(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-PLMSBWP');     (function(a,b,c,d){     a='//tags.tiqcdn.com/utag/thunder/goldenstate/prod/utag.js';     b=document;c='script';d=b.createElement(c);d.src=a;d.type='text/java'+c;d.async=true;     a=b.getElementsByTagName(c)[0];a.parentNode.insertBefore(d,a);     })();
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.9&appId=172847629912656"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

We’re Counting Stars in These Prime California Gazing Spots

Four of the 65 “Dark Sky” locations are in the Golden State.

While you might find plenty of stars in Los Angeles, you may have trouble viewing the celestial kind with all that urban luminosity. But there are plenty of amazing places throughout California do some legitimate stargazing. The SF Chronicle pointed out four officially designated International Dark Sky locations. Here’s our favorite of the bunch:

Borrego Springs

“The only designated International Dark Sky Community in California, this laid-back desert town is completely surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The town’s biggest event is the annual Borrego Springs Dark Sky Weekend (Feb. 1-2, 2019), with guided night walks and expert talks on a wide range of sky-high topics (check the website for details).

It’s hosted by the Anza-Borrego Natural History Association, which also offers dark sky activities year-round, including free stargazing events with telescopes and experts on hand (next event is Dec.8).

For more intimate stargazing experiences, join professional astronomer Dennis Mammana on a private stargazing tour in the region (www.borregonightskytours.com). Or join an overnight camping trip with California Overland, with astronomers, telescopes, camping gear and gourmet food (www.californiaoverland.com).”

652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, 760-767-3908, www.abdnha.org

Get info on the other three here.

More Stories
Experiences, Sights + Stays

California’s Most Haunted Places

Visit these ghoulish Golden State haunts—if you dare.

Makers + Entrepreneurs, Tech

A Contact Lens Prototype Out of UC San Diego Automatically Changes Focus and Zoom

A vision of the future.

Experiences, Outdoor Adventure, Road Trips, Sights + Stays

3 National Parks In and Around California We Think Deserve a Visit This Summer

Not Yosemite, not Joshua Tree … and worth the road trip!