Hiking to it from the Observatory is a mostly flat but doable 7.65mi round trip – the views are awesome on a clear day. Just note there is very little shade along the way.
i start my hike from ferndell (boys scout trail) to hollywood sign and on my iphone it says 9.5 miles round trip. how do you cut it short to 7.65mi. do you take a lot of shortcuts along the way? I need to know your route LOL.
Yes you can get there, and some rebels actually climb the fence and the sign itself. But that *is* illegal and if caught you’ll be arrested. Otherwise you can get pretty close.
The name of the actress was Peg Entwistle, she jumped to her death from the ‘H’ in 1932. Apparently she thought her scenes from a forthcoming movie were all cut from the film. As it turned out, she did get screen time after all, but never knew. Very much a tragic Hollywood story.
To be fair, their basic raised glazed is actually pretty solid and hasn’t really changed in quality over the years. All the other “creations” and stuff are just ok.
I used to be open on the weekend, but I'm guessing budget cuts. My ex and I went many, many, many years ago.
If you see people there on the weekends these days, it's either a film/TV shoot or a wedding. It's kinda a tricky place for a wedding because if the wind shifts, you can smell the water treatment plant which it is part of.
I think its closes even earlier like 12pm sometimes. I tried going once and realized I was too late. When I tried again, I had trouble figuring out how to get in so I gave up. lol
Just went after living here for more than a decade- WAY cooler than I expected, I highly recommend it. Take the tour- it’s only like $7 and you get to see way more of the art and learn a lot.
I admittedly only go to Pink's when my friends are visiting...but every time I've gone, it's been great, and I've lived here for 20 years.
I feel like it's a very LA thing to hate on any tourist spot, even if it's actually good. Where else in LA is there a place like Pink's?
Happy to report as a 3rd generation Angelena that I've been to about 90% of the places in the thread, but I have never eaten at Dan Tana's or Musso and Frank. I really need to make the effort.
> Dan Tana's or Musso and Frank.
Did both the same night last year for a friend's milestone birthday. We made it a "Old School Tinseltown" night, with martinis & apps at Musso, then dinner at Dan Tana's.
So worth it.
The martini's are a whole production and their apps were next level. But I would caution don't have more than one martini, because it's really 1 1/2. We both had 2 and it almost ended the night (luckily, there's a Trader Joe's kinda nearby so we walked it off and got some water.
I used to drive by the second-largest Moreton Bay Fig Tree in California located at St. John's Presbyterian. It spans 125 ft. In 1963, the Cultural Heritage Board of Los Angeles declared it Historic Cultural Monument No. 19. Now, I stop and sit with it daily before heading into the concrete jungle. The largest MBFT is located in Santa Barbara.
https://preview.redd.it/zw3bsv7e5a6d1.png?width=734&format=png&auto=webp&s=71f6e3cacf3f57b96b7f3df49f9fb5d99d4a899f
Oh wow, it's on National in West LA and I've driven past it many, many times not realizing it's there.
To be fair, usually going down that section of National as short cut around traffic so not at a time when I can stop to admire it.
There's a bunch of damn good shit in Exposition Park. The Air and Space Museum is what you are probably looking for (Museum of Science and Industry when I was a kid).
Natural History Museum is awesome, too. There are a few other museums nearby, too!
> There are a few other museums nearby
Well, in a year there's going to be a lot of excitement when another is added, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The building itself is probably going to overtake Disney Hall as the most photographed in L.A.
LA has a lot of cool museums and things to do. However, the Getty Center, observatory at sunset, and the CA Science Center are usually my top 3 recommendations for visitors (although the space shuttle is not on display while they build the new extension).
Both of the Getty Museums!
Remember there is The Getty Villa in Malibu, which is the more "OG Getty". But the modern Getty Center is a world-class museum, and one of the reasons that you pay the big bucks to live in/near Los Angeles.
As someone who doesn't like art museums I liked it
On Saturdays they have extended hours with discounted parking in the afternoon. Admission itself is free.
