Mrs.BurtonRW and I are going to be in the DFW area (staying in Cresson, actually) for the eclipse.

Any suggestions as to a nice place to go watch it? Preferably someplace with nice scenery (think panoramic vistas, not urban) and maybe less likely to be crowded?

Don’t mind driving a bit or paying for park entry, etc.

-Rob

My IT Director (aka supergeek) has had this on calendar for 2 years. Reservations in same general area.

He can't find a place closer than Cape Girardeau where the forecast for next week isn't awful. He's still holding out hope, but keep an eye on weather.

You may not get vistas, you may get cloudy rain, then super dark....

quote:

Cape Girardeau

That's where I'd go if I was watching!

I haven't lived in DFW for a long time...
so can't really help.
but here's a map of totality:

https://nso.edu/for-public/eclipse-map-2024/

Adding a link to prediction site:

Linky

Looks like they are updating regularly.

I am 2 hrs NE DFW area. We will be a prime viewing area. CHECK THE WEATHER PRIOR our EMC and people are saying it will be overcast to the point you cant even see the sun.

Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth.

Since you’re in Cresson, you’re very close to lake Granbury. just go to one of the parks around the lake and have a picnic and watch it. The price is right too.

This morning, one of the local weathermen said it looks like it might be a solid overcast of clouds that day. Hopefully, we can see something.

It's passing right over us here in Western PA. But,.. as we are in western PA, all we will see is a darker shade of overcast.

Good luck for a sunny, er eh, moony day!

There’s a place on the south end of Cresson called the Motorsport Ranch that I’ve hears is fairly wide open and flat so you can watch without being shoulder to shoulder with a thousand of your new friends.

I’d call the Hood County Sheriff’s Office (Granbury, the county seat is just southwest of Cresson) and see what they recommend.

I'm in Kaufman County, just outside of Terrell, allegedly dead center for 4 minutes and 20 seconds of darkness.

I can't wait for the bullshit to be over with.
School and business closings, county and state alerts for traffic, fucking stay home.

I go to work at 11 and head east to Louisiana.
I don't need these tourists fucking up my work day..

Enjoy your stay, I hope it's cloudy with rain....

The further south and west from D/FW, the better. My sister lives in the Houston suburbs and reports the consensus down there is for everyone to all clog IH-45 and head north towards Dallas. The downside to being towards Cresson and US-281 is infrastructure. The roads are all small two lane highways. So while the views are more what you are looking for, traffic issues could be an issue due to capacity. Lake Granbury has several parks and could be your best bet.

Our city sponsored urban watch party is expecting several thousand attendees, complete with beer tents. It will be fun watching the detectives squeeze into their uniforms on Monday.

quote:

Originally posted by 1lowlife:

Enjoy your stay, I hope it's cloudy with rain....

Right now, it’s supposedly 30% chance of rain and cloudy. You know how it is here in the Spring. Constant high wind, clouds, and rain in March/April. I have the glasses from the last partial we got, that I was late to the dance and missed it, but did order the glasses after. But, while I want to see it myself, I hate hoopla, holidays, name it. Definitely buying groceries tonight to last me for a week and will be shut in this weekend and Monday as the dolts will all be migrating here for the big 4 minute 30 second deal.

Okay, weather aside, tell me about Cedar Hill State Park.

I’d rather be further out of town than closer in, but there were still day passes available, so I snagged one.

Do I need to go armed? I’m only suspicious because passes weren’t available at any of the other State Parks.

-Rob

quote:

1lowlife

Just chiming in to tell you. This bullshit has already started. I’m at my orthopedic surgeon’s office so just left the house. We have a park in my neighborhood and it’s chalked full of people with nothing better to do at 11am on a Thursday. One vehicle, a truck, had an enclosed trailer behind it. All these people were congregating together. A few people there, stay at mom’s with small children or strollers is usual. That man people at this time and that many cars is highly unusual. I am thankful I bought groceries in advance of this bullshit. Sucks for me too as I have to drive to near Frisco today out to my Discount Tire manager who I have followed from close to the house store to his new one. I bet traffic this weekend all day is going to be a mother fucker.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
We have a park in my neighborhood and it’s chalked full of people

You mean, like dead people outlines?

Y'all have fun!

@1lowlife
Im right on that line between Kaufman and Terrell.
We must be neighbors.

Is that your .308 I hear at night?

info email sent

Cresson is a small town, maybe a thousand citizens living there, it ain't Dallas. I would think walking anywhere in town would be good, maybe the crossroads.

Driving around today in my neck of the woods, there is zero increase in traffic, people on the streets, etc. Just a normal, quiet Friday. Next Monday, businesses will still be open, school in session. My front office window at home gets a southern exposure, I'll just step out on to the driveway every now and then to grab a glimpse.