Well, I'm heading to western NE. Actually staying in Sidney, but that is minor distraction. Wide open space, decent roads and can go east or west fairly easily if the weather changes. Madras, OR has the best % of clear skies but it is limited to 1 or 2 narrow lane roads if you and 50,000 of your closest friends decide to move at once.

I have been lucky seeing what I call 11 out of 12. The last 2 eclipses (China 2009 and Australia 2012) were only viewed for about 40% of the alloted time. The other 10 eclispse were clear skies. As for scattered or broken, I would not worry too much about that. It has been known that a broken sky is clear enough a few miles down the road.

For those who are younger, there is another total solar eclipse in the USA in 2024 as well as 2 good eclipses in Chile/Argentina in 2019 and 2020. So if you are nearby the path of totality in the Eastern USA, just wait and see the day before.

The best sources are Jay Anderson's site, http://eclipsophile.com/ and the NASA site ( http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogl...21Tgoogle.html).

Previous eclipse DO's -- http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...ug-2008-a.html

Wow! I live in Charleston SC in the path of totality! Darn it, I was planning to attend the Edmonton Fringe Festival of Aug. 17--27, but this is more important--and at home.
Oh well, I suppose I can fly to YEG on Aug. 22 :) for the second half!

I'm going to try for this one, what a sight!

I've got two options I think: Get to Alliance, NE area, where I have family to visit too. I'm currently planning on visiting them in June, but might have to move this to August for the eclipse..

OR use my Companion Pass to get to Charleston, Greenville/Spartanburg, Kansas City, or Nashville on a quick WN roundtrip.

Leaning towards rescheduling my family visit, such a cool sight to see!

NPR Science Friday was talking about the eclipse recently, and advised the likeliest place for clear skies (for optimal viewing) is probably Wyoming. Plan accordingly! lol

My brother lives just north of Kansas City, MO, so I will probably be in that area on Aug 21st.

Another cool option would to be in a moving vehicle along the path, maintaining totality for a longer time. (Is that even possible?)

Nope, David, not possible! The umbra of totality will travel about 1000 mph/ 1600 km/h from the Pacific Coast of Oregon to the Atlantic Coast of South Carolina in about 2.5 hours! About the speed of a Concorde! Trying to chase it in a car or train @200 mph may add 30--40 seconds to the totality.

Hmm, if only Virgin Galactic was ready! Plenty of VX Elevate to burn :cool:

Completely forgot this is going to happen, so I'm glad I saw the thread! Will spend the eclipse in KCMO since they show as having 2:40 of eclipse time. No need for a hotel since I'm only 45~ mins West.

Would be great to meet up with anybody who makes it out to KC for the eclipse.

We are planning for Nashville, from 19th to 22th August.
I have my eyes on a lake cottage, but they will start to accept booking from Feb.

Aug 2017 Solar Eclipse
 

Want to arrange a trip to see the 2.5hr duration as it passes over the US near the Kentucky/Tennessee border, but wife is less than interested when it comes to booking 4 tickets for us and our boys. Anyone know what else is near there--maybe even in the path of the eclipse--that would have more to do than just watch it get dark? I mean, that's enough for me, but I gotta sell this somehow or else I am going alone.

Mammoth Cave National Park for one. Also Land Between the Lakes Recreational area. Several years ago, my sister was looking into renting a houseboat for a few days there for her family.

Also, don't be surprised if this thread gets moved to the appropriate US regional forum instead of TravelBuzz.

Thanks for the info! Figured it might get moved but wasn't sure where to place it; not a usual visitor to the these other forums :)

numerous FTers discussing it here

While there's much to see in that area, the weather is not very favorable for getting to see the eclipse. You should head for Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, or eastern Oregon (east of the Cascade Mountains) for that.

Seeing a total eclipse is a fantastic experience. Make sure you're very near the red line marking the maximum duration of totality on this map. While the entire eclipse event lasts up to two and a half hours, the two minutes or less of totality are the really magical part.

You really don't want to be in an enclosed space during totality. You should ideally be somewhere like an open field where you can see the shadow bands that appear to fly over the ground.

I witnessed the 1979 eclipse from The Dalles, WA, after an anxious drive over the Cascades through impenetrable fog. The experience was somewhat marred by the many light planes buzzing around -- we were near a small airport, something I suggest you avoid. I reflected afterwards that the unfortunate people in the planes had a worse experience though, not being able to appreciate the whole effect.