Onlyaleisurelytwo-hourdrivefromdowntownSan Diego,thedesertcommunityofBorregoSpringsis knownforhavingsomeofthebeststargazing conditionsofanycommunityintheU.S.Because ofitsdryair,minimallightpollutionandmorethan 300clearnightsayear,itisapopulardestination for sky watchers of all kindsWithpleasantweathermostoftheyear,thissmall ruraltownoffersvisitorsamagnificentdesert landscapeunlikeanyotherinthearea,anda nighttime starry sky you'll not soon forget. Thoughit'slocatedintheheartofoneofthemostdenselypopulatedregionsoftheplanet,BorregoSpringsisanattractivedestination forstargazers.Becauseofthetown'sexceptionalcommitmenttodarkskyprotectionandrestoration,theInternationalDarkSky Association designated it in 2009 as California’s first International Dark Sky Community. BorregoSpringsisoneofthedarkesttownsinSouthernCalifornia,partlybecauseitiscompletely surroundedbynearlyathousandsquaremilesofthedarkAnza-BorregoDesertStatePark,itself designatedasInternationalDarkSkyParkin2018.Mountainsflankthedesertonthreesidesand effectively block much of the light pollution from distant desert and coastal cities.Inadditiontoavarietyofpopularpubliclectures,workshopsandspecialeventsthroughoutthe year,theannualNightfallStarPartyishostedherebytheRiversideAstronomicalSocietyevery autumn.In2011,KCETdesignatedBorregoSpringsasoneofThe7BestSoCalLocationsforDesertNight SkyViewing.In2012,USATodaynamedthetownasoneofTenGreatPlacestoStargazeinthe U.S.,andin2013,KCETrankeditfirstinitsSevenBestPlacestoStargazeinSanDiegoCounty.In 2014,The ActiveTimesdubbedBorregooneoftheTopSpotsforStargazingOutWest,andAfarMagazinelisteditamongthetheworld's EpicStargazingDestinations.In2018,LivabilitylistsBorregoSpringsasoneoftheSixPlacesintheU.S.ThatTakeStargazing Seriously,andtheSanFranciscoChronicledubbedBorregoandthesurroundingAnza-BorregoDesertStateParkasoneofCalifornia’s Best Four Spots for Stargazing. And be sure to listen to Dennis’ 2018 podcast with Visit California about stargazing in Borrego.TolearnmoreaboutthedesertvillageofBorregoSprings—itslodging,restaurants,activitiesandmore—pleasevisittheBorrego Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors’ Bureau.