Griffith Park

If you're looking to spend some time outdoors without fighting traffic to get to the beaches, many suggest that Griffith Park is the place to go. This 4,107-acre stretch is the largest urban park in the country, featuring more than 50 miles of hiking and biking trails and numerous waterfalls and lagoons perfect for a quick swim.

If communing with nature is not your idea of the perfect day, don't cross Griffith Park off your itinerary just yet. Here you'll find a variety of attractions catering to visitors of all ages, including the Los Angeles Zoo, the Museum of the American West and the Travel Town Museum. Griffith Park is also home to Griffith Observatory, which is known for its spectacular views of the famous Hollywood Sign, and for being the setting of the dramatic final scene in the iconic James Dean film Rebel Without a Cause.

Situated on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, just north of the Los Feliz neighborhood, Griffith Park is open to the public seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Griffith Observatory itself is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free, but individual attractions found within the park and the observatory may charge entry fees. For more information, check out the Griffith Park website.