Dog-Friendly Attractions in Los Angeles

The 1935 Art Deco Griffith Observatory sits at 350 m above Los Angeles on the south slope of Mount Hollywood, with the iconic Hollywood Sign visible three kilometres west. The entire outdoor terrace, the roof balcony with the Foucault pendulum view, the front lawn and all approach trails accept leashed dogs free of charge (interior galleries are service animals only). One of the most photographed dog-friendly viewpoints in the United States, especially at sunset.

The 4 km Venice Boardwalk between Washington Boulevard and Rose Avenue is one of LA's signature open-air street scenes: skateboard plaza, Muscle Beach gym, street performers, mural-covered walls, and a constant parade of dogs on leash from breakfast through midnight. Six blocks inland, Abbot Kinney Boulevard runs a kilometre of independent design shops, dog-friendly cafés and patio restaurants. The sand itself is off-limits to dogs; the boardwalk is the dog highway.

Richard Meier's travertine campus on a Brentwood ridgeline 270 m above the 405 freeway, with Robert Irwin's Central Garden, fountain courts and panoramic terraces from downtown to the Pacific. The exterior gardens, the famous tram approach and the entry plaza accept leashed dogs free of charge; only the interior galleries are off-limits to non-service dogs. Admission is free but timed-entry parking is $25. A rare big-museum experience LA visitors can share with a dog.