Longer nights mean spectacular stargazing

View this email in your browser Hey all! The days are getting shorter. That means it's a wonderful time to admire the night sky, and our own Matt Meltzer tells us where to find some of the best parks for stargazing in the US. The colder months are also a great time to enjoy off-season serenity in some of the country's loveliest beach towns. Staff writer Eben Diskin also helps us find a similar type of quiet in these completely car-free islands.  There's still time before the snow falls, though, to do one of these four stellar hikes in Boulder, Colorado. We also tell you what you need to know to go rock climbing in West Virginia's stunning New River Gorge. Speaking of gorges, this week we also looked at canyoning, a growing sport that just might become your next outdoor obsession. Enjoy the weekend and get outside!   Noelle Salmi, outdoor editor PARKS + WILDERNESS The 10 best parks in the US for spectacular winter stargazing Set in the middle of the 410-square-mile Susquehannock State Forest, this remote state park is the most centrally located stargazing area among the northeast's major cities. Despite sitting only a few hours from New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, the park's skies are remarkably unpolluted, rating it gold tier status from the International Dark Sky Association.   DISCOVER THE BEST PLACES TO STARGAZE LATEST ARTICLES BEACHES + ISLANDS 10 best beach towns in the US to explore during the off-season BEAHCES + ISLANDS 7 surreal car-free islands in the US HIKING The four most exhilarating day hikes in Boulder, Colorado CLIMBING The ultimate guide to rock climbing West Virginia's New River Gorge PARKS + WILDERNESS Canyoning is your next outdoor obsession. Here's where to try it. MATADOR CITY GUIDE TRIP PLANNING  The Ultimate Guide to Manchester Nature and Parks Manchester's industrial fathers may have given it tons of architectural character, but they also paved over all the green shoots and pushed the parks to the outskirts. Yet although there are just a few green spaces in the city center, leafy river walks and manicured parks are just a short tram or bus ride away. A little further out, the options expand into the lush grounds of stately homes and hilly rambles that end in country pub food and well-earned pints. Here's a guide to some of the best natural features on offer in and around Manchester. EXPLORE MANCHESTER'S NATURE AND PARKS ADVENTURE Operation Skate Tijuana When GRLSWIRL, a female skate community, brings 100 skateboards to migrant refugee children in Tijuana, the harsh reality pauses for a little while and kids get to be kids again. WATCH THE FILM FOLLOW US AND FIND YOUR NEXT #TRAVELSTOKE Copyright © 2019 Matador Network, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Matador Network PO Box 7775 #40021 San Francisco, CA 94120 Add us to your address book Need to change something? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from our newsletter. We'll be here when you need us!