Griffith Observatory + Hollywood

No trip to Los Angeles, California is complete without a trip to two iconic places: Hollywood Boulevard and Griffith Observatory.

Griffith Observatory

We started the day at Griffith Observatory. The views over the city are incredible, especially as the sun starts to set. Inside, the exhibits are amazing, with a planetarium and hidden basement level with updated state-of-the-art exhibits.

Another big draw at Griffith Observatory is just being up there, looking out over Los Angeles, California. It’s one of those rare places that feels cinematic.

We spent a day doing the classic Hollywood loop—Ovation Hollywood, the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Boulevard. It’s touristy, but there’s a reason people keep coming back. These places are iconic.

Ovation Hollywood (shopping center)

We started our Hollywood adventure at Ovation Hollywood, which is basically a shopping center built around the Dolby Theatre. Open space and things to climb on, so it became a makeshift playground for Owen.

Dolby Theater

Inside, the staircase leading up to the theatre is the same one celebrities walk during the Oscars, though it’s a little less glamorous when you’re dodging shoppers with iced coffees and souvenir bags. Still, it’s fun to stand there and imagine the red carpet rolled out.

TCL Chinese Theatre

Just around the corner is the TCL Chinese Theatre. The handprints and signatures in the cement are a weirdly satisfying mix of old Hollywood legends and more recent stars.

Hollywood Boulevard itself is a bit of a sensory overload—street performers, costumed characters, and a whole lot of people trying to sell you something. But it’s also where you’ll find the Walk of Fame. We didn’t linger too long, but it was worth the stroll.

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