National parks, theme parks and great beaches typically inspire vacations.
This summer, travelers are adding another incentive to the list: dark skies in the middle of the day.
On Aug. 21, a total eclipse of the sun will arc across the country from Portland, Ore., to Charleston, S.C., in a 70-mile-wide ribbon. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the United States since 1979 and the first to sweep the entire nation in 99 years.
"This is a big deal," said Sally Brummel, Bell Museum and Planetarium program manager at the University of Minnesota. "It's a fantastic experience. All of a sudden, there is just darkness. The birds get confused, you hear all this weird chirping — it's the kind of thing you really can't believe until you experience it."
Minnesota won't lose the sun completely; 84 percent of the phenomenon will be visible from the state, Brummel said — not enough to weaken the sun's energy much or darken the sky.
But if you're set on experiencing the breathtaking blackout, there are plenty of places to do so. Along what's called the "path of totality," where the eclipse will be complete, there are plush urban environments and wild areas far from the twinkle of city lights.
The key is to choose your viewing spot and make plans quickly. Hotel and rental home reservations are being snapped up at a record pace.
The cosmic magic won't last long. At its greatest duration — just southeast of Carbondale, Ill. — the sun, moon and Earth will all align for two minutes and 40 seconds.
