Catch a Rocket Launch on Florida's Space Coast

Along Florida’s Space Coast, near Cape Canaveral, commercial rockets launch on the regular, making it easy to plan a beach getaway timed with seeing a SpaceX or other rocket mission bound for somewhere far, far away.

Seeing a rocket lift up from Earth can feel like a slow-motion event. And since sound travels slower than light, it can feel disorienting to hear the delayed roar of powerful engines as a rocket rises in an arc across the sky. Night launches tend to be the most impressive, with the glow from the rockets contrasting the most with the dark skies all around.

Pro tip: Lots of people choose to gather along the sands that stretch south from Cape Canaveral into Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach and Satellite Beach to catch the show in the sky during a rocket launch. When the heavens are clear, the views can extend for hundreds of miles all around. In beautiful Vero Beach, you can relax on the pool deck at Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa and even catch a launch from the hotel’s hot tub.

Go Stargazing Under the Dark Skies of California's Eastern Sierra

On moonless and cloudless nights, the utter lack of light pollution in California’s Eastern Sierra region means you are likely to see the streak of the Milky Way painted like a shining white gash across the dark sky. Near the town of Bishop, the Owens Valley Radio Observatory–operated by the Astronomy Department at the California Institute of Technology–is one of the largest university-run observatories in the world. It puts on public lectures in Bishop as well as offers occasional tours (advance registration required).

It’s easy to experience the region’s dark skies on your own, too. In the rain shadow of the Eastern Sierra mountain range, Owens Valley is one of the least populated regions in the country and sees roughly 335 clear sky nights a year. Clear, cold winter nights are optimal stargazing season, so bundle up and get ready to be blown away.

Pro tip: Drive about 65 miles northwest of the creekside Wayfinder Bishop hotel to reach Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. The ancient lake formed over one million years ago and is known for incredible calcium carbonate spires and knobs that rise from its surface. Bring a blanket and roll it out someplace lakeside to get horizontal and revel at the display overhead.

At Lake Arrowhead Resort in the San Bernardino Mountains, sitting at an elevation of more than 5,000 feet, you can enjoy crystal-clear views of the night sky. The resort offers complimentary stargazing glasses that make it even easier to get a prime view of the cosmos above.

Catch a Supermoon Rising

Any time you can catch the full moon rising up into the sky after dusk is bound to be a humbling moment. But when a full moon occurs at perigee–meaning when the moon’s elliptical orbit comes closest to the Earth–you’re in for a supermoon, which is all the bigger, brighter and more wondrous. According to the Farmers' Almanac, three full supermoons will occur at the end of 2025–in October, November and December.

The moon rises in the east and sets in the west along the same trajectory as the sun and stars. And a lonely beach is a prime place to experience this incredible sight to the soundtrack of crashing waves. Consider visiting places on the east coast of the United States that empty out during autumn and winter, like the Outer Banks of North Carolina where The Sanderling Resort’s newly reimagined guest rooms offer views in both directions. Cape Cod in Massachusetts, home to Chatham Bars Inn, and Down East, Maine are other excellent options for quiet beaches where you can bundle up and bask in this singular spectacle.

Pro tip: To photograph the supermoon, there are a few tips to keep in mind. The first 20 to 30 minutes that it’s rising above the horizon are when the orb is at its most colorful–often pink-hued or sherbet orange. You’ll want to use a tripod to get the clearest shots. Set your camera’s ISO low and use a shutter speed of no less than one or two seconds. Positioning the shot with something in the foreground–a building or landmark–can create an interesting effect, too, adding scale to the moon.

Scout for Low-Altitude Auroras During the Solar Max

Who hasn’t dreamed of seeing the Aurora Borealis dance in curtains of green and red across the night sky? Vermillion advises not to wait to book your trip to the northern latitudes during the spring, fall and winter months. “We’re in the roughly 11-year peak of aurora activity this year and it should extend until fall 2025, or until the end of the year,” she says.

This period of solar maximum, which peaks in July 2025 according to National Weather Service, means increased solar flares on the surface of the sun, which in turn lead to brighter Northern Lights. The stronger the aurora is, the further south it extends, with displays even possible in states like Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts and Maine during solar max.

Pro tip: “Try to travel around the spring or fall equinoxes,” advises Vermillion, referring to the astronomical beginning of fall and spring. “The northern lights are known to be more active and powerful in the weeks surrounding the equinoxes due to the tilt of the earth. I’ve had incredible luck, night after night, during this timeframe, so while nothing is guaranteed with auroras, it’s a good timeframe to keep in mind!”

Explore destinations where you can stargaze across the Benchmark Resorts & Hotels portfolio, a collection of more than 50 distinct, independent properties by Pyramid Global Hospitality. Located in diverse destinations across the globe, Benchmark’s resorts and hotels reimagine immersive travel, inspiring guests to create memories born from meaningful exploration, authentic moments, and innovative experiences – no matter the occasion. Benchmark guests can earn complimentary gift cards, on-property perks, and destination experiences through the collection’s signature Mosaic Rewards program.