“Once in a lifetime.” Usually, something advertised as such is … not.
A mattress sale — not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Great American Eclipse qualifies, though.
It’s been 94 years since a full solar eclipse’s “path of totality” crossed the West Coast.
(Note for sticklers: We’re not counting the ’91 eclipse, visible in Hawaii, or the 1945 eclipse, which got as far as Idaho, as neither state is on a Coast.)
You have two months and change to plan for this one — but good news: We figured out where you should stay.
First, some facts. It’s all about the path of totality. You’re either in, or you’re out. (For a few minutes, anyway.)
It won’t reach California.
But Oregon? Yes.
You could head to the coast, but if you’ve ever been to the Oregon coast, you’ll know that’s a bad idea: fog, rain, snow, hail, etc. (In short: cloud cover.)
But the rest of the state — that’s the ticket.
Now unsurprisingly, Oregonians — and people like us, within spitting distance — are aware of this.
We say: Life is short. Might as well make it memorable.
There are options. The Oregon State Parks system released 1,000 additional camping sites (which promptly sold out) — surely, other opportunities (and opportunists) will make themselves known.
One thing: You don’t want to be on the road. From the same parks department: “Transportation officials predict unprecedented traffic and crowds the weekend of the eclipse. Traffic may be at a standstill on all major highways and freeways the morning of [Monday] Aug. 21. It may be impossible to drive into the path of totality that morning.”
We say? Get up there early and stay in Oregon for the rest of the week. It’s beautiful.
The spots:
Camping Corvallis
Conveniently located just off the I-5, grab a spot at the city’s local park — $200 for a 20′ X 30′ spot, and it can sleep up to seven. Deal of the century, if you ask us. Twenty-six spots open at the moment.
Camping Baker High School
OK, so camping in basically a high school lawn (or parking lot — seriously) isn’t a five-star luxury experience — but Baker is in the path of totality and they’re only charging $100 a night(!). Plus: option for barbecue dinner!
40-Acre Farm
You said: Not really feeling the high school parking lot but I’m interested in a bison and yak farm? We got that, too: Just over $100 a night, plus access to Port-a-Potties. Don’t say we never took you anywhere nice.
Redmond Cottage
Maybe you’d prefer the opportunity to sleep on a real bed (and presumably put a kid through a good chunk of college? This cottage is $1,300 a night. On the plus side, it sleeps(ish) eight, plus the owners will throw in a tent — sleeps four — for free, so everybody’s paying only a little more than a $100 a night if you can fill it up.
Hilltop Room
If you’re traveling solo or as a couple and don’t want to camp, try this “private room” in Redmond (about 25 minutes north of Bend). Shared bathroom, with another for-rent guest room. Deck, for prime viewing and relaxing over beers.
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