Valerie Stimac
Valerie is the founder and editor of Space Tourism Guide. She decided to start the site after realizing how many friends and family had never seen the Milky Way, and that space tourism was going to unlock the next great travel destination: space!
The 21 Best Places for Stargazing in Seattle
Close to mountains and stunning waterways, Seattle is a great city for stargazing both in the city and in surrounding region. Seattle is an often overlooked city in the Pacific Northwest, but much beloved by the residents who call it home...
The 10 Best Spots for Stargazing in San Diego
San Diego is known for many things: surf, sun, tacos, craft beer... sounds like a great getaway! But San Diego is also a pretty good spot for stargazing, if you can believe it. Though San Diego, like Los Angeles, is plagued by light pollution and lots of emissions in the atmosphere, there are also some surprisingly great stargazing spots within just a few hours from the city...
8 Great Telescopes Under $500 for Your Next Upgrade (2022)
When it comes time to upgrade your telescope, there’s a lot to consider. After having a starter telescope in the $100 to $200 range, you’ve probably learned which types of telescopes you like (and know how) to use; you’ve also noticed some features you may enjoy – or perhaps absolutely hate and want different on your next telescope. In any case, upgrading your telescope is a big deal...
The 10 Best Places to Go Stargazing in Indianapolis
Located at the "Crossroads of America," Indianapolis is the kind of city you could pass through on a great American road trip... but it's also an amazing place to stay and visit – or live! I actually called Indianapolis home for three years, and love the Circle City each time I make a return visit...
The 11 Best Places to Go Stargazing in Pittsburgh
Located where three rivers converge (the Ohio River, the Monongahela River, and the Allegheny River), Pittsburgh has deep historical roots as a good city for business and innovation. During the Gilded Age, industrialists like Andrew Carnegie established companies that helped Pittsburgh grow; today, many major tech companies have their offices in Pittsburgh...
5 Great Binoculars Under $100 for Stargazing in 2022
When you first get started stargazing, you might have a lot of questions. What am I seeing? Is that a planet or a star? Will a telescope or binoculars help me see even more? Plus loads of others too! But as someone who's new to astronomy, you might not want to shell out a ton right away. If you're budget-conscious and/or brand new to stargazing and just want to get started without spending a lot, this post is for you...
How to Plan a Haleakalā Stargazing Trip in 2022
Hawaii may not have many national parks, but the ones it does have are stunning. On the Big Island, there's Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, one of the most reliably active places to experience volcanic activity and see the scars and changes it leaves behind. Then there's the only other national park in Hawaii, Haleakalā, on the island of Maui....
The 19 Best Places to Go Stargazing in Columbus
Located right near the center of Ohio, Columbus is one of those great midwest cities that never fails to surprise you. From world-class museums to great food and drink, there's plenty to do during the day in Columbus. Once the sun sets, you can also keep yourself busy...
The 8 Best Places for Stargazing in Tampa, Florida
Located on a large bay of Florida's Gulf Coast, Tampa is known for many things, amusement parks and football teams chief among them. But is there any good stargazing to be had in "The Big Guava?" (Also, coolest city nickname ever!) It turns out, there are some good spots for stargazing in Tampa – sort of...
3 Great Binoculars under $300 for Stargazing in 2022
Don't get me wrong: stargazing with our eyes is great. Nothing has the same effect on our mental state as starlight entering our eyes after billions of miles of light-speed travel across the galaxy. But there is something special about unlocking a deeper level of the night sky with equipment like binoculars or a telescope...