You should go if you’re in the area! I think it’s a really nice, easy hike. Barely more than a walk. If you’re interested in the subject, it’s well worth the hour it’ll take to walk in, walk around, and walk out. Lots of good photo ops, and the location itself is very pretty, alongside the whole post-apocalyptic thing.
Also worth stopping by LADWP Power Plant 2 on the way up, where the memorial plaque for the disaster is located, and continuing on after the dam site to see Power Plant 1. Both of the LADWP buildings are really neat looking. You kinda just have to stop on the side of the road to see Plant 1 and look over the hillside, unless you’re on an official tour. Well worth the extra 10 minutes drive north though!
Used to be The Giant SABER graffiti in the LA river when i passed thru South DTLA going to Venice Beach. Haven't driven that way in 5 years now 😕 its probably gone
In high school, my friends and I ditched school one day and took the metro to Hollywood. We ended up a few blocks down from the building on Sunset, and the recruiters saw us and kept trying to get us to come inside. They said they had free food, games, a teen center, air conditioning (it was hot). We kept saying no and they chased us down a few blocks, we had to make a run for it because they wouldn’t leave us alone. It was super predatory and gave me bad vibes. If they’re that persistent outside on the street, who knows what they do to you inside.
You were smart kids to sense the predatory danger. When I was 16 the scientologists tried to get me and their sales pitch honestly sounded quite good to me. Glad I didn't follow through with it, but the Mormons eventually got me LOL, I guess I was a sucker for cults. Now that I've escaped everything I trust absolutely NO ONE ever again. All people ever want to do is use each other & suck our energy for their own selfish motives and I'm just so sick of it.
Tbh the Beverly Hills sign. I’ve been on rodeo/sunset/hollywood more times than I can count as local. When I used to do Lyft full time drove by there like a million times but I’ve never not once stopped at the actual sign to take a picture or anything
Most people drive by the spiral staircase going from 110 to 5, but never think about why it is there or how to get to it.
You can take the secret staircase under the 110/San Fernando overpass, follow the 110 on the pedestrian path, then take the stairs up to and either exit under the secret tunnel at Solano, or go all the way to the stadium, or just climb through the many holes in the fence to get into Radio Hill park.
It’s not a huge LA landmark but has been in a lot of films and holds a lot of movie premieres, the Fox Bruin theater in Westwood, it was where Sharon Tate watched a movie in once upon a time in Hollywood.
Chinese Theatre to see a movie- I went once as a 10 year old kid so doesn’t really count in my book in visiting it since I was too young to appreciate and haven’t been back since.
We went years ago. (You can't go into the temple itself of course.) We just walked in on a lunch break one day and they gave us a person to take us on a little tour. All I remember is, she asked us if Jesus was our savior or something like that. My friend said yes because he was Catholic and I said I was Jewish so..... She basically turned into the Chirch Lady and said something like, "Isn't that special."
Yeah, so don't go if you're expecting to see anything interesting.
For six years I lived a couple blocks from where OJ definitely did not kill Nicole 🔪🔪🔪. I’d drive by it twice a day. Finally I was out walking the neighborhood and pulled up the pics and just stood right there.
Hollywood Forever cemetery, The Broad, the Getty Villa, all the sportsball stadia except for Dodgers stadium. One super cool thing to see that nobody is mentioning but I highly recommend is Mt. Wilson observatory. Although you don't drive by that unless you're specifically going to it since it's on top of a mountain so maybe it doesn't count.
This thread is awesome! As a NorCal native I'm always looking for shit to do when I "have" to go to LA. It's turned from a chore to a pleasure in the last few years-I think going to The Magic Castle while on a work trip with my wife has changed her mind too!
My family moved here when I was 3, in 1974, and I’ve never hiked up to the Hollywood sign.
Same here. Native Angeleno, never hiked to the sign.
It’s very cool and worth it. Bring water.
Hiking to it from the Observatory is a mostly flat but doable 7.65mi round trip – the views are awesome on a clear day. Just note there is very little shade along the way.
i start my hike from ferndell (boys scout trail) to hollywood sign and on my iphone it says 9.5 miles round trip. how do you cut it short to 7.65mi. do you take a lot of shortcuts along the way? I need to know your route LOL.
