Author: Annabel Ede Dates travelled: 23rd August - 4th September 2019 Who's this for?: Adventurous Instagrammers looking for the perfect photo spot! On my recent trip to Los Angeles in August, between the site-seeing, shopping and star-spotting, we took a much-needed break from the bustle of the city by taking a hike through Griffith Park. Our route took us on a 6-mile hike up to the Hollywood Sign and then to the Griffith Observatory, and is perfect for a semi-experienced hiker who is okay with getting up early avoid the midday LA heat! We started the hike at 8.30am, our starting point at the Griffith Park gates at the end of Canyon Drive. The temperature at this point was a bearable 20°C, and smothered with factor 50 sun cream, we started our ascent into the hills. The route is relatively easy to follow as there are signposts at every split in the trail. The route is also popular with fellow hikers, friendly locals and dog walkers who can help guide you with directions. The first views of LA came around an hour into our hike and we stopped at a perfectly positioned bench to take a few photos overlooking the City of Angels. Our first hour presented us with the biggest incline of the hike, which is why I recommend starting off your journey early to avoid hiking the steepest sections before it gets too hot! Much to our delight, the trail pretty much flattened out from this point, and we continued our journey. With sneak-peaks of the Hollywood Sign over the hills, we powered through the next 45 minutes of hiking to reach our first destination and take in the amazing view, and of course get some photos! The clearing in front on the Sign is popular with tourists, however there is more than enough room for everyone to get that perfect Instagram shot! You can also take advantage of a view from above and behind the sign, just follow the directions to Mount Lee. After a 20-minute photoshoot and a much-needed break from hiking, we turned back in the direction we came and commenced our hike to the Griffith Observatory. The trail takes you back to around the halfway mark on your original route; at this point you spur off from the dirt track onto Mount Hollywood Drive, following the Griffith Observatory signs. Around 2 and a half hours since we started off on the hike, we started to feel pretty tired and in desperate need of water (I took two bottles of water and finished both of them by the time we got to the Hollywood Sign). There was limited shade and the LA heat started to take its toll. However, as we turned a corner on Mount Hollywood Drive, we were greeted with an oasis: a small grass area with picnic tables, shaded with trees, and a water fountain. This brief pit-stop rejuvenated us and we were ready to hike our last 45 minutes of the trail. As the Griffith Observatory came into sight, we charged on and made it there just in time for opening at midday. The observatory itself, which famously featured in the 2016 film ‘La La Land’, is an icon of Los Angeles. It is a perfect day out for families, couples and travellers alike. Entry to the observatory is free, however there is an extra cost if you would like to watch any of the planetarium shows. We attended a viewing of ‘Centered in the Universe’, which takes you on a journey through the universe, and was narrated by a live speaker. This gave us some time to sit back and relax after an intense morning of hiking. The show in itself was extremely interesting and I would highly recommend it, however by the end I was experiencing an existential crisis (this could have been fuelled by my dehydration)! The Observatory has many interesting exhibits including the Edge of Space and Depths of Space exhibits. Make sure to go out to the roof of the Observatory to take in even more amazing views of Los Angeles. We then made our way to the Café for some lunch (the mac and cheese is delicious!), before heading back to our hotel for a well-deserved nap and a dip in the pool.
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