Tickets for the planetarium shows cannot be purchased online or in advance. They must be purchased…read moreabout 30-45 mins before each show starts. Usually the lines are long if you try to purchase the tickets near the front entrance. But there are a few kiosks and other box offices available inside the observatory. Kiosks are the easiest way to purchase the tickets and avoid the frustratingly long lines. It is advised to go inside the planetarium at least 20 mins before the show starts. For some shows, the entrance to the planetarium is from the West terrace. On a cold night, it can get very chilly and the lines and wait times could be long. So, make sure to wear warm clothing. Coming to the planetarium shows, I viewed the 'Signs of life' and 'Centered in the universe'. Both of them are well made, perfectly timed and very informative. I enjoyed them thoroughly.

first of all, the ticket line was way too long, I had o wait under the sun forever just to buy them…read moreand honestly that already killed my vibe. On top of that, parking was $10 per hour -- I mean, come on, that's crazy. I was already a little in a bad mood, so maybe that didn't help, but still they should really fix how they do the ticket distribution. It felt super disorganized. Now, the good part, the dome is beautiful, the projections look amazing, and the whole vibe inside is actually pretty cool. But I just couldn't fully enjoy it with all the stress before the show.

UPDATE: it now costs $15/hour to park here. The man who built this place said there would NEVER be…read morea charge to park here! Still as beautiful as ever inside & out. One of my favorite places in Hollywood. Guess you could say I'm star-struck I love the Hollywood sign & always will, along with the moon & stars. Go see the Swinging Pendulum inside the Observatory. It's amazing!

Took my girlfriend here on her birthday to see an amazing sunset and it did not disappoint. The…read moretraffic to get there sure did however. We tried getting up there at 5-30 and it was already pretty slow going. It took some time to get up there and we got very lucky finding a spot. There were many that didn't that had to drive back down the mountain. The place is spotless and very neat. The employees were very kind and informative. Next time we will take a shuttle or try and get there very early.

In a world increasingly dominated by sedentary virtual activities, the Los Angeles Natural History…read moreMuseum is the antidote to many of our problems, issues, and ailments. What I mean is, on about 200 acres in the heart of the city is a storied and exquisite tribute to earth's almost infinite wonders and the role of millions of species in making this planet a paradise in a somewhat sterile universe. A visit to the website as well as an in-person trip and tour of the grounds and the vaulted spaces inside can restore the soul. It does that for me each time I go. I have hundreds of photos taken during these visits, but I have selected a few from my Nikon full frame to illustrate the marvel and treasure that this museum represents. Among the best and most curated and cared for archives in the world, the Natural History Museum seeks to inspire and educate visitors, patrons, old and young alike, by showcasing the earth's cultural and natural beauty. These are troubling times all over the globe. This institution can revive our faith in civilization and our terrestrial mother in just a few brief hours. It is not be be missed.

We had a pretty fun experience at the Natural History Museum with our 3 year old toddlers! We only…read morewent through the lower ground and first floor because we didn't think the second floor would be as appealing for them. Overall, it was a fun experience and a nice place to explore with little ones. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for something different to do with young kids. I would avoid the dinosaur show at all cost. It was not worth it not one bit! I also don't think a membership is worth it. This was kind of like a one year kind of experience in my opinion.