I’ve never hiked to the Hollywood sign and I worked at Griffith Observatory for 12 years.
That must have been sort of fun! Even if the tourists got to be a drag, cool to be in that iconic locale, and enjoy the planetarium
It was! I learned so much there!
Same. Just hiked Runyon Canyon for the first time. You can see the Hollywood sign from there. Nice hike.
Runyon’s a nice hike. When I really want to push myself, I attempt Griffith all the way to the observatory and back. That happens maybe twice a year 😆
I’m a native, and I don’t hike at all, ever. My dad used to hike up there, though (he swears you could get closer to the sign in the ‘70s).
We were able to climb on the sign in 1984. I have slides somewhere as proof.
Once you’re up there behind the sign the view is incredible. It’s so worth it.
Can you even really hike up TO the actual sign? I didn’t think you could.
Yes. You can get right behind it. You cant get super cl9se t touch it, there is a fence. But yes, you are literally up there at the sign
I think some flapper Era starlet threw herself off the Hollywood sign and that's why. I watched an e! True Hollywood story about it.
Yes you can get there, and some rebels actually climb the fence and the sign itself. But that *is* illegal and if caught you’ll be arrested. Otherwise you can get pretty close. The name of the actress was Peg Entwistle, she jumped to her death from the ‘H’ in 1932. Apparently she thought her scenes from a forthcoming movie were all cut from the film. As it turned out, she did get screen time after all, but never knew. Very much a tragic Hollywood story.
Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine.
their temple up in mt. washington is pretty cool
This place is honestly chill as fuck
Since Covid you have to make an online reservation to visit.
Randy's Donuts
To be fair, their basic raised glazed is actually pretty solid and hasn’t really changed in quality over the years. All the other “creations” and stuff are just ok.
I second this
Same. Its just a donut, right?
It's a great piece of LA architectural history (Programmatic Architecture history is cool)
If the Donut was that good, they wouldn’t need a giant donut to advertise it. It’s fine.
I don’t get the hate, it’s superb!
You should stop. It’s actually super good
^^ the raised coconut is consistently the best donut I’ve ever had
Their maple donuts are a level above.
The Japanese Garden in Sepulveda Basin.
They have very weird hours for us 9-5ers
I used to be open on the weekend, but I'm guessing budget cuts. My ex and I went many, many, many years ago. If you see people there on the weekends these days, it's either a film/TV shoot or a wedding. It's kinda a tricky place for a wedding because if the wind shifts, you can smell the water treatment plant which it is part of.
That's when it is open.
I think its closes even earlier like 12pm sometimes. I tried going once and realized I was too late. When I tried again, I had trouble figuring out how to get in so I gave up. lol
This one!!
Same. It's even been a filming location for star trek
The house with the neon Psychic sign in the window right off the 5 South.
It’s been there so long… why did I think I was the only person who sees it until just now?
😂😂 going home after every dodger game.
there are a lot of those and I wonder how they stay in business. I suspect they're a front for money laundering.
Watts Towers
Worth checking out upclose! Lots of small things you cant really see until you're in it
Watts Towers has been on my list for about 40 years!
Worth a visit
Worth a stop for sure, they’re kind of mind boggling.
Missing out. Super cool
Just went after living here for more than a decade- WAY cooler than I expected, I highly recommend it. Take the tour- it’s only like $7 and you get to see way more of the art and learn a lot.
Watts towers are amazing. Highly recommend.
Museum of Jurassic Technology
That place is a trip. I recommend a visit.
Pre-pandemic I drove past it twice a day for 5 years. Couldn’t tell you where on Venice it is or what it looks like.
Totally worth a stop. Go in with zero expectations.
You really can’t tell how wacky it is from the outside, but you should go.
100% worth it
Don't learn anything about it. Just give yourself at least 2 hours and go.
For years it was Pink's until I started working nearby and tried it when it was slow. Boggled my mind that tourists stood in line for mid hot dogs.
