Entertain the children
If you take your children to see the eclipse, they will need distractions. What’s better than an indoor water park, like the one at Grand Lodge of Wolves in Sandusky, Ohio? Close to the center line of the eclipse path, it is well placed, and that’s right viewing party will offer free wolf ears for kids and moon cakes for everyone. A family suite that includes unlimited park access averages nearly $330 per night. You can also find kid-friendly activities if you’re willing to travel back in time. Kinmundy log cabin village in Kinmundy, Illinois, will open its grounds to visitors April 6-8, and while you can’t stay in one of its 19th-century log cabins, you can explore them, with some occupied by volunteers re-enacting pioneer life . There will be a bonfire each evening and food trucks will be on site April 7 and 8. Camping and parking for all three days are $150. Al Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford, NY, the third largest living museum in the United States, experience life as it was in New York State from 1790 to 1900. From April 5 to 7 you can see a magic lantern show, write a themed book celestial poetry and sample 19th-century eclipse-themed treats for $17. On the day of the eclipse, $250 will get you and a carload of friends to the viewing area; individual tickets start at $55.
Treat yourself
Add some aahs to your oohs with the Shadow of the Moon Pack at La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, which includes an opening reception, a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine and a viewing party, starting at $3,500 for a three-night stay for two. Or how about a 15-day cruise through the Panama Canal, with the chance to watch the eclipse at sea near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico? Interior rooms are still available for $1,199 per day Emerald Princessdeparting Los Angeles on April 5. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to hit the highway in a luxury camper, which becomes an asset if the weather gets worse and the skies are clearer a few hours’ drive away. Spot2Nite.com offers packages starting at $625 per night that combine RV rentals with campsites from Texas to Ohio.
Fly in the darkened skies
The best thing about watching an eclipse from a plane? “You don’t have to worry about clouds because you’re high above them. And from 35,000 to 40,000 feet, you’re seeing the eclipse against a much clearer, more transparent sky instead of being at ground level,” said Joseph Rao, associate and guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium and an avid eclipse hunter who saw 13 totals: five aboard a airplane. Delta Airlines advertised the total flight route from Austin (sold out) and Dallas-Fort Worth to Detroit. Southwest Airlines (which operates a lottery to secure a seat) also offers scheduled flights along the route. The disadvantages of an air clip? “You’re experiencing the event in a kind of sterile environment,” Mr. Rao said. Additionally, the sun’s angle in the sky at the moment of totality may not line up with the view from the window of a typical airplane, which could limit some passengers’ ability to see it unless pilots bank or set a special route, as some reportedly did during the 2017 total eclipse.
Get informed before leaving
Attention to the center line: When choosing where to view the eclipse, remember that the closer you are to the center of the path, the longer the eclipse will last. As you plan your trip, consult a eclipse map for first places.
Factor in traffic: In the United States, there are approximately 32 million people living in the path of the eclipse, and many more will be headed toward it. Give yourself extra time.
