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Photo bottom right: Courtesy of Siberian Cat Cafe, Photo top left: KT Kusmaul, Photos: Teresa Bergen Palomar Observatory A short drive away is the Palomar Observatory, Caltech's center of astronomical research, and the home of 200-inch Hale Tele- scope. Daytime spring through fall tours of the research facility o er a wide range of information about astronomy, as well as the history and the engineering of the facility. Death Valley Death Valley is another dark sky well-worth stargazing. As a Dark Sky National Park, the Valley o ers ranger-led night sky tours in spring and fall, as well as personal favorites for solo star- gazing like the Mesquite Flat sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells. Another prime spot is the remote Ubehebe Crater area, where viewers can look up at the sky and feel as if they are on the edge of a crater on the moon. e newly renamed Oasis at Death Valley, formerly Furnace Creek, o ers a stay at the inn or the comfort- able, family-friendly ranch. Both have warm, spring-fed swim- ming pools. At the Inn, enjoy an a ernoon tea before stargazing, or a Southwest-in uenced dinner menu that changes seasonally. Dine out on the veranda for a commanding view of the desert and stargazing while you sip a classic cocktail. e more casual Wran- gler, across the road at the Ranch, o ers a range of salads and a terri c veggie burger. Joshua Tree Closer to Los Angeles, Joshua Tree campgrounds are consid- ered a stellar spot to see the Milky Way, particularly at the park's eastern end, furthest from the towns of Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley. e park remains open at night, so even if you prefer to stay in town, you can spend some time stargazing among the mono- lithic rocks. In November, Veteran's Day weekend is the date for the third annual Night Sky Festival, when astronomers, scientists, and community members join the National Park Service in a free three-day program. Park fees are waived, too. Telescope viewing, astronomy talks, and daytime solar viewing are all part of the fest, centered near the park's Twentynine Palms entrance. e elegant- ly old-school Twentynine Palms Inn makes a gracious and relax- ing headquarters for the weekend, and their dining room serves up a delicious house-made sourdough bread, cra cocktails, and a seasonal menu that includes veg options such as roasted butter- nut squash hummus. Produce is grown in the resort's own organic garden, Faultline Farm. Carlsbad State Beach Moving toward the coast, Carlsbad State Beach has little light- ing to mar the view when looking up. e area gets less coastal fog than many seaside locations, and the cli s that lead from the sand to the campgrounds above protect the coastline from the lights in Carlsbad Village. If camping isn't for you, West Inn and Suites, just three blocks from the beach, is a sleek yet family-friendly hotel with a great restaurant, Bistro West. e restaurant sources many of its ingredients from the inn's own farm. Stylishly appoint- ed with beautiful Italian hand-blown glass lamps, yet the epitome of family-friendly, here you'll nd a beautiful warm roasted beet salad, hearty "Mount Palomar" nachos – an appropriate name for your stargazing, and the stellar Bistro veggie and herbed focaccia sandwich made with grilled zucchini, tomatoes, roasted red pep- pers, and sundried tomato tru e aioli. Lake Casitas Heading north and a short distance inland from the coast, Lake Casitas also a ords dark skies away from city lights. e recreation area has its own NASA-accredited astronomer and a large viewing telescope. Camping at the lake is one option for an overnight stay. In nearby Ojai, e Oaks at Ojai provides a tranquil casual spa experience with meals included in an envi- ronment that is especially friendly for women and couples. Din- ing is health-conscious and delicious – and included in the spa stay. ere are vegetarian and vegan options at all meals, such as a mushroom and barley burger, or whole wheat rotini; freshly made organic juice and veggie and fruit bowl snacks are available throughout the day to fortify you for that nighttime stargazing. Tenaya Lodge Moving farther north, Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, CA, may be the ultimate stargazing destination. Less than an hour from Yosemite Valley and located near the park's south entrance, this gorgeous lodge is surrounded by towering pines and cedars. And of course, there are deeply dark skies lled with stars. e south- ern Sierra location is relatively cloud-free, leaving clear viewing. Personal experience has marked this as a great spot for meteor gazing; the lodge has a state-of-the-art telescope and o ers an annual Perseid meteor watching package. e lodge has ve restaurants under the direction of executive chef Fred Clabaugh: the main dining room, the Sierra, o ers the vegan jackfruit & butternut squash curry cilantro rice, made with coconut milk; or head to the casual Jackalope Bar and Grill for a tofu stir fry with spicy red curry. For a romantic repast, Embers o ers a stunning mushroom goulash featuring mushrooms such as king trumpet, maitake, and shitake mushrooms with roasted cauli ower puree. For more information on dark sky viewing throughout the region and around the world, visit the International Dark Sky Foundation at http://www.darksky.org/idsp/. 20 wholelifetimes.com