31 things to do for the 2024 total solar eclipse
Entertain the children
If you take your children to see the solar eclipse, they will need distractions. What’s better than an indoor water park, like the one at the Large Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio? Close to the centerline of the eclipse’s path it is well located, and its viewing party offers free wolf ears for the kids and moon cakes for everyone. A family suite with unlimited park access costs an average of almost $330 per night. If you’re willing to travel back in time, you can also find kid-friendly activities. Kinmundy Log Cabin Village in Kinmundy, Illinois, will open its grounds to visitors from April 6 to 8, and while you can’t stay in any of the 19th-century log cabins, you can explore them, some of which are occupied by volunteers. putting pioneer life into practice. There is a campfire every evening and food trucks are present on April 7 and 8. Camping and parking for all three days costs $150. At the Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford, NY, the third largest living museum in the United States, experience life as it was in upstate New York from the 1790s to 1900s. From April 5 to 7, you can attend a magical lantern show, a celestial theme write a poem and sample 19th century eclipse-themed treats for $17. On the day of the eclipse, $250 and a car full of friends get you into the viewing area; single tickets start at $55.
Treat yourself
Add some aahs to your oohs with the Moon Shadow Pack at La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, including an opening night reception, complimentary bottle of bubbly and viewing party, from $3,500 for a three-night stay for two. Or how about a 15-day cruise through the Panama Canal – with a chance to witness the solar eclipse at sea near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico? Interior rooms are still available for $1,199 on the Emerald green princessdeparting from Los Angeles on April 5. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to drive a luxury campervan down the highway, which becomes an asset when the weather takes a turn for the worse and the skies are clearer just a few hours away. Spot2Nite.com offers packages starting at $625 per night that combine RV rentals with camping spots from Texas to Ohio.
Fly through the dark sky
The best thing about viewing a solar eclipse from an airplane? “You don’t have to worry about clouds because you’re high above them. And at an altitude of 35,000 to 40,000 feet, you see the eclipse against a much clearer, transparent sky, rather than at ground level,” says Joseph Rao, associate and visiting lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium and an avid eclipse hunter who saw 13 totalities — five on board of a airplanes. Delta Airlines has been advertising Path-of-Totality flights from Austin (sold out) and Dallas-Fort Worth to Detroit. Southwest Airlines (which is a lotteries to win a seat) also offers scheduled flights along the route. The disadvantages of an air clip? “You experience the event in a kind of sterile environment,” Mr. Rao said. Also, the angle of the sun in the sky at the time of totality may not match the view out of a typical airplane window, which could limit some passengers’ ability to see it unless the pilots make a turn or a chart a special course – such as a few reportedly did during the 2017 total solar eclipse.
Know before you go
Note the centerline: When choosing where to view the eclipse, keep in mind that the closer you are to the center of the path, the longer the eclipse will last. When planning your trip, please consult a eclipse card for the top spots.
Factor in traffic: In the United States, about 32 million people live along the path of the eclipse, and many more will be heading there. Give yourself extra time.