Dark sky escapes
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
"Noctourism," traveling to bask in the glory of a stunning night sky, is set to be a major travel driver this coming year, Booking.com predicts.
Why it matters: The trend could bring travelers — and their dollars — to more remote locales with better night skies.
How it works: You don't have to leave the country to get a great view of the cosmos, but you typically want to get away from big cities and their light pollution.
- The U.S. is home to over 100 dark sky sanctuaries, parks and more, according to DarkSky, which calls itself "the globally recognized authority on light pollution issues and night sky conservancy."
- In 2001, Flagstaff was the first city to become an "international dark sky place."
Zoom in: One of Phoenix's suburbs — Fountain Hills — is also a dark sky community. Other nearby spots include Tonto National Monument and Oracle State Park.
Zoom out: Many of the country's best dark sky sites are road-trip distance, including Arches National Park in Utah and Joshua Tree National Park in California.
If you go: Use Dark Site Finder's online map to help you plan some noctourism.
- Try downloading apps like Sky Guide, which uses your GPS coordinates to help you ID what planets and stars you're seeing in the evening sky — just keep the brightness low to avoid ruining your night vision.
- Also consider grabbing a flashlight or headlamp with red LEDs, for the same reason.