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Top Science museums in Los Angeles, United States
Top Rated Science museums in Los Angeles
Top Reviewed Science museums in Los Angeles
California Science Center
Griffith Observatory
California Science Center
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory
California Science Center
Reviews
Loved it! We all learned a lot n got to see so many different diverse things. Definitely recommend it for family trips. Took us the whole day to explore. Oh best part is its free! Just paid $20 for parking. They have other museums next to it.
Wirklich tolles Museum mit vielen kostenlosen Ausstellungen.
Sie sind sehr interaktiv sich für Kinder gestaltet.
Besonders die Ausstellung rund um die Endevaour ist jetzt schon sehr beeindruckend, obwohl noch alles im Umbau ist.
Sie sind sehr interaktiv sich für Kinder gestaltet.
Besonders die Ausstellung rund um die Endevaour ist jetzt schon sehr beeindruckend, obwohl noch alles im Umbau ist.
No need to break an arm or legs for here. Entry is free for everyone(parking is $20😂). There are rides here there cost under $10. However the fun is every penny worth and beyond. There are separate exhibitions and imax need to pay separately. Least you could choose. My kids had tons of fun watching fishes and playing kids zone which are all free. Isn't that lovely?
I thought it was great that there was no charge for admission to see the museum. Especially exhibits, film experiences however do charge. Totally worth the trip to LA! Very easy to access, the staff was very helpful
I hadn’t come back and years and it was a little underwhelming after all those years a. The exhibits were a bit small, many were in repair, and the special exhibit while cool, we thought it’d be more interactive which it wasn’t. A little disappointed in that but it still has some good qualities which I’d recommend for parents and their kiddos. Don’t expect too much and you’ll be fine.
The California Science Center is an interesting destination for science enthusiasts of all ages. The entrance is free, donation based, making it an accessible option for everyone. The exhibits are diverse and interactive, offering a hands-on learning experience. We also enjoyed the IMAX theater, which features a few interesting shows that add depth to the visit. The Space Shuttle Endeavour exhibit is not accessible until the new building is ready. Overall, it's a fantastic place to spend a few hours immersed in science and discovery.
A great museum for the whole family. The entrance is free. Lots of exhibits. There are interactive games. There is a paid hurricane simulator for $3. There are other simulators and the prices are very reasonable. Children are very interested in visiting this museum. I recommend 👍 P. S. behind the museum there is a huge alley growing and beautiful
Lovely free Science Center/Museum in Exposition Park southwest of Los Angeles near the University of Southern California.
Parking was $15 and paid by ticketed machine at entrance and exit.
Science Center was surprisingly big given the free price tag. Lots of interesting exhibits throughout...thoughtfully organized by region/category.
I particularly enjoyed the space area which had a space shuttle simulator ($6).
There is a wonderful children's area with lots of puzzles and activities for younger ones. This includes an outdoor area with a play area. Really appreicated having this available for our 4-year old.
Great way to spend a few hours. (Estimate about 2-3 hours to see and read everything they have to offer)
Parking was $15 and paid by ticketed machine at entrance and exit.
Science Center was surprisingly big given the free price tag. Lots of interesting exhibits throughout...thoughtfully organized by region/category.
I particularly enjoyed the space area which had a space shuttle simulator ($6).
There is a wonderful children's area with lots of puzzles and activities for younger ones. This includes an outdoor area with a play area. Really appreicated having this available for our 4-year old.
Great way to spend a few hours. (Estimate about 2-3 hours to see and read everything they have to offer)
Definitely worth visiting. Parking is tricky but check the top near the Observatory first. It's $10 an hour in those lots though. Worth the view and shell out for the planetarium experience sooooo worth it for the learning experience and show! Lots to see inside and staff very helpful explaining anything! Gets crowded! Next goal to visit at night!
The views from the top were very nice. The information at the location was interesting, and entry is free. Parking sucked for us. We parked about 3/4 mile away, and it was quite the hike. We did the planetarium, and it was OK at best. I would say watch it just to do it, but not a must-see.
