5 stargazing destinations where you can see the sky with ‘both’ eyes
The concept of “two-eyed seeing” is alive and well at these astrotourism hot spots, where travelers have the opportunity to experience the night sky through both high-powered telescopes and Indigenous storytelling.
Are those twinkling lights in the night sky a set of four supermassive burning gas spheres? Or are they the glowing symbols composing the Navajo Gah Haat’e’ii, the celestial rabbit tracks that denote the start of hunting season?
Astrotourists traveling to view stars can experience different perspectives of the same universe—via astrophysicists sharing science-based explanations via high powered telescopes, or by local guides sharing local legends.
The concept of “two-eyed seeing” gained popularity with the teaching of Canadian First Nations elder Albert Marshall, who defined it as “learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western ways of knowing and to using both of these eyes together.”
“The night sky isn’t a backdrop for us," says Kialo Winters, owner and guide of New Mexico’s Navajo Tours USA. “It’s a living text.”
(12 spectacular night sky events to see in 2026—from a total eclipse to impressive auroras)
Each of the destinations below combines stargazing with diverse tours and guides who can help you see the universe with both eyes, and learn new ways to read the text of the night sky.
Hawai’i
The summit of Hawai’i Island’s 13,803-foot Mauna Kea—with thin air, dry climate, and limited light pollution—is a fitting home to one of the world’s pre-eminent scientific observatories.
Hawaii Forest and Trails offers tours up Mauna Kea to about 12,800 feet. Gaze through two telescopes, one targeted at planets, the other at distant galaxies. “People are blown away by how many stars they can see in the sky,” says guide Jeff Manzo. “This is maybe the best place on earth (to view stars) when conditions are good.” Manzo also shares traditional Hawaiian interpretations centered on the North Star, or Hoku pa’a, the “star that’s stuck.”
For storytelling perspectives on the stars, tour the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center on the University of Hawaii’s Hilo campus. Its large exhibit hall holds interactive displays on Hawaiian star craft and navigation, while the planetarium features short films projected on the massive dome, illustrating native tales from Hawaii, Canadian First Nations, Japan, Navajo tribes, and ancient Greece.
Even a Hawaiian luau dance can be part of astrotourism. At the Outrigger Kona Resort’s Feast and Fire Luau, dancers’ hand motions signify the twinkling of stars that led Tahitian navigators to Hawaii, according to Asialynn Yap, Traditions Hawaii CEO and performer. “Storytelling is in our DNA,” says Yap. The story of the luau’s voyaging dance shows “how our people come from the stars, and the stars are our guides.”
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
On the shores of Alta Lake near Whistler, stars reflect off dark waters as the moon rises above nearby mountains. A tour guide from the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Experiences Program not only points out constellations with the help of a phone app, but shares personal tales of canoeing around the country and how close you can feel to the sky above you.
Nearby, Whistler’s Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center shares Indigenous First Nations traditions. Cultural ambassadors provide tours that reveal the meaning behind sculptures, art, and petroglyphs that make reference to signs and symbols of the night sky. Whistler’s Audain Art Museum also leans into the Indigenous depiction of the universe above, particularly in its current exhibition “From Sea to Sky.”
Bend, Oregon
Bend's high desert climate and dark sky designation make the area a prime destination for astrotourism. Visit the Oregon Observatory at Sunriver Resort, which is home to the biggest publicly available collection of telescopes in the United States, with special events featuring expert astronomers to guide the scope’s use and explain the night sky. Events with 100 or more guests regularly fill up, so make reservations in advance.
For the artistic view of the night skies, Bend’s Starshine Theater Group takes kids and adults for stargazing and story time night walks. Groups sit in camp chairs with blankets to hear the guides’ stories, red-light flashlights replacing the traditional campfire.
(Glamping with the stars: These 7 retreats are perfect for night-sky watching)
“Depending on the tour, I tell different kinds of stories, says Jennie Shaw, Starshine’s owner and guide. “For the regular stargazing tour I tell the story retold by Lynn Moroney of the Chickasaw people, called How Coyote Howls: A Star Story.” The guides also point out constellations with laser pointers and use a star map, as well.
Australia
Australia boasts a wealth of dark sky territories, from its vast inland desert to remote viewpoints near coastal regions. The country boasts both leading edge scientific astronomy institutions as well as Aboriginal stargazing traditions that remain strong today.
Native Aboriginal Tim Selwyn leads cultural programs and excursions at Girri Girra Aboriginal Experiences on the central coast of New South Wales. Their stargazing tours take people out to experience the dark at Bouddi National Park to gaze at the shimmering night sky and hear stories of the Mirrabooka (Milky Way), the Sky Father, and other traditions.
Melbourne Planetarium features spectacular star shows in its domed theaters supplemented by exhibits about the night sky. Sydney Observatory has historical tours, telescope viewings, and a notable exhibition about First Nations Astronomy.
Tucson, Arizona
The Kitt Peak National Observatory outside of Tucson stands on top of a sacred mountain in the lands of the Tohono O'odham Nation. The observatory offers both scientist-guided nighttime viewing programs using the latest telescopes, and star stories in the newly opened Taṣogida Ki Center for Astronomy Outreach.
The Tosogida Ki Center takes visitors through the art and science of stargazing room by room, alternating between telescope control panels and 3D star displays and exhibits on Tohono O’odham star traditions.
(Why Tucson is one of the best places in the world to see the night sky)
Kitt Peak’s nighttime observation programs are a great way to get a scientific explanation of the universe from astrophysicists while gazing at stars through high-powered telescopes. The observatory even hosts an overnight program giving visitors a glimpse into the life of an astronomer.
Dr. Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, leads tours at the observatory and gives talks on Native American stargazing traditions. Among other learnings, you’ll discover that in the O’odham tradition, the Big Dipper is reconfigured to the Kui’pud, a sharpened tool that was used to harvest fruit from the saguaro cactus.
