How I Made This Top 5 Star Spots List
Honestly? This whole idea started when I got fed up seeing those generic “best starry destinations” articles packed with Instagram filter nonsense. Real stars don’t look like glitter on velvet, pal. So I grabbed my pickup truck, threw my decade-old tent in the back with two thermoses of black coffee, and hit the road last summer.
The Nitty-Gritty Hunt
First rule: No tourist trap observatories. I only cared about raw sky visibility. Wasted a whole weekend at this “certified dark sky park” only to find their “prime viewing spot” was 50 feet from glowing bathroom signs.
My method was stupid simple:
- Drove routes where Google Maps showed zero street lights for 10+ miles
- Camped 3 nights minimum per spot to account for weather mood swings
- Used army surplus night vision goggles – my wife thinks they look ridiculous but hey, they work
Nearly got arrested twice. Apparently wandering around farms at 2AM with night gear makes folks twitchy. Oops.
The Top 5 That Actually Work
After burning through $800 worth of gas and developing a permanent squint, here’s what made the cut:
- That Abandoned Quarry Near Sedona – Pitch black by 8PM. Saw Saturn’s rings through my kid’s toy telescope. Coyotes howled backup vocals.
- Desert Motel Bathtub (Nevada) – Sounds nuts, right? But soaking in warm water at 3AM while the Milky Way drips overhead? Magic. Owner charges extra for “astronomy baths”.
- Uncle Randy’s Cow Pasture – Family land in Wyoming. Zero light pollution since Randy hates electric bills. Bonus: free manure scent therapy.
- Fishing Dock at Lake Superior – Froze my butt off in October but caught aurora doing disco moves over the water.
- My Rooftop After the Blackout – When the grid failed last winter? Best urban stars ever. Neighbor thought I was crazy dancing in pajamas on ice.
Epic Failures & What I Learned
Not all went smooth. That “pristine mountain lookout” from Reddit? Turned out to be below an airport landing path. Flashing plane lights every 90 seconds. Total bust.
Biggest lesson? Real star hunting means:
- Forgetting fancy gear – Your eyes adjust way better than any app
- Embracing discomfort – Frostbite toes? Part of the experience
- Ignoring influencers – Half those “dreamy star photos” are just long exposures with editing
Just get out there. Even if you only find one clear patch of sky – worth every mosquito bite. Trust me.