How do I find a good site for stargazing?
The first three crucial attributes of a good stargazing site are dark skies, dark skies, and skies that are very, very dark! Light pollution is the single most destructive foe to a dedicated stargazer, overwhelming the delicate glow of nebulae, clusters, and even the fiery glow of the dense star clouds that make up the Milky Way. For this reason alone, the best stargazing opportunities are almost always to be found in remote rural areas, far from the lights of cities and towns. There are, fortunately, notable exceptions: due to new energy-conserving directed lighting, many towns are enjoying a renaissance in the darkness of their nighttime skies, and even large cities such as Tucson, Arizona, can now boast of Milky Way views from the heart of downtown.
Altitude also helps the view and is the primary reason most observatories are located on mountaintops. Turbulence in Earth's atmosphere diminishes the quality of seeing, especially for detailed observations with telescopes, so getting above as much of the air as possible provides clearer, more stable views of astronomical objects. Hubble Space Telescope works so well precisely because it is above the atmosphere.
In general, you should locate a stargazing site on a hill remote enough to eliminate most of the polluting effects of city lights, but not too far to be difficult to access should a cloudy evening suddenly turn into a crystal clear night. Your local amateur astronomers group can be an excellent source for experienced observers who can recommend nearby sites.
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