At the destinations featured here in Los Angeles, expansive parkland, wildlife and cultural history come together. Griffith Park is known for its chaparral, landscaped park areas and trails; museums and historic sites offer different points of focus. If you’re looking for hotels in Los Angeles, you can use these differences to plan your visits around your interests.
Griffith Park: Landscape, Trails and Special Attractions
At more than 4,210 acres, Griffith Park encompasses natural, chaparral-covered terrain as well as landscaped park areas and picnic spots. Its size and varied landscapes give the park a different character from the cultural attractions described below. The variety on site is especially useful when planning: alongside the park areas, there are miles of hiking and horseback riding trails.
The historic Greek Theatre is also located in Griffith Park. Its historic designation and location within the park make it a distinct landmark, without implying any particular event program. Another kind of outing is offered by the Griffith Park Southern Railroad, where you can ride a miniature train along a route more than a mile long. The trails, theatre and train ride represent different aspects of the park: getting out into the landscape, visiting a historic venue and taking a miniature train ride.
The Los Angeles Zoo focuses on wildlife. It is home to more than 1,700 mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and reptiles representing over 270 species, including more than 60 endangered species. One notable example is Rainforest of the Americas: this immersive habitat covers 2.2 acres and features monkeys, jaguars and giant otters, among others. The figures convey the range of animal groups and species represented; the rainforest area adds a specifically named habitat.
Tours, Art and History
The Music Center offers two kinds of free, volunteer-led tours of its theaters and campus year-round. One 90-minute tour includes the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Jerry Moss Plaza. The stated duration makes it easy to plan for this activity. Availability and schedules may change; check the tour information before your visit.
LACMA offers a broad perspective across time and geography: its collection comprises 155,000 objects that illustrate thousands of years of artistic expression from around the world. This is a different approach from the more place-based historical interpretation at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, which offers insight into the early history of one of America’s largest cities.
At El Pueblo, the America Tropical Interpretive Center tells the story of and controversy surrounding the mural America Tropical. The Plaza Firehouse is another specific historic landmark there: it is designated California Historical Landmark No. 730 and was the first building in El Pueblo to be restored. The combination of the mural’s history, the landmark and the restored fire station makes El Pueblo a distinct choice for those interested in the city’s early history.
Getting Around Griffith Park
The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz Shuttle serves Griffith Park daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; shuttles run every 15 to 20 minutes. As schedules can change, check the times before your visit. This information is especially useful if you want to include the shuttle in your day’s plans; it does not replace checking the current schedule.
The destinations offer different points of focus: park trails and landscapes, animal species and habitats, a guided tour of a stated duration, or art and city history. Choose the themes that matter to you when planning your trip, and use them to guide your search for a hotel in Los Angeles.
Discover more destinations: Sun Valley, Granada Hills, Sylmar, San Fernando Valley, North Hollywood, Venice, Westwood, San Pedro, Reseda, Harbor City, North Hills, Wilmington, Playa Del Rey, Tarzana, Brentwood, Studio City.
For the overall travel overview: Los Angeles.