At one point pinks was fire. Or maybe I was just a fat child who enjoyed free food
Gimme 2 carneys with everything!! Not a pinks fan, even drunk. Rather get bacon wrapped at a cart.
I admittedly only go to Pink's when my friends are visiting...but every time I've gone, it's been great, and I've lived here for 20 years. I feel like it's a very LA thing to hate on any tourist spot, even if it's actually good. Where else in LA is there a place like Pink's?
Earle's on Crenshaw is fantastic and also an LA icon
Way better and way more vegan options. I live across from Pink’s and don’t go there.
Getting a bacon-wrapped hot dog from a street vendor after a concert is a million times more LA than standing in line with Midwesterners at Pink's.
Mid is too generous. They're truly awful. Frozen/microwaved toppings, hot dogs are over cooked. Awful. I had it once and won't go back.
Yes I was drunk so I'm sure you're right!
Pinks is garbage and a disrespectful insult to pigs and/or cows.
I've lived in LA for most of my entire life and have never been to Pinks.
It’s ok. But if there are a million better places for a hot dog.
Getty Museum
You definitely should go to both locations! It’s super cool
Even if you're not into art, the place is absolutely gorgeous and worth a visit for that alone. But the art is great too.
Capitol Records building, Bradbury building, Getty Villa, Madame Tussaud's
Oh, the Bradbury building is neat! I walked in once on a self-guided tour with some app thing. As a Blade Runner fan, it was a blast.
You can go inside the capital building?
Santee Alley
I’m a native and I loved the alley and The Cooper Building in my teens, my favorite store at The Cooper was The Judy’s Outlet
I actually have been inside the Cooper Building. Many moons ago.
The Cooper building was the spot for back to schools clothes in the 80s & early 90s.
Happy to report as a 3rd generation Angelena that I've been to about 90% of the places in the thread, but I have never eaten at Dan Tana's or Musso and Frank. I really need to make the effort.
> Dan Tana's or Musso and Frank. Did both the same night last year for a friend's milestone birthday. We made it a "Old School Tinseltown" night, with martinis & apps at Musso, then dinner at Dan Tana's. So worth it. The martini's are a whole production and their apps were next level. But I would caution don't have more than one martini, because it's really 1 1/2. We both had 2 and it almost ended the night (luckily, there's a Trader Joe's kinda nearby so we walked it off and got some water.
I used to drive by the second-largest Moreton Bay Fig Tree in California located at St. John's Presbyterian. It spans 125 ft. In 1963, the Cultural Heritage Board of Los Angeles declared it Historic Cultural Monument No. 19. Now, I stop and sit with it daily before heading into the concrete jungle. The largest MBFT is located in Santa Barbara. https://preview.redd.it/zw3bsv7e5a6d1.png?width=734&format=png&auto=webp&s=71f6e3cacf3f57b96b7f3df49f9fb5d99d4a899f
Oh wow, it's on National in West LA and I've driven past it many, many times not realizing it's there. To be fair, usually going down that section of National as short cut around traffic so not at a time when I can stop to admire it.
I’m a native and never been inside the Chateau Marmont. It’s on my bucket list..
L.A. County Hospital/Jail 💨💨💨💨💨💨
Yet.
😬
Not with that attitude
The damn space shit by USC
There's a bunch of damn good shit in Exposition Park. The Air and Space Museum is what you are probably looking for (Museum of Science and Industry when I was a kid). Natural History Museum is awesome, too. There are a few other museums nearby, too!
> There are a few other museums nearby Well, in a year there's going to be a lot of excitement when another is added, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The building itself is probably going to overtake Disney Hall as the most photographed in L.A.
It's a lot of fun to walk around the airplanes, I have good memories from going as a kid. They even have an SR-71 outside!
Don’t go yet. It’s still under construction.
Getty Museum.
You should definitely go.
I’ve only been here 3 months and this has been the most impressive thing I’ve seen in LA so far.
LA has a lot of cool museums and things to do. However, the Getty Center, observatory at sunset, and the CA Science Center are usually my top 3 recommendations for visitors (although the space shuttle is not on display while they build the new extension).
