20 Astro-Tourism Experiences Perfect for Fall

Best Stargazing Destinations
There’s no experience quite like looking up at a night sky full of brilliant stars. Whether you’re hunting for a meteor shower or the Northern Lights, these destinations offer some of the best experiences for stargazing in the entire world, with many classified as International Dark Sky Parks, Communities, Reserves, Sanctuaries and more. While by no means an exhaustive list, consider traveling to one of these incredible locations for some awesome astro-tourism experiences.

Jasper National Park’s Jasper Dark Sky Festival
Jasper National Park in Alberta is a Dark Sky Preserve and home to October’s annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival! With fireside chats with local Indigenous women, an orchestra concert under the stars by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, a picnic under the stars, drone light show, SkyTram Star Sessions with astronomers and much more, the festival is one of the most immersive astro-tourism experiences on this list. There’s also the chance to see the Northern Lights during the festival, which takes places from October 14 through October 23.

Nanuku Resort Fiji’s
There aren’t many resort-focused astro-tourism experiences on this list, but the Journey to the Stars program at Nanuku Resort Fiji deserves a mention. From October 22 through the end of the month, guests at the resort can enjoy a specially curated list of astro-tourism experiences led by experts at NASA, including from NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute. Star parties, meeting an astronaut and making themed arts and crafts are only some of the fun activities on offer. The program also includes learning about local Fijian’s connection to the stars.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park are both well-known in Minnesota for their stunning beauty and ample outdoor and camping activities, but they’re also notable as some great places from which to view the stars and even the Northern Lights! Voyageurs National Park is a designated Dark Sky Park. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a Dark Sky Sanctuary, and one of the largest in the nation. They’re both great options for outdoor lovers interested in enjoying the best of day activities and nightly stargazing activities.

Channel Islands National Park, California
Channel Islands National Park in southern California is a collection of biologically diverse islands and a marine sanctuary located just off the coast, earning its nickname “The Galapagos of North America.” That being said, it remains one of the least visited national parks in our nation and offers some of the lowest levels of light pollution among the national parks. Camping is available year-round on its five islands and offers incredible stargazing opportunities, in addition to daytime activities like whale watching, surfing, bird watching, hiking and learning about the islands’ history, which boasts some of the oldest traces of human history in North America, dating back 13,000 years.

Greater Palm Springs, California’s Two International Dark Sky Parks
Greater Palm Springs in southern California offers not one but TWO International Dark Sky-designated areas to enjoy. Both offer different daytime and camping experiences, too. Joshua Tree National Park, an International Dark Sky Park, offers the alien-like joshua trees and incredible rock formations, which both create a lovely setting for any stargazing experiences.

The lesser-known Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, on the other hand, offers 650,000 acres of desert to explore, making it the largest desert state park in the continental United States. Pre-historic rock paintings, the Wind Caves and Mud Caves, Coyote Canyon and Shell Reef are on display during the day, while at night, the International Dark Sky Community’s low levels of light pollution make for breathtaking night views.

Sun Valley, Idaho
The former hometown of Ernest Hemingway, Sun Valley in Idaho is part of the nation’s first Dark Sky Community and the third-largest in the world. The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve offers stunning opportunities to view celestial wonders like shooting stars, meteor showers and even the Milky Way! Astro-photographers will love the opportunities to photograph these incredible phenomena when the sun goes down, while enjoying skiing and mountain biking opportunities during the daytime.

An Astronomy-Centric Private Yacht Charter in St. Lucia
The beautifully lush island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean offers wonderful opportunities to view a starry night sky and even our own galaxy. Created in partnership with the Saint Lucia National Astronomy Association, guests at The Landings Resort and Spa can enjoy a privately chartered yacht experience – with an astronomer, a nighttime picnic, a telescope and more! What better way to combine luxury travel with an educational astro-tourism experience?

The Atacama Desert, Chile
Considered the “World’s Star Reserve,” and the world’s driest desert, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile is one of the best places to stargaze in the entire world due its dry nature and high altitude and should be on any astronomer’s bucket list. Travelers can feel like they’re on a distant planet at night visiting la Valle de la Luna, Moon Valley, or la Valle de Marte, Mars Valley, both which remind travelers of the planets from which they got their names. Many observatories are also located in the area, which visitors can can tours of and enjoy programming throughout the year. For a luxury stay in the region, try Tierra Atacama, a luxury lodge located under the stars.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Texas
Located near the charming Hill Country town of Fredericksburg, Texas is Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, home to a large dome-like structure of pink granite. With hiking and rock climbing opportunities, the park offers great activities year-round, but one feature of the area makes it great for stargazing: it’s an International Dark Sky Park! Camping is allowed in the area, so make sure to prepare for a fun night of stargazing in order to view the Milky Way in all its glory. The park also offers a variety of fun nighttime programming, such as astronomy or stargazing classes.

The Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, Texas
The Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve comprises several different parks, including Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park and more. It’s home to plentiful opportunities to learn about and experience some incredible stars, including year-round camping opportunities, the McDonald Observatory (which hosts events, viewings, tours and more) as well as ranger-led astro-tourism excursions in Big Bend National Park.

