This Summertime meteor shower is usually the best show of the year, if the new moon is near. High Sierra destinations are wonderful. Especially Eastern Sierra destinations, well away from the big city lights & urbanization of California.
Summer mild temperatures make higher altitude & mountain destinations favorable. The air is thinner, the sky clearer and the stars are closer at high elevations.
Perseids peaks in mid-August every summer. Perfect timing for planning a summer vacation or camping trip around this annual anticipated event. Look in the northeast part of the nights sky for grazers & numerous shootings stars, up to 60 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
This annual meteor shower peaks in late July, close to the infamous summer show of the Perseids. Higher elevations w. clear skies are favored. Granite domes such as this one called “DomeRock” are common in the granite range of the Sierra Nevada. Dome Rock is near the infamous climbing spot, the Needles & near the small, cabin community of Ponderosa, CA in the Giant Sequoia region.
Look in the southern part of the nights sky for these shootings stars, up to 20 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
What in the hell is an “Eta Aquarid”? It’s a meteor shower in the Springtime; This annual meteor shower peaks in early May. Look in the northeast part of the nights sky for these shootings stars, up to 20 per hour – if you can handle the chilly nights. Most California deserts are prime star gazing spots. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
This annual meteor shower peaks in late April, one of the few shooting star shows in the Springtime. Look in the east part of the nights sky for the grazers or shootings stars, up to 12 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers. Most deserts are prime star gazing spots. Spring blooms wildflowers in the California deserts at this time of year.
This photos is taken at the heights of Mortero Canyon Wash in the southern portion of Anza Borrego Desert State Park. County Road S2 leads out to some great back road camping options. Morterro Wash has big boulder campsites – back behind the abandon rail road tracks. These desert dirt roads are not recommended for RV or motorhome travel. Deep sand is common. Passenger cars can make it – if they do not slow or stop in the soft sandy spots.
This annual meteor shower peaks in early January, right after the New Years celebrations. Look in the northeast part of the nights sky for these shootings stars, up to 40 per hour – if you can handle the chilly nights. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
Most California deserts are prime star gazing spots. This photo is open camping on back roads, in Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Plenty hiking near here; Desert wildflowers start as early as February, depending (of course) on the seasonal rains.
Petaluma California holds the dual county fair for the region. The Sonoma-Marin Fair is an old-time fair featuring big music acts, contests, carnival, exhibits, livestock, agriculture, and Northern California wine. Held at the Petaluma Fairgrounds.
San Diego County Fair has the best ferris wheel view in California. Del Mar Race Track & Fairgrounds is located on the ocean in Del Mar California. One of the biggest & longest running fairs in California. Started in 1880 with an agricultural fair.
Annual event; June
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Mexican celebration of the 5th of May. This seems like another pseudo-holiday that got taken over by the beer manufacturers & their marketing departments. In California you’ll see poster advertisements on every cantina window months in advance. This is not Mexico’s Independence Day, as many so erroneously think. More information on the holiday Cinco de Mayo, see below –
The Strawberry Festival is always held Memorial Day weekend. A parade highlights Saturday’s festivities as it winds its way to the festival grounds; Garden Grove CA
This annual meteor shower peaks in late April, one of the few shooting star shows in the Springtime. Look in the east part of the nights sky for the grazers or shootings stars, up to 12 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers. Most deserts are prime star gazing spots. Spring blooms 
This annual meteor shower peaks in early January, right after the New Years celebrations. Look in the northeast part of the nights sky for these shootings stars, up to 40 per hour – if you can handle the chilly nights. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.