We just tickets to be in an are of full totality. Our kids are late elementary so they should appreciate it. Our school admin ok'ed the absence too.

For those looking, here are ticket prices to various cities in/near it, based on leaving Saturday and coming back on a flight late enough on Monday to not miss the eclipse.

San Antonio: $1,000
Austin: $1,500
Cincinnati (drive to Dayton): $500
Indianapolis: $900
Cleveland: $900
Toronto: $500
Montreal: $550
Burlington: no late direct flights back on 4/8.

We went to the one in 2017 and our flight was over half eclipse chasers.

Anonymous wrote:They're a little too young to really be into it at K and 2nd.

I disagree. I think there are plenty of K and 2nd graders that would be excited about seeing a total eclipse. If this is something you and your family are into, OP, I would definitely pull the kids out of school.

My STBX is adamant that we must take our 10th graders to the band of totality. I’m not arguing because that’s where my mom lives, so we’ll get to visit her.

Northern VA/D.C. will get a great view at 87% coverage. No need to travel, but you do make the effort to see it.

I’m taking my child out of school a bit early for it here in Arlington. I would definitely pull her out of school for it if traveling were reasonable for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are definitely pulling out. It's a once in a lifetime experience

Actually it’s happening again in 2 years.

In the continental US, the next total solar eclipse will be 20 years from now on 8/23/2044, according to NASA:
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/

Anonymous wrote:We are definitely pulling out. It's a once in a lifetime experience

Actually it’s happening again in 2 years.

I live in the path of totality and our schools are closing for the day. We're going to have thousands of visitors and the eclipse will happen around different school release times/busing times.

I don't know if I would travel for it. But, I wouldn't worry about pulling my kids out of school for it.

Elementary, yes, of course. They aren't missing anything that isn't easily made up.

Junior year of high shcool, no.

I would, OP. But maybe you can do some research and learning at home beforehand, so you can get them interested and excited about it. Otherwise it might be just a kind of “huh, that’s cool” and after two minutes they get bored.

We are pulling our 5th grader. We actually live where it will be 99%, but are going to drive 2 hours for 100% because who knows if we will ever be this close again. I did think ahead and book a hotel the night before though so we don't have to deal with traffic. Snuck in and got it for $85 before they started charging $1000.

DH made us go to SC for the one a few years ago. It was pretty meh honestly. He liked it, but not worth the drive to me for something that lasts 30 minutes.

Ours are 8 and 10. We did go for the last one to Kentucky, but they dont' remember that much.

Looks like the nearest locations from here are Cleveland and Erie, PA. It's a 5+ hour drive back, and totality hits around 2-3pm, so that would make for a difficult drive back to avoid missing Tuesday school as well.

Buffalo, Indy, and Little Rock are all in the path and those are flyable.

Looks like people are already wise to this. It's $500+ round trip from BWI to BUF and IND on Southwest, and some flights are already totally sold out.

Anonymous wrote:They're a little too young to really be into it at K and 2nd.

We pulled our kids out last time for it (youngest was in preschool at the time). It was fun! We are traveling to Vermont for this one.

Anonymous wrote:My parents live in a city that is very close to the path of totality for the solar eclipse on 4/8. Like maybe a 20-30 minute drive away from totality and even at their own place they will be extremely close and should see most of it. Is it worth pulling the kids from school to see it? K and 2nd grade but the 2nd grader has missed a lot of days already this year (I think 6 so far?) due to illness and we’d have to miss 4/9 as well for a travel day. Maybe I could have him write a science report on it, hah.

Elementary school teacher here - sure, at this age, I'd go ahead and do this. 6 sick days for a grade 2 student is not at all unusual.