ED U C AT I O N By Sarah Suydam Photo © More Than Just Park s, Dark Sk y.org
Embrace Your Inner Night Owl with Noctourism
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Did you know? Darkness does our minds good, according to a 2024 Night Sky Connectedness Index published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. Research found that a greater connection to the night sky was positively related to a person’s mental health and happiness. Knowing this, it should come as no surprise that travelers are increasingly excited about partaking in Noctourism—experiences that specifically take place after dark. Embrace your inner night owl and come along as we explore ways to engage w ith this transformational trend.
PUERTO RICO’S THREE BIOLUMINESCENT BAYS Not only is nighttime the best time to visit one of Puerto Rico’s stunning bioluminescent bays (Mosquito Bay, Laguna Grande, and La Parguera)—it’s the only time to visit if you want to experience this natural phenomenon. These magical bays are home to a type of microscopic plankton called dinof lagellates which—when disturbed by movement—glow! This chemical reaction creates a lovely blue-green hue that groups can view from nighttime boat or kayak tours, depending on which bay you choose to tour. Visit during a new moon to get the most bang for your glowing buck! THE MAJEST Y OF DARK SK Y PL ACES W it h 250 desig nated Da rk Sk y Places a rou nd t he world, DarkSk y International focuses on combatting light pollution and protecting areas that ser ve as v ital sanctuaries for w ildlife that depend on natural dark ness. They’re also ideal for those seek ing connection w ith the cosmos! W hether groups tr y their
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ha nd at ast rophotog raphy in Ok la homa’s Black Mesa State Park or seek out t he Nort hern Lights at Michigan’s Headlands International Dark Sk y Park, the opportunities to get lost in the wonder of the night sk y abound. SMOK Y MOUNTAIN’S GLOWING FIREFLIES From late May to early June, the Elkmont area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee is ag low w it h t he mat i ng r it ua l of cou nt less synchronous firef lies, creating a truly remarkable sight v isitors f lock to each year. But note: space to v iew t his nig ht t ime phenomenon is lim ited and goes quickly! If your groups are interested in attending, be sure to research securing your spot in advance, as passes (t ypically released in April each year) sell out almost immediately. GET AN ASTRONOMER’S VIEW AT VARIOUS OBSERVATORIES See t he cosmos t h roug h t he sa me lens t hat astronomers use to do their research w ith a night v isit to a n obser vator y! Ma ny of fer a f ter hou rs tours, talks w ith astronomers, and even concerts under the stars. The historic Yerkes Obser vator y in La ke Geneva, Wisconsin, for example, of fers an opportunit y to journey through the night sk y v ia the largest refracting telescope in the world. A nd w h i le clea r sk ies a re ne ver g ua ra nteed, what’s promised is an exclusive and unparalleled ex per ience at t he sa me obser vator y t hat revolutionized the way we see the Universe today. GET YOUR LOCAL FLAVOR AND CULTURAL FIX … AFTER HOURS! Sometimes, nighttime is the perfect setting for enjoy ing a t ruly immersive cultural ex perience. Groups could learn about New Orleans’ haunted histor y w it h an narrated evening wa lk ing tour; ta ke in Tok yo’s neon-lit (and nonstop) night life in the Kabuk icho district; explore and spend the night beneath the beloved blue whale at London’s Nat u ra l Histor y Museu m; soa k u nder t he sta rs (a nd nex t to t he mou nta ins) in Su nWater Spa’s mineral-water cedar hot tubs in Manitou Springs, Colorado; and more.
* F o r m o r e a r t i c l e s l i k e t h i s v i s i t g r o u p s t o d a y. c o m / B L O G