Griffith Park Day Evidence

Started the day hiking to the Bronson Caves, usually known as the Batman because the old Batman (Adam West) tv series was often shot here. Not sure if this could be called a hike, though, since it's only 1.75 miles round trip. We parked at the small parking lot at the very end of Canon Dr. Get there early (8am for us), because it fills up quickly - lot of dog walkers. We must have looked confused trying to figure out where the trail started, because this guy helped us find it and then asked where we were from. Problem w/ doing tourist stuff in your own town is then YOU look like tourist. Aw, well. www.lacity.org/rap/dos/parks/griffithPK/griffith.htm Free
Us at the Batman Caves below:

Jason in the caves.


There's me. Notice the track marks on the ground from a shoot.

Size perspective.


Then we walked back to the parking lot and continued onto our Hollywood Sign hike. I read this was a 3 mile, easy round trip hike. Well, at the beginning of the trail that actually goes to the Hollywood sign, yes it is. But it's a 1.5/2 mile uphill hike to get there first. I'd put it in 6 mile moderate/easy hike to the Hollywood sign from where we were at. Or if you want to make it really easy, you can drive to the end of Deronda Dr or Mulholland Hwy, jump out of the car and take a picture. Didn't see street parking there, and it's a ritzy neighborhood so if you illegally parked, there would probably be a security car there within minutes.

Waterfall on the hike up.


Jason eating Hollywood.


I will CRUSH Hollywood.


One for the postcards.


No trespassin'! Of course a moment after I took this picture, there was a group of hikers walking down from the trail.

Then it was on to the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale Branch. www.forestlawn.com/ Free This place is enormous and we could have easily spent most of the day here. There's replicas of several classic sculptures all over the grounds and a surprisingly impressive, though very small museum. Here's the first sculpture we saw in the museum:

The three galleries also contained an authentic Easter Island head and various types of jewelry and fine gewgaws from many different cultures. It's on a large hill w/ a view of the sprawl that is the Valley.


Then we wandered the grounds, avoiding any funeral parties and enjoying the sculptures.



This David was gigantic!

A Pegasus flies out of Jason's mind.

Heading out to a quick lunch at a Rally's (aka Checkers) we went on to the Autry Museum of the Southwest. www.autrynationalcenter.org/ ($9, but free for us w/ my Getty id) This is an interesting museum to go to every once in a while. Very neat displays of the old west. We were one of the few people there under 60. There's a remake of an old western town street on the lower floor. It has a nook w/ a saddle on a barrel that has a blue screen behind it. A camera shoots you "riding" a horse through a film that looks like a typical western movie. I think it's for kids, but I tried it and it's so much fun! Got a dirty look from some lady walking by. Guess she was mad I was I hogging the saddle & she couldn't ride.

This is a different saddle ride, featuring Jason.


Me peeking out of the stage coach in the garden.


Jason in the gun room that's downstairs. I think this is maybe 5% of the guns in that room. Very unique.

Our last stop was the Griffith Observatory, which is completely worth it. I'd suggest either going during a Public Stars Party or a Light Show. I couldn't find info on their website for the latter, but I'm assured it's still going on & pretty amazing to watch. The former is once a month and it's where members of the LA Astronomical Society bring their personal telescopes (some are huge!) up to the observatory for the public to use & ask questions. We saw many of the usual suspects; the moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter w/ 4 of it's moons. www.griffithobs.org/ The shuttle to get there is $8, half that for kiddies and is in 3 locations. We took the one from the zoo. I did see people hiking in there, though. Note that hiking can be a bit tricky depending on all the current burned areas. And the restaurant is called the Cafe at the End of the Universe, so it's an amusing place.

Jason at the Foucault Pendulum.


Waiting in line to peek through the telescope. I'm very tired here.


Jason at the telescope.


The city at dusk from the observatory.


This is Matt, who is an exceptionally talented theramin player. He played for hours, adding to the atmosphere. That's a bust of James Dean beside him.


The sun sets behind Matt.


There are many very neat displays here, including the Tesla coil next to Jason. There was a lunar phenomenon a few days later and I actually understood it because of one of the displays. I can learn new things!


The city at night from the observatory.

The day was much fun and memorable, but we were so exhausted at the end of it. I strongly suggest for any wanting to do this stuff to cut it in half or only do one thing at a time. I wish I could go back and do all the LA things we're trying to accomplish over the entire span we lived here instead of rushing it at once. Still, good times.