Brian Smith's Photos

Day four of the LA leg turned into the longest and most jam-packed day of the whole trip. It started early and quiet, with a walk through an empty Universal CityWalk before the crowds showed up.

From there it was up to the Hollywood Sign Trailhead for a hike with a view, and a bit of birdwatching along the way.

A short drive over to the Universal City Overlook gave one more classic LA panorama before heading down into the park itself.

Then it was a full day inside Universal Studios — rides, shows, and wandering the backlot streets from early afternoon into evening.

Once the sun went down, the park transformed for Halloween Horror Nights. Fog, scare zones, and haunted houses took over until well past midnight.