Looking for a distinctive summer vacation experience? Then consider planning your big getaway around viewing the much-anticipated Perseid Meteor Shower! This spectacle in the night skies typically sets up across the Northern Hemisphere between the middle of July and through August. Peak viewing dates vary by year, so check into the specifics before planning your star-studded summer vacation.

If you’re lucky enough to enjoy ideal viewing conditions, you can expect to see one meteor per minute during peak nights. Here are a few of the best places for viewing Perseid meteor showers in all of its glory!

Salmon River — Idaho

The most important factor when it comes to find a location to see a meteor shower is to locate a place with little to no light pollution. Obviously, this makes remote locations a more natural fit. The area surrounding Salmon River in Idaho provides ideal conditions for viewing the skies. Combine your stargazing trip with a rafting adventure down this winding river and you’ll  have the perfect summer vacation. Noting can compare to paddling down the Middle Fork section of this river while staring up at the brilliant night skies filled with stars in this beautiful corner of the Pacific Northwest.

Joshua Tree National Park — California

The country’s vast network of national parks offer a number of great areas to stake out a spot and cast your eyes up at the sky after the sun goes down. California’s Joshua Tree National Park also scores points for its general warm weather and dry conditions, providing higher odds of enjoying a cloudless sky for your viewing experience. Simply reserve a camping spot, lie down, and gaze up at the splendor unfolding above you. While you can catch the meteors from any part of the park, the east side typically provides the best viewing spots.

Cherry Springs State Park — Pennsylvania

Those on the East Coast understand the challenges of finding an area with little light pollution. If you don’t have the means or time to travel far, consider choosing Cherry Springs State Park as your viewing location of choice. Located within the sprawling Susquehannock State Forest, this park sits atop a large hill that provides sweeping views of the dark sky.

The views are so fantastic that the area has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park, indicating its official status as an ideal viewing location. The park leans into this honor by offering a number of celestial lectures and other special events for budding astronomers. You can also choose to sign up for an overnight permit in the park’s official Astronomy Observation Field, offering 360-degree views of the sky.

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Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park— Florida

Central Florida is not just about theme parks. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park boasts 54,000 acres of isolated land in a protected dry prairie eco-system. You will find plenty of camping options if you decide to spend your vacation here! The park also features a handful of “astronomy pad” camping sites that prohibit the use of campfires and non-red spectrum lights to support prime views of the sky. You will want to plan ahead to book one of these sights in advance. While at the prairie preserve, be sure to also take advantage of the daytime activities such as hiking and biking.

Rock Island State Park — Wisconsin

Lastly, it may be a bit of work to get to Rock Island State Park, but your efforts will be rewarded with stunning views of the meteor shower. Visitors looking to visit Wisconsin need to take two different ferry rides to get to this remote location off the top of Door County Peninsula on Lake Michigan. Note that you cannot bring a vehicle to this park, which on the plus side helps to eliminate even more light pollution. The nearby Newport State Park is another location in this part of the Great Lakes that offers ideal stargazing opportunities from its 11 miles of pristine shoreline.

Are you a star-gazer? Have you ever traveled to see a meteor shower or other astronomical event? Tell us about it in the comments below!