The Essentials

Dark Sky Tourism

The next time you travel, you might want to look up — especially at night.

 

Welcome to the world of dark sky tourism, destinations where stargazing is king.

 

In fact, in the last year, 37 new destinations were designated as international dark sky places — the worldwide total is now about 196 — and that ranges from the Arizona desert to the North Carolina coast.

 

So check out Sedona, Arizona, and Death Valley in California.

 

But there’s also the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area in Minnesota, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado — with the tallest dunes in the United States.

 

And just an hour drive from Miami, there’s Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida.

 

Of course, timing is everything. In most cases, the best time to go is between September and March.