Palomar Observatory 200" Hale Telescope in Palomar Mountain 

Palomar Observatory 200" Hale Telescope
Up 5000+ feet In Palomar Mountain, California
Located about 60 miles North East of San Diego, California
Property of California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the telescope is located just a stones throw from San Diego, CA to let part, current and future astronomers peer into the heavens.
It is free to enter the facility and tour the visitor gallery where you have a good view from the base of the telescope.
Located just 2+ miles away is the Observatory Campground where amateur astronomers routinely campout and setup their own telescopes and cameras to peer into the night sky.