How about a US total eclipse DO?; Aug. 21, 2017; let's start planning!
 

http://www.popularmechanics.com/spac...solar-eclipse/

About a year from now, the lower 48 of the US will experience its first total eclipse since 1979. Looks like the max time of totality will be in southern IL. But the path goes pretty near some decent-sized cities/airports, it appears.

I'd say a major consideration would be a place with low likelihood of cloudy skies. So with that in mind, please look at the map in the linked article and give suggestions on the best place to have an Eclipse DO.

TN, SC, WY, MO?

I already have a hotel reservation in Alliance, Nebraska. Why there? High probability of good weather - and Carhenge! It's also about a 2 hour drive to Wind Cave National Park.

The two places a lot of the serious eclipse viewers I know are heading to are eastern Oregon / western Idaho and a bit further east in Nebraska than I'm planning (where there are more hotels but no Carhenge.) I do have a friend who is an astronomer who is heading to eastern Tennessee, but the weather odds are worse there. (He has other motivations for the choice, since Jonesborough, TN is a pilgrimage site for storytelling.)

I am 3 for 3 on eclipses so far and am hoping my weather karma continues.

I'm booked for this, including the HSV pre-tour:

http://www.insightcruises.com/events/st08/

I thought Carhenge were those upright Cadillacs (actually called Cadillac Ranch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Ranch ) but then realized you meant Carhenge NE http://carhenge.com/
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thanks for the tips on likely optimal viewing!

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I thought I read somewhere that the eclipse will peak somewhere over Kentucky. Is there much of a difference between Kentucky and the other places mentioned above?

Hopkinsivlle, KY will get about 2 minutes 40 seconds of totality. Towns in western Nebraska will get about 2 minutes 20 seconds.

According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, the point of longest totality is actually in Illinois. There is a spot in the Shawnee National Forest that will get 2 minutes and 44 seconds. You can see the map and input your favorite viewing spot at http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/Eclipse2017.php

I would be interested in joining this. I am as of now planning to fly to Boise and drive north from there. My logic is that BOI is usually reliably cheap for flights, high probability of clear skies, decent hotel options. But I could be convinced to go to other locations if there is a FT DO to join.

This has been getting some media play in KC in the past week or two as the -1 year anniversary has passed. MCI is one of the larger airports along the line of totality, so hotels are already getting a ton of bookings for that weekend.

Plan A for us is to go to St. Joseph, Missouri. Plan B, if northern Missouri looks like it will have bad weather, would be Marshall, Missouri. The period of totality around here is 2 minutes and 38 seconds.

We just booked Charleston SC for April 20-23. Turn the lights out!

http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/path_through_the_US.htm

just booked a hotel room in BOI for the nights of 20-21 Aug ... the two Marriott properties near RDM are showing $430+ per night, so that was a definite non-starter

which hotel did you book? i will see if i can get something there or in a nearby place, at least for now.

Charleston, SC Ren for me.

Res Inn Boise West, Sat & Sun nights -- $124, $112 non-refundable, $111 AAA, $105 senior

I'm seeing hotel rooms in Nashville (closest major city/airport to Hopkinsville, KY) going for $175ish a night on average. That doesn't sound too bad to me. I'll have to see if I want to go there or some other location though.