Griffith observatory is a great spot to go to if you want to see all of LA, the Hollywood sign and just in general to get a good sunrise/sunset view. However, if you don’t want to pay $10+ for parking then you have to walk pretty far from the free parkades, roughly a 30 minute walk depending on your pace. Everything here is essentially free, so if you have time it’s worth it for the views.
This is a wonderful place to visit. There are so many informative displays and it is just pleasant to walk around both inside as well as outside. The views from here are amazing and you can get some great photos of the surrounding hills and the Hollywood sign. I visited for the first time a few weeks ago and I would highly recommend it. My friend and I stayed an hour and had a nice time walking around.
What cool views of Los Angeles, definitely worth the trip and going up top.
We weren’t able to look out the telescope, but that is definitely something I’d plan to be there early for if you want to see it.
There are a lot of people, patience is definitely needed.
We weren’t able to look out the telescope, but that is definitely something I’d plan to be there early for if you want to see it.
There are a lot of people, patience is definitely needed.
The observatory is a beautiful park which has an amazing view of LA sunset. However, the crowd felt really overwhelming and took out a lot of the enjoyment for me. The parking lot gets filled so fast we decided to take the parking lot further than the one by the observatory, the walk wasn't too bad. Perhaps the influence of La La Land is too strong but I'm glad I got to go at least once.
Definitely worth going to at least once. Beautiful views, nice exhibits (the weigh yourself on various planets was pretty neat) and the planetarium show was very lovely. live narration with a very soothing voice - dangerously close to putting me to sleep if it were not so fascinating.
Highly recommend either taking transit ride share to the top or you can just hike to the top - parking situation is ugly close to the observatory. Get there early - the more the day goes on the more crowded it gets.
Highly recommend either taking transit ride share to the top or you can just hike to the top - parking situation is ugly close to the observatory. Get there early - the more the day goes on the more crowded it gets.
Griffith Observatory is a wonderful place to explore cosmology and learn about the stars and planets. The iconic building is an architectural treat. It has views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign. It has become more of a museum than an observatory during the daytime, and great for novices to the exploration of the night sky. They do host night viewings and other activities that are fun to explore if you have the time. Parking can be tough and you may have to park a distance from the Observatory...but it is worth seeing at least a couple times.
Amazing views of the city and Hollywood hill outside the observatory. Lots of interesting items and information on astronomy on display inside the observatory. You can walk around the observatory at your leisure. Entry is free unless you want to visit one of their exhibitions. Must visit if you are in LA.
Parking is tough so be prepared to walk, but it's worth it. Amazing views of LA and really cool exhibits about astronomy. Admission to the observatory is free and much better than I expected. Nice view of the Hollywood sign and the city but the building is also really cool. Free telescope viewing during the week. A real LA treasure.
Went at 5pm right before sunset/ sundown on a Monday (Inside closed) and WOW, unbelievable view. One of the best in the world I’ve seen. Compared to 65 floors up in Bangkok or at the top of the Eiffel Tower at night, this was right up there if not better.
Great historical building, really excited to come for an actual visit inside next time as well.
For you GTAIV fans this is a must see as well. Can see all your favorite spots you’ve been to at once 😂
Great historical building, really excited to come for an actual visit inside next time as well.
For you GTAIV fans this is a must see as well. Can see all your favorite spots you’ve been to at once 😂
Awesome views of Los Angeles! We had a blast strolling around and soaking up the lovely California weather. This spot is top-notch for snapping pictures. Plus, there's a cafeteria with pretty decent food to munch on before you head out. Definitely a must-visit if you're in LA!
Awesome views out over the city from this high vantage point. Access is a little bit of a chore if you don't have a car, because public transportation is slow/busy in the evenings and the trails up here are STEEP. Bring water and snacks. The observatory can get packed on the weekend but the free tour of the telescope was neat. Don't expect to see much of space if it's cloudy (duh).