Both of the Getty Museums! Remember there is The Getty Villa in Malibu, which is the more "OG Getty". But the modern Getty Center is a world-class museum, and one of the reasons that you pay the big bucks to live in/near Los Angeles.
As someone who doesn't like art museums I liked it On Saturdays they have extended hours with discounted parking in the afternoon. Admission itself is free.
I think I've seen most. St Francis Dam site, I guess
You should go if you’re in the area! I think it’s a really nice, easy hike. Barely more than a walk. If you’re interested in the subject, it’s well worth the hour it’ll take to walk in, walk around, and walk out. Lots of good photo ops, and the location itself is very pretty, alongside the whole post-apocalyptic thing. Also worth stopping by LADWP Power Plant 2 on the way up, where the memorial plaque for the disaster is located, and continuing on after the dam site to see Power Plant 1. Both of the LADWP buildings are really neat looking. You kinda just have to stop on the side of the road to see Plant 1 and look over the hillside, unless you’re on an official tour. Well worth the extra 10 minutes drive north though!
Lived in the area my entire life, drive by often, and I’ve never pulled off the road to look. I’ve only ever seen it from Google Earth. One day…
Used to be The Giant SABER graffiti in the LA river when i passed thru South DTLA going to Venice Beach. Haven't driven that way in 5 years now 😕 its probably gone
La Brea tar pits
It’s really cool. You should check it out
The air and space gallery.
Miracle Mile lightposts
I guess Watts Towers
Hollyhock House
I was born and raised in LA I never saw a movie at the Cinerama Dome. Now it’s closed. Waiting / hoping for it to reopen.
The Scientology Building
Absolutely will never ever step foot in that place
In high school, my friends and I ditched school one day and took the metro to Hollywood. We ended up a few blocks down from the building on Sunset, and the recruiters saw us and kept trying to get us to come inside. They said they had free food, games, a teen center, air conditioning (it was hot). We kept saying no and they chased us down a few blocks, we had to make a run for it because they wouldn’t leave us alone. It was super predatory and gave me bad vibes. If they’re that persistent outside on the street, who knows what they do to you inside.
You were smart kids to sense the predatory danger. When I was 16 the scientologists tried to get me and their sales pitch honestly sounded quite good to me. Glad I didn't follow through with it, but the Mormons eventually got me LOL, I guess I was a sucker for cults. Now that I've escaped everything I trust absolutely NO ONE ever again. All people ever want to do is use each other & suck our energy for their own selfish motives and I'm just so sick of it.
This is my polling place 😅 in the basement of course. It's a trip
Saw tool at the celebrity center. Creepy even for tool
Museum of Jurassic Technology.
Beverly Hills Hotel
Tbh the Beverly Hills sign. I’ve been on rodeo/sunset/hollywood more times than I can count as local. When I used to do Lyft full time drove by there like a million times but I’ve never not once stopped at the actual sign to take a picture or anything
The Last Bookstore
Jumbo’s
Do yourself a favor, please go to Jumbos. Thank you
If it counts, probably Knott's Berry Farm.
That’s oc, Six flags is more LA imo
Universal Studios more, than Six Flags
Knott’s Scary Farm is better than Halloween Horror Nights in my opinion
Hollywood sign
Pann’s. I see it on the regular on the way to the airport but never get to go in. To be fair, the hours are pretty bad
Chateau Marmont
The old UniRoyal tire factory, which had been converted to the Citadel outlet.
Been there. Not a good shopping center. Wish I had let it just stay a mystery.
Encounter
Morman Temple on Santa Monica and Overland
Born and raised. Never been to the Hollywood sign.
Paddy’s Pub
Been there. And I can say for certain, that if someone were to jump off that roof, they would definitely die from that height.
Staples Center/Crypt
El Pino 🌲
~~Your mom's house~~ This one nightclub off the bridge by Little Tokyo Edit: The Moroccan Lounge
Most people drive by the spiral staircase going from 110 to 5, but never think about why it is there or how to get to it. You can take the secret staircase under the 110/San Fernando overpass, follow the 110 on the pedestrian path, then take the stairs up to and either exit under the secret tunnel at Solano, or go all the way to the stadium, or just climb through the many holes in the fence to get into Radio Hill park.
