I’ve got a new story a the Star Tribune about the rise of Astrotourism in Minnesota and beyond:

“People are coming specifically for dark skies and for the northern lights,” says Jesse Gates, the education specialist for the Voyageurs Conservancy. “I met one woman who literally hopped in a plane and flew from Puerto Rico in February to give a shot at seeing the aurora. We’ve had people from Texas and Florida fly here because they’ve heard of these events. There’s definitely a lot of momentum.”

Read the story here:

Dark skies are drawing a new kind of tourist to Minnesota: From Voyageurs National Park to small-town festivals, astrotourism is booming as more travelers seek out stars, northern lights and the quiet of the night.