This is actually one of my favorite places on the ...

This is actually one of my favorite places on the planet.

I usually find an excuse to stop here if I'm anywhere within a hundred miles. It's a truly fascinating center if you have any kind of interest in Astronomy. Lectures are held here on a daily basis, and a tour of the facility yields insights not only into the Observatory itself, but into the lighting-policies of the surrounding towns. This may sound weird, but chances are you'll learn a number of things you'd never naturally associate with an installation of this kind.

Pro-Tip: Star Parties... These are held a number of times each year, with night-time lectures at the amphitheater and an opportunity to actually look through the optics. I've been to a couple, and as soon as I find an excuse to revisit this area, I'll go to another one.