Located in Hollywood, the observatory is a fantastic place to take the entire family, kids included! You’ll have the opportunity to learn about space and enjoy amazing views of the city.

Even the outside of Griffith Observatory is full of beauty. Make sure you take at least a few minutes to appreciate the artful architecture of the iconic LA building.

When the sun sets, it’s an extra special place to be. It opens up the opportunity to see the sky in the observatory and to check out the panoramic views of the city that run all the way to the horizon.

There are so many amazing things to see at Griffith. Keep an eye on the calendar to be able to see exciting happenings, like when you can see two planets at once. How many people can say they’ve seen Venus and Jupiter at the same time?

When you go inside, you’ll enjoy the decor just as much as you did outside. Look up to the indoor sky for a dose of artistic beauty.

There are fun and exciting shows to attend in the Observatory, including the eye-opening Signs of Life show. And don’t forget to check out the planetarium. It will amaze everyone in your family!

1. The Rose Bowl Flea Market, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena

2. Melrose Trading Post, 7850 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles

3. Long Beach Antique Market, 4901 E Conant Street, Long Beach

4. Pasadena City College Flea Market, 1570 E Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena

5. Santa Monica Airport Outdoor Antique and Collectible Market, 3050 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica

6. Torrance Antique Street Faire, 1317 Sartori Avenue, Torrance

Every year the already lively Los Angeles Zoo is transformed and comes to life in a whole new way after hours. This year, from November 18, 2022, through January 22, 2023, L.A. Zoo Lights presents “Animals Aglow.”

This LED light festival celebrates nature in a fun, unique, and inspiring way. It turns dedicated areas of the zoo into a stunning display of lantern sculptures.

This immersive adventure brings you a whole new view of zebra, elephants, lemurs, giraffes, koalas, orangutans, and more.

During this after-hours event, live animals are tucked away in their night quarters, but giant alligators, peacocks, and other creatures will delight visitors as they explore the zoo.

Animals Aglow is both playful and stunning. Bright animals, colorful flowers, and illuminated trees fill the space and feed the imagination.

Many of the displays are animated, adding to the enchanting landscape. Visitors of all ages will love the interactive light displays and the many fun opportunities for selfies and family pics, from a wisteria tunnel to trees that change colors with the beat of a drum.

As you wander, there is plenty of festive food, snacks, and drinks, including delicious hot cocoa to keep you warm, available to enjoy during your evening at the zoo. You can also purchase sweets and gifts to take home with you.

Zoo Lights is a self-guided adventure and most guests spend about 60 to 90 minutes enjoying this wildlife-inspired wonderland.

L.A. Zoo Lights is designed for everyone, including kids of all ages, to enjoy. Get your tickets, get the family bundled up, and head to what is sure to be a very memorable experience.

The Hollywood Castle looks like you’ve entered another world entirely.

Instead of the verdant hills of England, the view from this unique building is of the iconic Hollywood sign.

Looking at the bridge, stone architecture, and old-fashioned fixtures...

The castle is not a hotel, so if you want to see inside it, you’ll have to rent it.

Its uncanny resemblance to the famous Hogwarts castle is especially visible when you’re in front of the fireplace.

Another fun similarity to the stone-walled palace from the Harry Potter universe is the suits of armor.

The view from Paseo Miramar Trail is so pretty that you’ll stop and stare at the majestic Pacific when you come to it.

Another amazing trail choice in this unique state park is the beautiful Eagle Rock Trail. The pathway is lovely to walk, and the famous Eagle Rock formation is the perfect photo opportunity to memorialize your hiking trip.

The colors are simply unreal, and you’ll be open-mouthed at the way the colors light up the sky in brilliant hues. There’s no better way to end of the day than gazing out at the natural beauty of an idyllic place like Topanga State Park.

Once in a while, you get to see an extra-special sunset that completely takes over the entire sky. You won’t want it to end!

Another great trail in this park is Skull Rock Loop, known for its incredible ocean views. It’s about four miles long and takes almost 2 and a half hours to walk. There is excellent bird watching here as well as the perfect trails for hiking and biking.

The famed Skull Rock itself is, of course, a major draw of this path. When you see a person on it, you’ll really be able to get a sense of how giant this rock is.

On Christmas Eve in 1951, police officers received a call that there were seven minors drinking alcohol, but when they arrived, they found that all of the people drinking were actually adult men.

At the Christmas party, rumors swirled among officers that one of the officers had lost an eye in that fight, even though it wasn’t true. The prisoners were taken from their cells and brutally beaten by 50 officers for an hour and a half.

