Our second day in LA began slowly with a laid-back morning. We enjoyed a late breakfast, followed by a light lunch in the company of Daisy and Winston.

Our original plan was to spend the afternoon exploring the neighborhood on foot, but in a last minute change of plans, we decided to drive an hour to visit Griffith Observatory instead—and we’re so glad we did.

The Griffith Observatory, located in the hills overlooking Los Angeles, offers stunning views of the city, including Downtown and the Pacific Ocean. It’s a popular tourist spot featuring science exhibits and close-up views of the Hollywood Sign. Since its opening in 1935, it has remained free to the public, honoring the wishes of its benefactor, Griffith J. Griffith.

Griffith Observatory is a fascinating place to explore full of wonders of space. We walked around observing exhibits covering everything from the solar system and black holes to the history of astronomy. There is a swinging pendulum in observatory’s central rotunda, while there are interactive planet displays and a theater downstairs.

One of the highlights of the observatory is the planetarium show—an amazing view of the solar system that was both educational and inspiring. We also had the chance to look through public telescopes, adding a hands-on experience of the universe.

On the way back, Suyog took us a slightly longer route through Downtown LA during the typical rush hour traffic, but it gave us a chance to get a more close look at the downtown.

We ended the day cooking dinner together as a family, with two very curious Daisy & Winston keeping us company in the kitchen. It was a lovely way to close out a day that began simply but turned into a unique experience.

Visiting Redondo Beach

The next day, on our way to Oxnard in Ventura County, we took a short 15-minute detour to Redondo Beach—a coastal city in Los Angeles County and one of three beach towns along Santa Monica Bay.

During our short visit and we found it be a quiet and relaxing place for either jugging or walking, with soft waves and a cool breeze. It wasn’t crowded like some bigger beaches, which made it a great spot to take a quick break and enjoy the ocean view.

Next Post: Driving Through Northern California and Yosemite Parks