Hiking and kayaking in the daytime? Fun and invigorating. But under a full moon, those activities can be transcendent. Gazing at blue skies is pleasant — but rather ordinary.
Looking up at the night sky, on the other hand, feels as though deep mysteries may be revealed. Astrotourism, travel devoted to stargazing and other celestial activities, is booming, spurred on, in part, by DarkSky International, which seeks to protect the night skies from light pollution. The nonprofit, based in Tucson, Ariz.
, has designated 220 dark sky areas around the world since its grassroots founding in 1988, and has recently started the DarkSky Approved Lodging program. “Viewing our starry night sky has connected humanity throughout the ages and allowed us to form a deep connection with the cosmos,” said Susan Serven, DarkSky’s communications director. “Now it’s seen as a growing potential economic driver, as well.
” Here are five nocturnal adventures that will add a strong dose of awe to your next vacation. Full moon goat hike Bradley Mountain Farm, in Southington, Conn., has been a dairy farm for two centuries.
But it’s only in the past five years that the owner, Anneliese Dadras, brought goats and humans together under the full moon. “I really wanted to show people all the wonderful things about goats,” Dadras said. In addition to goat yoga and goat snuggles on her farm, Dadras offers full-moon goat hikes throughout the year on the hilly terrain surrounding her property ($25.