There was a wide attempt to cover up what had happened, and in the end only five of the officers were convicted for their crimes. However, nearly all of the others were transferred away from the jail.

The prison is also known for housing the notorious Al Capone. It was operative until 1965 when it was decommissioned. It housed the Bilingual Foundation of Arts and a gym from 1979-2014 when toxins including asbestos and lead were found in the building.

Yet another scary story is that of the gym owner and boxing champion Johnnie Flores, who was found dead at the bottom of an elevator shaft in the building in 1994.

This undoubtedly haunted place has been used as a movie set for many scary movies as well as music videos, and paranormal activity has been frequently reported by those who have been inside.

The tall and beautiful tree stands proudly in Exposition Park as one of the oldest trees in Southern California. It certainly deserves its historical landmark status. It has quite an interesting history attached to it.

It was originally at the Southern Pacific station’s entrance and served as a sight that let travelers know they had arrived in the big city.

After you’ve taken in the majestic tree, check out the rest of the gorgeous Exposition Park. The rose garden is just one of many incredible highlights of the fun destination. It’s a great place to take the kids for a lovely afternoon of exploring.

For more fun activities at the park, check out the wide variety of attractions. You can explore the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, attend a soccer game at the Banc of California Stadium, or go swimming at the EXPO Center.

The kids will especially enjoy the fully structured dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, and there is so much for them (and you!) to learn here.

The Science Center is another fantastic spot to find out more about Earth’s ecosystems and cool space-themed exhibits. The programs here will capture everyone’s attention and make you glad you came!

The retro feel of the outside of the bakery is so inviting that you’ll get a dose of nostalgia as soon as you walk through the doors.

Magnolia Bakery is so idyllic that you’ll want to stay all afternoon. From the checkered floor to the adorable displays, you’ll love all the little details of the interior.

No matter what your favorite flavor is, you’ll be sure to adore their selection. Of course, you can get timeless vanilla and chocolate cupcakes if you’re craving a classic. They get decorated seasonally, so they’re always special.

Magnolia also has the most amazingly intricate decorated cupcakes. The flower ones are like small works of art.

If you really want to make your loved ones’ birthday special, just bring over some of Magnolia Bakery’s whimsical and sweet birthday cupcakes. With fun candy pieces like presents, a cake, or a party hat, everyone will certainly smile upon seeing them.

You can also get a cute assortment of mini cupcakes that feature your favorite candy on top. We’re willing to bet that you’ll want to have a few of these tasty creations.

Of course, Magnolia also has plenty of other delicious confections you’ll get to choose from while you’re here. Try any of the cookies and you just might decide you need a dozen to take home with you.

Artist Sabato Rodia created these fascinating structures after purchasing the plot of land in 1921 and living on it with his wife. He used steel to create unique shapes.

He made the whole thing by hand and it became quite the obsession for him, as he continually added concrete to the structures over time to make them more earthquake-proof.

The mosaics are colorful and beautiful and stand out in the surrounding neighborhood. They are made from ceramic art from local areas and vendors. Some of the companies include Malibu Potteries and Batchelder.

Once he felt the art was complete, Rodia left his structures after working on them for 34 years!

Getting to observe the fascinating sculptures and take a look at the artists’ designs is a special privilege, and certainly an experience you won’t soon forget.

Today, you can explore the area on a guided tour on Thursday-Sunday, or you can look at the structure from outside the surrounding gate anytime.

You can’t miss Pink’s when you’re driving or walking along the famous La Brea Avenue. While the name “Pink” was actually the last name of the founders Paul and Betty Pink, the restaurant has taken on the bright and cheery color for its well-known exterior.

Over the years, the popular hot spot also become a big hit with the most famous people in Los Angeles. You’ll see lots of their pictures all over the place when you’re inside!

Of course, the main draw for many is the incredible hot dogs. One of the most well-known menu option is the classic chili cheese dog, which you just might get hooked on after you try it.

If you’re hoping for a unique creation, Pink’s certainly has those too. You can find all sorts of delicious choices here, from ones with pastrami to ones with nacho cheese. Some of the menu items are even named after famous faces, like the Rosie O’Donnell Long Island Hot Dog.

Pink’s has house-made guacamole, so you know it’s good! If you’re craving a flavor palette from south of the border, you can definitely find it here too. Pink’s also features burgers, an amazing variety of fries, and even cake for dessert.

If you’re an LA baseball fan, you’ll have an extra special connection to Pink’s. When the Dodgers went to the world series, the whole restaurant was temporarily decorated in blue to celebrate. The team spirit is high here!