My wife and I visited the California Science Center to see their Mummies of the World exhibition…read more Luckily we managed to make time in our packed schedules to see the exhibit on the last day it was open - talk about a close call! It had been years since either of us had been to the California Science Center so it was like the first time again. Parking is expensive but entrance to the center is free so that's something. Since it's free, there are hoards of families and kids running in every direction so expect crowds galore! Considering the amount of foot traffic the center gets, it's actually pretty clean so shout out to the cleaning staff! The Mummies of the World exhibition was fascinating to see. You had to pay for this exhibit but it was worth it if you're at all interested in mummies and the dead. Crowd control wasn't the greatest as everyone was kind of crammed inside, but it is what it is. Lots of mummies on display with interesting histories/facts to absorb. We also checked out the free exhibits for Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear and Fire! Science & Safety. Both were pretty interactive with lots of informative fun! I can see why the California Science Center is so popular amongst kids/families - apart from being free, it's very hands-on so it's engaging for the little ones. They have a food court that offers a little bit of everything, so if you have picky eaters in your group you'll be able to find something for everyone. Naturally it's museum food, so it's going to be costly for what it is. If you want some cheaper options, they have food vendors out front and out back offering street dogs and Mexican treats. If you really want to save some money, the museum allows you to bring in outside food and drinks, with the only caveat being that you can only eat/drink in the food court or on the patio outside. The Rose Garden out back is a nice change of scenery if you want to stretch your legs and have some free space away from the crowds. The big fountain as well is nice to lounge around to cool off and take pictures. Overall we loved the California Science Center - it's mostly free, the grounds are well-maintained and spacious, it's interactive, and it's a great way to spend the afternoon while exercising the ol' brain with science. If you want to get a souvenir from your trip, there's a gift shop that has numerous options in every nook/cranny.

The new endeavor exhibition is amazing. We went up the escalator and were taken into a room for an…read moreinitial screening... the effects were a surprise and everyone applauded. The shuttle is huge! I almost couldn't walk passed it for the sheer terror that it could fall over Can you believe they built the building around it!! There's also a slide... Go see it.

My family and I were in town and were looking for something fun for the kids to do! We found…read moreKidspace and it was definitely a gem. My kiddos had so much fun and they were definitely stimulated. $17 for outdoor activities and indoor museums. It did feel a little crowded at times, but it wasn't bad where my kids felt overwhelmed. There was so much interactive activities that the whole family enjoyed it. Plenty of parking. Bathroom is clean. Kids knocked out for a good nap right after. 10/10 would come here back again.

Absolute gem nestled in a beautiful canyon. My boys loved the ball blaster, bottle launcher and…read morepulley system outside, great heavy work for high energy kids. Inside they loved climbing, crafting and sensory play. Very well done museum.

It's sad that this planetarium was closed for renovations and then Covid happened and ever since…read more2020 they never re-opened. When you go to their website it says "temporarily closed" however being closed for going on 6 years does not seem like it's temporary - which is unfortunate!

Found this on Yelp and so happy to have gone tonight! I've gone to the planetarium at Mt. SAC, but…read moreit's really far to me now in Long Beach. This is close and convenient to the 22. The show we went to tonight was really cool and interesting. Patricia Sullivan hosted and she was fun, welcoming and made things easy to understand. Loved seeing the constellations projected onto the planetarium dome and then there was an awesome presentation about the solar system afterward. I'll definitely be back! I only gave four stars because I was hoping/looking forward to a Night Sky Live that was included in the program notes, but it didn't happen. I would also love to look through telescopes, so not sure if that's a different program altogether.

Visiting Mt. Wilson Observatory is a great opportunity to learn about astronomical history, as well…read moreas the history of scientific endeavors in the Los Angeles area. Einstein was here, after all! The location itself is stunning, offering great views of the L.A. area. And the observatories, preserved by the valiant efforts of firefighters after too many wildfires to count, are something to see. We, unfortunately, sprung for the allegedly 2-hour tour at $20/person. The funds support the observatory, so no problem there. However, our docent was extremely long-winded and had no sense of time management whatsover, even on one of the hottest days of the year. After we were almost 3 hours into a supposedly 2 hour tour, we decided to leave early due to exhaustion and boredom. (We were starting to feel like we were on a cruise to Gilligan's Island......)To be honest, there was not much that we saw or learned on the tour that couldn't be seen just walking around and looking up information online. So, my recommendation is: donate money to the Observatory by all means but skip the docent tour unless astronomy is your biggest passion in life. Also, remember you'll need an Adventure Pass to park in the Observatory parking lot near the trailheads. Definitely worth a visit!

This is a must visit for all Angelenos and tourists and anyone interested in matters earthly and…read moreuniversal. We did the 2+ hour docent tour, worth every penny. Everyone here is a volunteer (docents, scientists, and all) so they rely on donations and purchases of merch and all the really special events they plan. You need to get a $5 daily pass to park in the lot since it's a national forest. Easy to get at the Cosmic Cafe upon arrival. Sign up online for their newsletter so you can be in the know of some very cool happenings at the observatory.

