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Griffith Observatory and Big Sur among ‘500 best places on the planet’ (Sorry, Hollywood sign!)

A view of the Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles in the background.

A view of the Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles in the background.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
By Mary Forgione

If your bucket list needs some puffing up, check out this new collection of 500 must-see places from Lonely Planet.

The Temples of Angkor in Cambodia came in first on the mega-list voted on by the travel guide company's staff writers and editors. It was a "landslide" choice, a Lonely Planet statement says.

Destinations are revealed in the new guide book "Ultimate Travel: 500 Best Places on the Planet ... Ranked."

466. Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles

GRIFFITH PARK, CA MARCH 26, 2014 -- The observatory at Griffith Park is reflected in a puddle created by overnight showers, Wednesday March 26, 2014. Although water-starved Southern California needs all the rain it can get, weather forecasters say the light sprinkles falling across the region Wednesday will likely only be enough to cause problems during the morning commute. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
GRIFFITH PARK, CA MARCH 26, 2014 -- The observatory at Griffith Park is reflected in a puddle created by overnight showers, Wednesday March 26, 2014. Although water-starved Southern California needs all the rain it can get, weather forecasters say the light sprinkles falling across the region Wednesday will likely only be enough to cause problems during the morning commute. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

L.A.'s Griffith Observatory, reflected in a puddle during 2014 rains. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Start your check list in Los Angeles by visiting the city's very own Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, which ranked 466th. It is the only L.A. landmark to make the big 500 (sorry, Hollywood sign).

97. Big Sur, California

DeAratanha, Ricardo -- - BIG SUR, CA - AUGUST 08, 2009 - Time exposure showing the traffic on Pacific Coast Highway going over the Bixby Historic Bridge in Big Sur, August 8, 2009. This bridge, built in 1932, is one of the most photographed bridges in the world. Photo to illustrate a TRAVEL story with the home and stomping grounds of author Robinson Jeffers as a guide for the story.
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A time-lapse photo of the Bixby Historic Bridge in Big Sur. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A road trip to the other six California locations that made the list would take you to Yosemite National Park (21), Redwood National Park (77), Big Sur (97), the Golden Gate Bridge (101), Alcatraz (228) and Death Valley National Park (278).

The California destinations are among 27 in the U.S., including the Grand Canyon (6) and Yellowstone (61) national parks.

If your travels take you farther afield, here are the rest of the top 10.

1. Temples of Angkor, Cambodia

Temples of Angkor in Cambodia is the best destination in the world by Lonely Planet.

Temples of Angkor in Cambodia is the best destination in the world by Lonely Planet.

(David Sim / Wikimedia Commons)

(David Sim / Wikimedia Commons)

2. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 20, 2014 shows an aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of the Whitsunday Islands, along the central coast of Queensland. Australia on July 2, 2015 hailed a United Nations decision to keep the Great Barrier Reef off its in danger list as "tremendous", but activists warned more must be done to improve the marine park's health. AFP PHOTO / SARAH LAI /FILESSarah Lai/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **
(FILES) This file photo taken on November 20, 2014 shows an aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of the Whitsunday Islands, along the central coast of Queensland. Australia on July 2, 2015 hailed a United Nations decision to keep the Great Barrier Reef off its in danger list as “tremendous”, but activists warned more must be done to improve the marine park’s health. AFP PHOTO / SARAH LAI /FILESSarah Lai/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **
(SARAH LAI / AFP/Getty Images)

(Sarah Lai / AFP/Getty Images)

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

MACHU PICCHU, PERU: Sheltered by a parasol, these travelers take in the classic Machu Picchu view from just below the site's ancient guardhouse.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

4. Great Wall of China

Chinese people gather to celebrate as Beijing is announced as the host city for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, on the Great Wall in Beijing on July 31, 2015.CHINA OUT AFP PHOTOSTR/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **
Chinese people gather to celebrate as Beijing is announced as the host city for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, on the Great Wall in Beijing on July 31, 2015.CHINA OUT AFP PHOTOSTR/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **
(STR / AFP/Getty Images)

(AFP/Getty Images)

5. Taj Mahal, India

(Yann / Wikimedia Commons)

6. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

GRAND CANYON, AZ., MARCH 11, 2015: From Mojave Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the meandering Colorado River is seen at twilight carving a path over millions of years March 11, 2015 (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times ).
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

7. Colosseum, Italy

epa01059664 (FILE) A file picture dated 28 September 2004 shows the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. The Colosseum is among one on the new 7 Wonders of the World chosen in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 July 2007. The other winners are, The Great Wall of China, India's Taj Mahal, Peru's Machu Picchul, Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid . Brazil's Statue of Christ Redeemer , Jordan's Petra. EPA/DANILO SCHIAVELLA
epa01059664 (FILE) A file picture dated 28 September 2004 shows the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. The Colosseum is among one on the new 7 Wonders of the World chosen in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 July 2007. The other winners are, The Great Wall of China, India’s Taj Mahal, Peru’s Machu Picchul, Mexico’s Chichen Itza pyramid . Brazil’s Statue of Christ Redeemer , Jordan’s Petra. EPA/DANILO SCHIAVELLA
(DANILO SCHIAVELLA / EPA)

(Danilo Schiavella / EPA)

8. Iguazu Falls, Brazil

Iguazu Falls with Argentina and Brazil on opposite sides of the cascades are taller and wider than the famous Niagara Falls. Some 553 cubic feet of water per second thunders down some 269 feet. HERE tourists check out the falls from an overlook.
(Scott Kraft/Los Angeles Times)

(Scott Kraft / Los Angeles Times)

9. Alhambra, Spain

Detail of Alhambra, Spain

Detail of Alhambra, Spain

(Jebulon / Wikimedia Commons)

(Jebulon / Wikimedia Commons)

10. Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya), Turkey

Aya Sofya

Aya Sofya

(Wikimedia Commons)

(Wikimedia Commons)

A hardcover "Ultimate Travel" is set to come out Oct. 6 and costs $24.99. Check out the book -- and a free download of five destinations -- at Lonely Planet's website.

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Travel & Experiences
Mary Forgione

Mary Forgione launched and wrote The Wild, a weekly newsletter featuring insider tips on the best of Southern California beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains.

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