How to visit an Observatory
It made me
breathe clean air! 
"It was hard to believe I was so close to San Jose; the view was beautiful."
How I did it: I went to the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton. It's near San Jose, California. Take 680 to Alum Rock and follow CA-130 to the top. There are some nice trails and parks along the way.
Lessons & tips: Go during June through September. No viewings during the other months. There is a small tour though and you can walk around. It was worth it because it is free but I want to come back in the summertime. It's open from 12:30 to 5:00, but the drive is rather scary so take your time and go while the sun is out. Bring a camera!
Resources: http://www.ucolick.org/