Mount Teide National Park, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Located on the Canary Island of Tenerife is some awesome opportunities to experience the night sky with very little light pollution. Mount Teide National Park, home to the largest peak in Spain and a designated Natural World Heritage Site, offers a self-guided tour at seven different lookout points in the park’s higher places, from which travelers can view the rings of Saturn and the Milky Way. Travelers can also tour the Teide Observatory and learn how astronomers work to uncover the secrets of the stars. Tenerife’s dry climate allows for great opportunities for stargazing throughout the year.

Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory, New York
Spectacular fall foliage and crisp night air combine to create a wonderful opportunity for stargazing in the Adirondacks region of New York state. A great opportunity to learn more about the stars is at the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory, which offers the Roll Off Roof Observatory to visitors twice a month, where you can set up your scope and get ready to enjoy beautiful starry skies.

Hvar, Croatia
The historic city of Hvar in Croatia recently became the first community recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association in Southern Europe, making it a great place to enjoy stargazing, astro-photography or other fun nighttime activities during a trip to Croatia. The stunning sky complements the UNESCO-designated Old Town, home to plentiful Medieval and Renaissance-era structures.

The Northern Territory, Australia
Australia’s Northern Territory, home to the famed Uluru, kangaroos and plenty of wide open spaces in which to enjoy low levels of light pollution, is a great place to enjoy astro-tourism experiences. Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre in Alice Springs offers educational opportunities for travelers to learn about the night sky and its impact on local wildlife and the creation stories of the Aboriginal people.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of programming and tours, like night tours, a “paint the night by moonlight” art workshop and more. For a more in-depth excursion, take a tour from Outback Sky Journeys Astro Tours, which specialize in astro-tourism excursions in Yulara, which is famous as the home of Uluru. Families or couples can enjoy a guided night tour complete with telescopes and tablets as they learn about the stars.

Cape Lookout National Seashore, Crystal Coast, North Carolina
Cape Lookout National Seashore on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina has just been designated a new International Dark Sky Park! It’s part of one of the only remaining natural barrier island chains in the world, and is only accessible by boat. Astronomy programs are held at the park throughout the year for visitors, and while Crystal Coast Stargazers offers stargazing cruises to the scenic Cape Lookout Lighthouse.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
Another great place in Texas to enjoy stargazing is at Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas. During the day, hikers can enjoy viewing ancient remnants of the Permian fossil reef, an area which was once a sea floor and vibrant coral reef system, before setting up camp to view the 11,000 stars and Milky Way galaxy on display. The park celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and offers star-centric programming like night hikes and more for visitors to enjoy.

The Nebraska Astronomy Trail
Nebraska is not currently a notable place for astro-tourism experiences, but the state is expected to receive its very first IDA International Dark-Sky designation this year, and it’s created the Nebraska Astronomy Trail to celebrate! It features several different locations to enjoy astro-tourism experiences, including the Boswell Observatory, a still-functioning observatory on Doane University’s campus dating back to the 1880s. Just outside of Omaha is the Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, which is where the city’s Astronomical Society’s star parties are held. The Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area is home to the state’s annual Star Party and offers some of the best stargazing in the state.

Sossusvlei Desert, Namibia
Travelers who’d like to combine an African safari to see the Big Five while also enjoying some time under the stars can look no further than Namibia, in which is located the only International Dark Sky Reserve in Africa: the remote Sossusvlei Desert. U.K.-based luxury tour operator Journeysmiths recommends staying at the andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, which has its very own observatory and offers plenty of astro-tourism programming to enjoy throughout your stay, like access to the nearby Star Dunes and a specially created Star Dune Suite, complete with a skylight over the bed so travelers can fall asleep under the stars.

Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Great Basin National Park is a designated Dark Sky Park, and it hosts a ton of fun astro-tourism experiences. Each week, its Dark Sky Rangers offer a range of programming for star enthusiasts, like full moon hikes and lectures at the park’s new Astronomy Amphitheater. It’s also home to the Great Basin Astronomy Festival, held this year in late September. Also nearby is the scenic Nevada Northern Railway, which offers a nighttime Sunset, Stars & Champagne Train ride experience. During the day, travelers can explore the region’s caves, mountains and forests.

Shenandoah National Park or Virginia Beach, Virginia
While Virginia may not be known for its stargazing opportunities, it really should be! From its westernly Shenandoah National Park to its coastal Virginia Beach, the state offers plenty of opportunities for stargazing for both avid astronomers and newbies just looking for a beautiful night sky.

The wide sandy Virginia Beach is home to its very own astronomy association and offers nearby experiences like a night sky boat tour, an accessible Boardwalk Astronomy program, the Virginia Beach Planetarium and a fun tour led by a local astronomer called The Night Bus: The Night Sky, a four-hour tour held at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

In Shenandoah National Park, families can enjoy ranger-led programs in the national park, like the Night Sky Festival, and continue their stargazing adventures by staying at nearby Massanutten Resort.