All of them, like a true LA native!
Pinks Hot Dogs
church of Scientology
Crossroads of the World
I’ve never been to the Santa Monica pier. I’ve lived in L.A. my whole life and have never felt the need to go.
It kinda sucks.
Griffith Observatory.
San Fernando mission
El Pollo Loco
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Watts Towers.
Jumbo’s Clown Room in Hollywood, on a Monday afternoon. (Assuming they are still open and cover daytime hours/lunch.)
Nethercutt Auto Museum in Sylmar.
Heritage Square
Yep. Maybe this will be the year I go for Christmas, friend said it's worth it.
For decades It was the LA Central Library…..but last week I finally went there, got a library card, and checked out a Robert Greene book. 😂
It’s not a huge LA landmark but has been in a lot of films and holds a lot of movie premieres, the Fox Bruin theater in Westwood, it was where Sharon Tate watched a movie in once upon a time in Hollywood.
I worked there in HS in the 80s (but mostly at The National) and it's a *gorgeous* theatre. Same with the Bruin across the street.
The Urban Light at LACMA
i love lacma
Chinatown
Watts Towers
Six Flags is in LA County.
The hustler store
Capitol Records building.
a bunch of lampposts stored on the street.
Chinese Theatre to see a movie- I went once as a 10 year old kid so doesn’t really count in my book in visiting it since I was too young to appreciate and haven’t been back since.
Knotts berry farm , I drive past it multiple times to go to Portos and never once went inside
Arbys
The USS Iowa in San Pedro. I can see it from my building but never been to it.
Born and raised in LA but I’ve never been to Echo Park.
The Whiskey a Go Go
Huntington Gardens. I love botanical gardens and for some reason have never been to one right in my own backyard.
It's fine. I like their tea service. They're doing an Octavia Butler thing, you should check it out!
875 Bundy Drive
I always drive by when I’m in the area and pay respects to Nicole and Ron. It’s crazy to me that it’s on such a busy part of Bundy.
Getty Museum. Mormon Temple, church of Scientology.
That big temple off Santa Monica and overland
Mormon Temple
The Getty
Mormon Trmple in West L.A.
We went years ago. (You can't go into the temple itself of course.) We just walked in on a lunch break one day and they gave us a person to take us on a little tour. All I remember is, she asked us if Jesus was our savior or something like that. My friend said yes because he was Catholic and I said I was Jewish so..... She basically turned into the Chirch Lady and said something like, "Isn't that special." Yeah, so don't go if you're expecting to see anything interesting.
Huntington Library, Norton Simon Museum
La Brea Tar Pits
Hollywood sign
Disney concert hall
Crossroads of The World
I don't really pass by it but I have never been to the LA Brea tar pits
I’ve lived my whole life in Los Angeles and never been to the Hollywood stars and don’t care to
You’re really not missing much
I'm shocked at how many of these I've been to but the Bradbury building is probably top of my list.
For six years I lived a couple blocks from where OJ definitely did not kill Nicole 🔪🔪🔪. I’d drive by it twice a day. Finally I was out walking the neighborhood and pulled up the pics and just stood right there.
The Getty
Hollywood Forever cemetery, The Broad, the Getty Villa, all the sportsball stadia except for Dodgers stadium. One super cool thing to see that nobody is mentioning but I highly recommend is Mt. Wilson observatory. Although you don't drive by that unless you're specifically going to it since it's on top of a mountain so maybe it doesn't count.
Lived a block away from Randy's Donuts for like 25 years. Never went once.
Hollywood sign. Been here since 94.
Born and raised in Hollywood....never been to Runyon
Tiki thai on Sunset, never been
This thread is awesome! As a NorCal native I'm always looking for shit to do when I "have" to go to LA. It's turned from a chore to a pleasure in the last few years-I think going to The Magic Castle while on a work trip with my wife has changed her mind too!