjoyable, the exhibits were fun and informative. Some things were being shifted around but nothing that took away from the overall experience. I'd definitely recommend it if you've never been, especially for children as they were having a blast exploring.

A MUST DO IN LOS ANGELES! Adults and children alike will…read morethoroughly enjoy this museum! There is so much to see and you won't get bored. We love the Butterfly garden that becomes a spider garden in the fall! Don't miss the IMAX movies they add to the fun experience.

Popped in to take in the IMAX blue whale documentary. And what a film it was! Talk about super…read moreeducational! Just to think the earth once had 350,000 plus of these majestic creatures roaming the Earth's waters. Hunted to the brink of extinction, they're finally making a rebound in coming up on the 16,000 mark. What's more important is the cycle and huge role they play in the health of our oceans which in turn leads into our ability to ultimately exist. Without the planet's oceans, there is ultimately no oxygen. So it's definitely in our interest to keep these majestic animals alive and well and thriving. If you ever in this area, I'd highly recommend catching one of their IMAX documentaries.

Perfect "Oooo Ahhhh" Spot for Kids - Science Magic for School Trips & Family Days!…read more Put on my kid hat for this one -- if you're taking little ones (or even bigger kids) on a school trip or family outing, the California Science Center in LA is an absolute winner. It's full of hands-on exhibits that spark that big "oooo ahhhh" reaction and sneak in real learning without feeling like school. From ecosystems and living kelp forests to interactive science zones, space stuff, and whatever special exhibit is on (right now it's Mummies of the World -- super cool for curious minds), there are tons of intellectual learning points wrapped in pure fun. Kids light up pushing buttons, experimenting, and discovering how things work. It's designed perfectly for young learners and school groups. As an adult walking in, it might not be your first-choice cup of tea if you're looking for something more sophisticated -- a lot of it is geared toward children and families. But if you're there for the kids, you'll still enjoy watching their excitement and maybe even learn a thing or two yourself. Highly recommend for families with little ones or any school trip. The wonder and "aha!" moments make it worth the visit.

The Kidspace Museum in Pasadena is one of the better children's interactive museums we've been to…read more It has a huge, shared parking lot near Rose Bowl Stadium. Outside, there are two adjacent outdoor kid's playgrounds. Near the entrance they have juice and fruit vendors and a balloonist. Entry fee is very reasonable at under $50 for family of three with in-and-out privileges. Inside the museum, its like 80% outdoor exhibits and 20% indoor. They have an onsite cafe and food vendors throughout. The outdoor exhibits has a park area dedicated to physics. You'll see fans, pulleys, etc. to help your child appreciate scientific concepts while having fun. They also have tie-dye stations, climbing structures, tricycle race tracks, live music, and my son's favorites - the sandbox and pretend farmer's market and veggie patch. I noted lots of friendly staff dressed as camp rangers working with the kids and maintaining order with a smile, which is huge. Inside the buildings, you'll see traditional kid activities like toy trains, quiet reading areas, legos, and even more climbing structures. Looking forward to coming back next time we're in the area. The in-and-out policy is nice since they have lots of nearby offsite restaurants in nearby Old Pasadena.

Back in April 2026, I participated in the Ronald McDonald Walk for Kids that was held at Brookside…read morePark in Pasadena. As a participant, I received a free entrance to the Kidspace Children's Museum that happens to be within the park's vicinity. Very cool! Kidspace is a nonprofit museum designed to "delight and engage children emotionally, intellectually, and physically through joyful, kid-driven experiences." It is a place for play, discovery, creation, and exploration. It offers a world of curiosity and intrigue. It features 40 hands-on exhibits for small children from ages 1-10. Outdoor spaces include an opportunity to climb into a giant hawk's nest, splash and play in naturalistic water features, bring out inner musicians, and get physical with rockets and giant levers. Indoor space consists of galleries, active beehive, imagination workshop, ant tunnel, climbing towers, etc. Bookstore with books and merchandise for purchase. Deli with food, drinks, and refreshments for sale. Tables and chairs are outside in the patio. Restrooms are available throughout the museum. I was so happy to have gotten the opportunity to visit. I enjoyed it very much. It is a place for all ages for sure. Come see it for yourself! Enjoy and have fun.

It's sad that this planetarium was closed for renovations and then Covid happened and ever since…read more2020 they never re-opened. When you go to their website it says "temporarily closed" however being closed for going on 6 years does not seem like it's temporary - which is unfortunate!