We hiked up from the Dell Nature Trail, short hike up the hill, great way for the observatory to slow come into view as you hike up the hillside. Steep in some areas but the kids were up ahead and made it no problem.
The observatory is outstanding and worth it to visit. It can be busy, but it is L.A., would be strange if it wasn't. Has big capacity and there was lots of exploring to do.
Did the hike up to the lookout points as well, amazing views of the city up there. We were up during the day time, would be great in the evening too.
The observatory is outstanding and worth it to visit. It can be busy, but it is L.A., would be strange if it wasn't. Has big capacity and there was lots of exploring to do.
Did the hike up to the lookout points as well, amazing views of the city up there. We were up during the day time, would be great in the evening too.
Parking can be challenging, but if you drive up to the observatory a few hours after they open you can still get a spot on the side of the mountain. It's about a 20 minute trek up, so make sure to bring a hat, water and good walking shoes. We only spent an hour there, but it was really cool to see the breathtaking views, Hollywood sign and LA spread out before us.
Nice place to come to get in touch with some science. It’s okay for adults (the Spaceshuttle is there and some rovers and capsules).
Even better to come with children. In many areas the children are free to touch things and tryout stuff.
Parking costs 15 dollars, the entrance itself is free!
Even better to come with children. In many areas the children are free to touch things and tryout stuff.
Parking costs 15 dollars, the entrance itself is free!
Interesting and unique spot to visit in LA.
Admission is free (unless you want to go to the planetarium) but parking is not. It is $10/hour. We got there right when it was opening and had to walk 15 minutes to get to the actual observatory.
The views are amazing and you get an added bonus of seeing the Hollywood sign in the hills behind you.
Admission is free (unless you want to go to the planetarium) but parking is not. It is $10/hour. We got there right when it was opening and had to walk 15 minutes to get to the actual observatory.
The views are amazing and you get an added bonus of seeing the Hollywood sign in the hills behind you.
Spent a Saturday morning here with the kids. Free admission but special exhibits need to be purchased online. Endeavour Simulator is not worth the price and wait...avoid it! Wait until they have an actual simulator to go. Endeavour exhibit will be closed in a few months so hurry if you want to see it. Excited to see the full Space Shuttle exhibit in the future!
I visited Griffith Observatory during the mid-Autumn festival, hoping to catch a glimpse of the moon. Unfortunately, the evening was cloudy, and the moon remained elusive. However, my disappointment quickly turned into delight as I explored the fascinating world of nighttime science at the observatory.
The Griffith Observatory, perched atop the hills of Los Angeles, offers an exceptional experience for both astronomy enthusiasts and casual visitors. Despite missing out on lunar views, there was so much to see and learn inside. The planetarium shows were captivating, shedding light on the mysteries of our universe, and the interactive exhibits provided hands-on learning experiences that were both entertaining and educational.
The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the telescopes on the observatory's terrace. Even though the moon was hidden from view, the knowledgeable staff was more than willing to guide visitors through the night sky, showcasing stars, planets, and other celestial wonders. It was a unique opportunity to connect with the cosmos and appreciate the beauty of the universe.
The observatory's location is also a treat in itself. The panoramic views of Los Angeles from the terrace are breathtaking, especially at night when the city lights twinkle below. It's a serene escape from the bustling urban life of LA.
While I couldn't fulfill my moon-gazing dreams that night, my visit to Griffith Observatory was a memorable and enriching experience. It's a place that not only ignites curiosity about the universe but also offers a serene retreat to contemplate the mysteries of the cosmos while enjoying the captivating science of the night.
The Griffith Observatory, perched atop the hills of Los Angeles, offers an exceptional experience for both astronomy enthusiasts and casual visitors. Despite missing out on lunar views, there was so much to see and learn inside. The planetarium shows were captivating, shedding light on the mysteries of our universe, and the interactive exhibits provided hands-on learning experiences that were both entertaining and educational.
