The best time to shoot the Milky Way is in and around the monthly new moon. Perhaps not the best place is in and around a town our city but I headed to a nearby beach and give it a try.
Looking north, the Milky Way is much fainter.
Looking towards downtown McCall, the best part of the galactic center is washed out with the light pollution. (Notice the shooting star in the lower right sky?)
Towering trees bathed in stars.