Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory sits on the south face of Mount Hollywood and overlooks the Los Angeles basin. It's location gives visitors stunning views of L.A.'s wild, sprawling civilization pushing right up to the Pacific Ocean. But there's more than just a pretty photo-op here. The observatory hosts fascinating exhibitions and a fantastic planetarium.

One TripAdvisor user explains, "The Griffith Observatory is a lot of things. It's romantic, it's scientific, it's a place to explore whether you want to see the view, the sunset, or the Tesla Coil."

Going up to the observatory for the view and exploring the exhibits are free. However, you will have to pay between $3 and $7 dollars to see the planatarium shows that occur every 60 to 90 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on at the observatory the day of the show. The Griffith Observatory is open from noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. For more information, check out the observatory's website.