The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the telescopes on the observatory's terrace. Even though the moon was hidden from view, the knowledgeable staff was more than willing to guide visitors through the night sky, showcasing stars, planets, and other celestial wonders. It was a unique opportunity to connect with the cosmos and appreciate the beauty of the universe.
The observatory's location is also a treat in itself. The panoramic views of Los Angeles from the terrace are breathtaking, especially at night when the city lights twinkle below. It's a serene escape from the bustling urban life of LA.
While I couldn't fulfill my moon-gazing dreams that night, my visit to Griffith Observatory was a memorable and enriching experience. It's a place that not only ignites curiosity about the universe but also offers a serene retreat to contemplate the mysteries of the cosmos while enjoying the captivating science of the night.
Nice experience and one can spend easily an hour inside plus if you get time there was some trails for hime too, please don’t go on mid day afternoon it was so heavy crowd and parking lot was very hard to find a place. If you get chance try to use transit which has frequent services to uphill and easy to access.
I loved coming here . A must see in LA. It was a long winding road that led me and my family here and a lot of traffic when we came at night because a festival was happening but it was so beautiful and the best views and night stars of Los Angeles . You could see everything ! I will miss this view and coming here it was so worth it and it’s a busy public observatory and museum . Also it is trails in the back of the observatory that are nice during the day and very scenic . It’s a great place for people of all ages and families to explore . Worth it !
I love to come here and just walk around as a place in LA to explore. What’s great is that there are trails for us to walk here if you love to hike that are close as well.
In any case, the Griffith Observatory is a free place to come to whether if you love to have a friend to explore with, by yourself, and just looking for something to do, or want to go on a date with someone without spending a lot of money.
The views are nice and usually there are a great amount of parking, which is better of course if you are coming over a weekday versus the weekend.
Long story short, come on and check it out if you haven’t already done so because it is a fun, free place for people to come to. (unless you were going to check out the other movies that they have and which you will have to pay a ticket for)
Until soon !!
In any case, the Griffith Observatory is a free place to come to whether if you love to have a friend to explore with, by yourself, and just looking for something to do, or want to go on a date with someone without spending a lot of money.
The views are nice and usually there are a great amount of parking, which is better of course if you are coming over a weekday versus the weekend.
Long story short, come on and check it out if you haven’t already done so because it is a fun, free place for people to come to. (unless you were going to check out the other movies that they have and which you will have to pay a ticket for)
Until soon !!
This is an amazing place in LA!
The parking low down:You do have trouble finding. You will be hiking a minimum of 20 minutes unless you go early morning. At around 5pm it is crazy traffic.
The views are STUNNING! The observatory itself is free and we even got to see the surface of the sun in one of their telescopes. This was all free we just paid for parking which was $10 an hour, book for at-least 2-3 hours. The views were also amazing and worth the visit. You see the entire city from there.
The parking low down:You do have trouble finding. You will be hiking a minimum of 20 minutes unless you go early morning. At around 5pm it is crazy traffic.
The views are STUNNING! The observatory itself is free and we even got to see the surface of the sun in one of their telescopes. This was all free we just paid for parking which was $10 an hour, book for at-least 2-3 hours. The views were also amazing and worth the visit. You see the entire city from there.
Very interesting museum with free admission.
Unfortunately, some items need maintenance but it is absolutely worth it.
Being able to see the space shuttle Endeavor live is a truly fascinating experience.
Unfortunately, some items need maintenance but it is absolutely worth it.
Being able to see the space shuttle Endeavor live is a truly fascinating experience.
Need something to do with your kids but don't want to break the bank? Do you want or want your kids to learn new things? Need to get out of the heat but tired of the mall? This is the spot!
Price: Free. However, you do have to pay if you want to see any IMAX movies and for the special exhibit. Endeavor and others are free!
