Living in a city has its benefits—the access to plenty of events and landmarks, convenience of stores being open 24/7, and excitement of a fast-paced lifestyle are certainly not to be taken for granted. With that said, city life can make it difficult to connect with nature in any kind of meaningful way, which comes with plenty of benefits of its own. Light pollution specifically can obscure the stars and make them almost impossible to see, so we love making a point of getting some stargazing in whenever we’re in a more natural setting. Here are some of our favorite stargazing spots:
Mauna Kea, Hawaii
There are very few places in the world where it’s possible to stargaze on top of a volcano, but Mauna Kea island is one of them. The volcano is dormant, but its height and distance from any major cities makes it an ideal spot to see stars with crystal clarity.
Glacier National Park, Montana
The location of Glacier National Park makes it an amazing spot for stargazing for several reasons—it’s far from sources of light pollution, and its climate is typically quite dry. As a result, the skies are usually free from clouds and offer perfect visibility, especially during the summer.
Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s probably not the first place that comes to mind when thinking of the best places to stargaze, but don’t let the location stop you from visiting Cherry Springs State Park when you have the chance. It’s got one of the darkest skies in the country, offering visibility clear enough that on some nights, you can even see the Milky Way.