Found this on Yelp and so happy to have gone tonight! I've gone to the planetarium at Mt. SAC, but…read moreit's really far to me now in Long Beach. This is close and convenient to the 22. The show we went to tonight was really cool and interesting. Patricia Sullivan hosted and she was fun, welcoming and made things easy to understand. Loved seeing the constellations projected onto the planetarium dome and then there was an awesome presentation about the solar system afterward. I'll definitely be back! I only gave four stars because I was hoping/looking forward to a Night Sky Live that was included in the program notes, but it didn't happen. I would also love to look through telescopes, so not sure if that's a different program altogether.

We did the private tour of the observatory, and let me tell you it was so worth it. I booked the…read moreprivate tour as an anniversary gift for my husband, he's a physicist and I knew this would be right up his alley. The tour guide was so friendly and knowledgeable about the observatory. The tour takes you through several parts of the observatory with experts at each stopping point. As someone who isn't into physics, I can honestly say I actually had a blast. There's also a small cafe that serves sandwiches and soups that was also really good. The observatory and cafe are open only during part of the year, so definitely check out their site for the hours.

This is a must visit for all Angelenos and tourists and anyone interested in matters earthly and…read moreuniversal. We did the 2+ hour docent tour, worth every penny. Everyone here is a volunteer (docents, scientists, and all) so they rely on donations and purchases of merch and all the really special events they plan. You need to get a $5 daily pass to park in the lot since it's a national forest. Easy to get at the Cosmic Cafe upon arrival. Sign up online for their newsletter so you can be in the know of some very cool happenings at the observatory.

I highly recommend their live night telescope viewing…read more Jim, their resident Astronomer is the best. He knows more about astronomy, interplanetary science, and the solar system than it should be legal to know. Plus he is a nice guy who is willing to share his knowledge. Jim also used to build propulsion rockets for the Space Shuttle flights. I learned so much from his 2 hour seminar and hands on viewing. I may even go out and buy a telescope now he got me so excited. Parking was easy and free at the meters on Pico after 6 PM. The Planetarium is on the 2nd Floor of the John Drescher building. After the class where he points out what you are going to see, everyone walks outside together to the viewing area where his associates set up multiple telescopes. Wear walking shoes, dress warm, eyeglasses or no-glasses are fine for viewing, bring cash only for the event, and have a coffee before coming. Because when you sit in those comfortable theater seats, recline back to see the dome, and he turns off all the lights...I don't know about you...

This is a small, low-key planetarium show led by a passionate, knowledgeable, engaging, and funny…read moreamateur astronomer, Jim. Jim's enthusiasm for space exploration and astronomy is infectious and you leave the planetarium show with a renewed sense of wonder at all the mysteries right above us. Street parking is really easy to find the night of the show and sometimes volunteers bring their own telescopes for night sky viewing. I've seen some really incredible things at the night sky viewings: sunlight slowly filling the craters on the moon, the rings of saturn, a double star-system, and the "star nursery" in the Orion Nebula. Whenever I leave the show, I feel like I was in on some special secret. Oh, and if you can't tell by the address, this is at Santa Monica College

Looking for something fun to do over the weekend? Admission to the Broad is free and Parking is…read more$19. Accessible by the metro, a stroll the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Living in Los Angeles, it's kind of rare to feel like a tourist in your own city. The Broad is a stunning gallery that has amazing pieces on display! We definitely booked tickets for Takashi Murakami and decided to double up on the Infinity Room. It was so fun and please do not sleep on the gift shop. The Takashi pins are nice gifts!

5.8.26 Tickets are…read morerecommended and can be reserved on their website, though walk-ins are accepted. Options include General Admission or General Admission with access to the Infinity Mirrored Room (reservations for this open the last Wednesday of each month). I mistakenly booked only General Admission and was disappointed to find that the Infinity Room was fully booked at my time slot. General admission includes access to the museum's third-floor galleries. I typically gravitate toward art museums over history or science museums, and this one delivered. The collection features primarily paintings, along with several portraits and sculptures--engaging and thought-provoking throughout. There is a parking garage located beneath the museum. Rates are $19 for the first three hours with museum validation, $7 for each additional 15 minutes, with a $29 daily maximum. There's also a $19 flat rate after 5 pm on weeknights and all day on weekends.

Absolutely loved this place. We came here for a homeschool field trip. There were two parts to the…read morefield trip. The viewing of the informational star session in the dome. The second part the kids and parents build mini rockets. Then they launched the rockets into the air and tried to catch them. The staff was so nice and helpful. They answered all of our questions and took their time with out groups. So much fun for the entire family.

We attended with our homeschool group and it was an amazing experience! Our host, Alex, was great…read morewith the kids! We built our rockets and then they got to launch it and try and catch it. Super fun and exciting for the kids. The planetarium show was great too. I've only ever seen the Griffith Observatory show and this was on par with that show without the drive or the high price. This is a lesser known gem and if your on the fence do not hesitate to check it out!