Parking: At this current time, parking is $15 and is an underground parking structure. Even being there early, we parked one level lower due to the heat. Best choice.
Water: The biggest thing we couldn't find anywhere on the website was water bottles. Well, my friends, no need to look farther. You can bring water bottles in, and they even have filling stations near all the restrooms.
Food: They have food you can purchase. We didn't eat there because we were out within 3 hours. It looks as though you can bring food but not in the exhibit area, only in the cafeteria area.
Crowds: We went at opening on a weekday, so it wasn't busy.
Price: Free. However, you do have to pay if you want to see any IMAX movies and for the special exhibit. Endeavor and others are free!
Parking: At this current time, parking is $15 and is an underground parking structure. Even being there early, we parked one level lower due to the heat. Best choice.
Water: The biggest thing we couldn't find anywhere on the website was water bottles. Well, my friends, no need to look farther. You can bring water bottles in, and they even have filling stations near all the restrooms.
Food: They have food you can purchase. We didn't eat there because we were out within 3 hours. It looks as though you can bring food but not in the exhibit area, only in the cafeteria area.
Crowds: We went at opening on a weekday, so it wasn't busy.
Saw this place more than hundred times on TV, but you don't realize how astonishing Griffith Observatory is until you are here in person.
The building of the observatory itself is such an elegant architecture situated up on the hill of Hollywood, plus the story of Mr. Griffith, this is definitely a must visit place when you are in LA downtown area.
Meanwhile, this is also the perfect location to appreciate the night view of the Great LA metropolitan area, just utterly beautiful.
The building of the observatory itself is such an elegant architecture situated up on the hill of Hollywood, plus the story of Mr. Griffith, this is definitely a must visit place when you are in LA downtown area.
Meanwhile, this is also the perfect location to appreciate the night view of the Great LA metropolitan area, just utterly beautiful.
One of the best science museums of the nation. Home of the retired Space Shuttle Endeavour for about 10 years, and there will be a permanent house in 2025. I like to watch documentary films at the original Imax Theater. The hands-on exhibits allow visitors to learn about various ecosystems, biology, automobile, earthquake and fires. The best is about no admission fee for all. The original Frank Gehry designed air and space museum was closed but we can't wait for the new one to be built, and that air gallery that will house 20 plus airplanes, and a space gallery.
A great place -if not the best to watch sunset in LA. You can have a great view of downtown LA and the city, as well as the sun setting behind the Hollywood sign! There usually is a lot of people coming to see the sunset, so be sure to be there pretty early if you want some good parking spots, not too far. It is very crowded, but it's cool. Plus, inside is a pretty cool exhibit explaining various astronomy and space exploration techniques, so it's very instructive. I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a spot to watch sunset in LA, not too far from the city.
A great place for kids and those interested in science! All of the exhibits are interesting and many are interactive! And being able to see a space shuttle and an aquarium in one trip is something you can’t do anywhere else! Would definitely recommend to anyone in the area that has any interest in science!
This is a rare FREE medium size science center with many impressive display sets along with live animals for educational purposes. Adults and kids will all find something that they are interested in. It surely is a better alternative than letting kids playing videogames at home. Parking is $15.
Very interesting things to learn. The museum needs a few updates but still worth the time. I wish I would have had more time there to see The Maya exhibit which is only available through a ticket purchase. I suggest getting there before opening as it does tend to get crowded about two hours after opening.
My kids had a lot of fun here. We enjoyed all the exhibits and the featured Maya exhibit. The space shuttle endeavor is always cool to see. If you are look for a cheap thing to do with your kids this is a good option.
Neat facility that has plenty to offer to adults and kids! Admission is free but I’d recommend finding a nearby neighborhood street and park there. I can’t justify paying $15 for parking to go to a free museum. Overall, the facility offered unique displays, artifacts, and various zones/sections. Whether you’re an avid space enthusiast, biologist, or nature lover, there’s no shortage of things to see and do that will keep you here for hours!