I highly recommend their live night telescope viewing…read more Jim, their resident Astronomer is the best. He knows more about astronomy, interplanetary science, and the solar system than it should be legal to know. Plus he is a nice guy who is willing to share his knowledge. Jim also used to build propulsion rockets for the Space Shuttle flights. I learned so much from his 2 hour seminar and hands on viewing. I may even go out and buy a telescope now he got me so excited. Parking was easy and free at the meters on Pico after 6 PM. The Planetarium is on the 2nd Floor of the John Drescher building. After the class where he points out what you are going to see, everyone walks outside together to the viewing area where his associates set up multiple telescopes. Wear walking shoes, dress warm, eyeglasses or no-glasses are fine for viewing, bring cash only for the event, and have a coffee before coming. Because when you sit in those comfortable theater seats, recline back to see the dome, and he turns off all the lights...I don't know about you...

Best planetarium show I've been to. Jim, the host, is an amateur astronomer with a ton of passion…read morefor the subject. It's more substantial information than you get at Griffith and other major planetariums' scripted shows, so if you're an enthusiast, this is for you. He went through some current events in space exploration for about 20 minutes and then moved into the usual night sky scenes. Although he discussed the constellations, it was not mythology-heavy, which I really appreciated because most big planetariums spend too much time on the zodiac. We saw pretty standard demos on star positioning through the seasons and around the globe, as well as moon phases. Finally, very cool graphics of our rotating galaxy and a dizzying black hole gravity simulation. Very interesting stuff. Lots of kids at the show. On the bright side, it's wonderful to see children excited about space! On the other hand, many of them were very distracting throughout the show, whispering and fidgeting. Kids should come if they're interested, of course. Parents, keep them under control around the expensive telescopes... many were running and playing very close to the equipment during the viewing. Every few weeks they do a viewing through some personal telescopes provided by Jim, another host, Bill, and his son Samuel. We didn't see much beyond the moon and a star cluster at my show because of the light pollution, but it was still fascinating. Samuel and Jim were happy to geek out with me a bit and answer my questions. If you can't already tell by this review, I've been into astronomy since I was a kid, but my knowledge is basic, so it was great to chat with these very smart guys. Highly recommended for night sky lovers who want a little more meat to the traditional type show and those who want some one on one with people who love talking astronomy. The show is in two parts every Friday at 7pm ("traditional" show followed by special viewing or lecture), $11 for the pair or $6 for one.

A free museum! You can get timed entry to Yayoi Kusama's infinity mirrored room if you book an…read moreentry ticket online that includes the infinity room. The infinity room is a room of mirrors and lights that changes colors so it looks like an endless...infinity. If you're not able to get into the infinity room you can still see Kusama's mirrored box, Longing for Eternity. The Broad is a great way to spend a few hours enjoying art.

I would give it a 5/5, but it's very small, so I'm giving it a 4/5…read more That being said, the collection is absolutely outstanding; like, billions of dollars worth of art! There were so many incredible pieces, but the Murakami collection was my favorite. I also loved the Jeff Koons dog, and the huge table was such a fun piece to see! Outside, there are little ice cream and food vendors, which was a cute touch. They also had a fun little "wish on a tree" activity. The gift shop was pretty scarce, but honestly, that's understandable considering how many different artists they have to carry merchandise for. I did find some really cool Calder and Murakami merch, though! Overall, definitely worth visiting if you love art!

Absolutely loved this place. We came here for a homeschool field trip. There were two parts to the…read morefield trip. The viewing of the informational star session in the dome. The second part the kids and parents build mini rockets. Then they launched the rockets into the air and tried to catch them. The staff was so nice and helpful. They answered all of our questions and took their time with out groups. So much fun for the entire family.

We attended with our homeschool group and it was an amazing experience! Our host, Alex, was great…read morewith the kids! We built our rockets and then they got to launch it and try and catch it. Super fun and exciting for the kids. The planetarium show was great too. I've only ever seen the Griffith Observatory show and this was on par with that show without the drive or the high price. This is a lesser known gem and if your on the fence do not hesitate to check it out!