tom_mn

Looking at the April 8 Texas eclipse and some "clean up" bucket list items for Texas.

Is this reasonable:

Friday. Fly into DFW, spend night.
Saturday: See something in DFW, book depository museum or stockyards, drive to Alpine, TX, spend night (no Big Bend Lodging available)
Sunday. Drive to Big Bend NP, do a couple hikes, spend night in park
Monday: Leave Big Bend (Chisos Mtn Lodge) for Bracketville TX for eclipse @ 1:30 pm, drive to Austin to spend night. Chisos Mtn Lodge to Bracketville is 300 miles, mostly on US 90
Tuesday: Fly home

Gretchen

If you are going to do this make any reservations now, especially for the Park if that is possible. My experience with the last eclipse is that traffic will be bad in the areas that are ideal.

tomfuller

I looked at the map for totality. Any chance you could make it to Kerrville or Fredericksburg by eclipse time? Fredericksburg has the museum of the Pacific War and Chester Nimitz's boyhood home.

tom_mn

Not really interested in adding things to a whirlwind weekend with 2 long driving segments. I’d decided after my second visit to Texas that it is pretty ordinary America (with more guns) and not worth the expense of a third trip for me since it’s pretty far. But with regret that I had never visited Big Bend and the Book Depository Museum.

Also trying to stay on the unpopulated side of the path to minimize pre-eclipse traffic. I learned from last time (in Nebraska) that afterwards it’s a traffic mess even in the middle of nowhere.

Nelson

A few weeks ago I booked Big Bend for after the eclipse. If they are still available could you change the order if your trip, go to Big Bend after the eclipse?

Also, how about open jaw flight arrive DFW depart Midland, if possible? Maybe worth it to trade a long drive back east for more time in Big Bend, Terlingua, or Marfa?

tom_mn

Not really, spouse is a teacher and this is too late for spring break.

I'm trying to use Avios and VA points, and I think I need nonstop flights for that. I'll check. I am saving my AA miles for a Peru trip.

Gretchen

Excerpt from big article in WaPo today
Peak viewing in Dallas, Cleveland and BuffaloPlaces in the path of totality, where the shadow of the moon covers the sun completely, are already gearing up, launching tourist-focused websites with countdown clocks, planning events, ordering supplies and selling their hotel rooms far in advance. NASA has already identified Kerrville in Texas Hill Country, Indianapolis and Cleveland as partner locations where the agency will have live broadcasts and experts in place.

Just made my reservations in my hometown in Ohio--near Dayton. Prices are up!! I used Booking.com and can pay at the property and cancel up to just days before.

tom_mn

Surprising that I was able to book this without any trouble, into Dallas nonstop using avios and home from San Antonio on Delta nonstop with our last Virgin Atlantic points. For some reason one way rental Dallas to San Antonio is pretty cheap, just over $300, for the 4-day eclipse weekend. Even seat upgrades are cheaper than I've ever seen. Kind of a surprise. Only hitch is I'm not finding hotel points redemptions in Dallas or San Antonio, but the cash prices are reasonable.