Daily Destination: Cherry Springs State Park, Pa.

Mid-August is the height of meteor-watching season in the Northern Hemisphere, with the Perseid meteor shower at its most spectacular.

But urban areas where most people live are tough places to see flaming objects streak across the sky. Cities are full of light pollution, which interferes with our ability to see celestial objects.

To get a great view of the Perseids, you’ll need to head to wide-open spaces without street lights, shopping centers and neon business signs. For those on the East Coast, this can be particularly problematic. But a star-watching venue might be closer than you’d expect.

Surrounded by the Susquehannock State Forest, Cherry Springs State Park in north-central Pennsylvania earned the International Dark-Sky Association’s Gold-tier recognition for its clear skies.

Some people find their way to the park on a backpacking expedition, but it also has a short-term sky viewing area just off State Route 44 southwest of Galeton. Bring a flashlight (keep it pointed down) and a jacket (this hilly area can grow cool at night) and let your eyes adjust for a few minutes as you look into the sky.