This spring, two separate meteor showers will light up the night sky. Observe them here!

out in the dark

In Germany, a Sternenpark (star park) is a thinly populated area where the night sky is particularly dark – the perfect place to observe a cosmic spectacle. There are three official parks, one each in the Havelland, Eifel and Rhön regions.

close to the stars

Europe’s most famous dark-sky area extends around the Pic du Midi (2877 meters high) in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. There’s an astronomical observatory at the summit as well as a place for hobby astronomers to spend the night.

dwarfed by nature

In the foreground the famous mesas, in the background the glittering night sky: In Utah, a U.S. state that’s very popular among astro tourists, the International Dark-Sky Association has nine designated dark-sky parks.

Rob Woodcoy, an American fine artist and photographer, is also a man on a mission. His montages, centered on the human figure, tell stories and convey how diverse we are as individuals. He runs photography workshops, too – including one in northern California this month.

robwoodcox.com

On Scheelhoek Island in The Netherlands, you can observe sandwich terns, an endangered species of bird, at the egg-shaped TIJ Observatory jointly designed by RAU Architects and Ro&Ad Architects – composed entirely of natural materials.

rau.eu

The Kakku pagodas – of which there are over 2000 – have bells in their dainty towers that tinkle in the wind. The 16th-century temple complex is sacred to the Pa-O people, but visitors are now allowed to enjoy the magic, too.

inlelaketourism.com/kakku-pagodas.asp

If you and your family can’t decide where to take your next vacation, try one of these tips: They combine the sea, the mountains and a city getaway in a single destination.