Municipal parks rarely come bigger than Griffith Park, with 4,000 acres spanning everything from the quiet, leafy glade of the Ferndell to steep hik­ing trails which reach far into the Santa Monica Mountains. If you do fancy a day’s walking in the wilds (be warned that Griffith Park can be dangerous, and you should be sure to avoid the secluded areas after dark) collect maps and relevant information from the park’s Ranger Headquarters, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive.

Otherwise, the expansive park – crossed by several snaking roads – is best explored by car. Be sure to visit the Griffith Observatory (http://griffithobservatory.org), a park feature since the 1930s and a bit player in films as diverse as Rebel Without A Cause and Barton Fink. The Observatory’s Hall of Science holds briefly-diverting exhibitions but the views across LA from its hill-top site are likely to have greater appeal. The Observatory also has a planetarium and a heavens-scanning telescope which, on clear nights, is opened for public viewings (until 10 pm). If an inordinate number of long-haired youths appear to be hanging around the Observatory, they’re probably arriving for the laser light shows with heavy rock music soundtracks which take place in the specially-designed Laserium.

In the park’s north-western corner, the LA Zoo (www.lazoo.org; tickets costing $14 for kids and $19 for adults) will meet with the approval of young travellers, but the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum (http://www.autry.com/museum/), which explores the settlement of the American West and lifts the lid on the Hollywood Western, offers a more thought-provoking few hours.