(meteorobs) Re: Stargazing at State/National Parks out west

[brodwcjj at integrity.com]

Being from Oregon Washington I'll come out of lurk mode on this one:

You mentioned State or National Parks.   I'm guessing for amenities  
and/or points of interest.
If so then Crater Lake sounds great to me.   You have the park and  
it's amenities.
As for the park lights I think you can drive the loop at night and get  
away from the lights.   Then when done go back to the warm lodge.
For the family the beach is just part of a day drive away.
Taking the longer coast drive back to Portland is spectacular with  
beach state parks and scenery everywhere you look.
Mountains, Volcanic crater lakes, dark clear skies at elevation, Beach  
on another day(s).  Ashland for any culture needs... Shakespeare  
festival..(that's too much culture for me  LOL)
Not so far north as to have too short period of summer night darkness.

We have had wonderful dark viewing of the Persieds from a Washington  
beach in the past but that risks low clouds and ocean fog messing up  
the view.

Your picking the venue but "keep the family happy" I always say.    
Some of the other suggestions are very remote.
Does your whole family like remote?
Not mine!  GG

Dustin

As for the telescope thread OT   not a problem to me, I didn't realize  
there were any meteors right now  %-P

Back to lurk mode.


From: "Michael Clark" <mrclark9266 at hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: (meteorobs) Stargazing at State/National Parks out west
To: meteorobs at meteorobs.org
Message-ID: <BAY105-F203086931D1A4D92874601AC690 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Here's a plug for Crater Lake NP.

For you: 8000 ft elevations and (almost) always clear skies. Even with an
occasional fire, they don't send up much smoke at night. They have a
recently remodeled lodge, but get your reservation in early.

For the family: Nearby rafting and hiking, spectacular scenery and even
world class theaters and restaurants in nearby Ashland, OR. And the coast is
just a few hours away. I'd fly into Portland, head to Crater Lake and come
back via the coast.

Michael Clark
Ashland, OR