Trip to Santa Barbara and Los Angeles: Hiking, Wine Tasting and Sightseeing - Day 3

Today was the last day of the trip and the most culturally-enhanced. We are going to The Getty! The Getty Center is well-known for its classic art and amazing views to Los Angeles. Today on Google Local there are almost 15,000 reviews and 4.8 stars given to this incredible museum. While I can't say I possess sophisticated appreciation for art, this museum was more than that. I enjoyed a variety of classic and modern art, beautiful architecture, landscaping and gardens on the grounds of the center as well as above average views. I could compare Getty Center to Uffizi Gallery in Florence that I visited last year, an art gallery that I hardly thought could be compared with anything.

After visiting The Getty, we had a quick coffee and went to Griffith Observatory, another major attraction in LA. Parking there was incredibly hard to find. The best way is to park in one of the lots at the bottom of the hill and walk to the observatory (0.8 miles at most). There may be some limited paid parking available right next to the observatory, but you have to arrive there very early.

Griffith Observatory was packed, really packed. It's one of those sites that attract lots of tourists and make your visit miserable (did I mention I don't sugarcoat things?). I would want to come back during the off-season/off-hours (basically, when it's less crowded) and explore the upper levels of the observatory in more detail. In the meantime, I enjoyed the views and added a checkpoint to my "To Do" list by viewing the famous Hollywood sign from the distance.

After a short break, Hollywood Walk of Fame was next. It felt like New York Times Square, just a bit dirtier and with fewer lights. This is one of those things that you do once and never repeat again unless your relatives are in town and insist on doing "something special". Crowded, odd and somewhat unimpressive is how I would describe the whole experience. Regardless, I was glad I went there to see it for myself. Needless to say, I did not want to stay there long, and we headed back to Tarzana for dinner (after a few failed attempts at finding a good place to dine on the way there).

Overall, it was a nice trip combining city and suburban experiences, well-planned and packed with activities. LA suburbs, I will be back!