The solar eclipse of 2024 has been on my radar since August of 2017 when I drove to Nashville, TN with my son to be in the Path of Totality. Originally, for this most recent solar eclipse, the plan was for me to drive to Erie, PA on a solo road trip, However, my sister asked to join and of course, I jumped on her coming with me! After seven years of waiting and Mother Nature being the beast that she is, Erie, PA was supposed to be cloudy. Really???? After pouring over the weather radars, I asked my sister if she wanted to go Solar Eclipse Chasing with me. She said “Let’s go! This is your trip, I’m just along for the ride.” Cleveland, OH, here we come!
Without stops, we had already driven five and a half hours to Erie, PA. The next day, we drove another one hour and 45 minutes to Cleveland, OH. As we got closer to downtown Cleveland, we spotted a Marina. It met our needs. Open area. (Really, we could have stopped in the parking lot of Burger King to see it, but we wanted something a little more aesthetically pleasing.) It had restrooms. (Hey! We’re not 20-somethings that haven’t had children yet. IYKYK!) It had tables and chairs and a kitchen area if you wanted snacks. Although, as we were in front of it, I hope they weren’t expecting a lot of business. Unfortunately, not many, if any, went to that window. I was too excited to even eat the snacks we brought!
We got there three hours before the total eclipse happened. It started out with not a cloud in the sky. Then a light cloud cover came in. But, I’d say our Solar Eclipse Chasing adventure was a success! The Marina on 55th Street was the absolute best we could have hoped for. There was a crowd, but not too crowded. It was an open space on Lake Erie. Much different than my experience in 2017 at Lebanon National State Park just outside of Nashville. I drove 13 hours to see that one, and this one was closer. Of course, I was road-tripping again!
When we got into the parking lot, we started chatting with a few others who were there for the eclipse. I was glad my sister suggested we leave earlier! We were talking to others as they walked past our table. It was such a great vibe. You could feel the excitement in the air. This was a Once in a Lifetime event for most people. It was a Twice in a Lifetime event for me! It was also a Twice in a Lifetime event for my sister because of the Total Solar Eclipse that came up the East Coast in 1970. But she was only eight or nine at the time and children don’t appreciate things like that as they do as an adult.
Another exciting thing to happen, I was interviewed by their local News Station, News 5 Cleveland. (Click the link to see the interview!) Can I tell you, that was a definite highlight of the trip! Since my Psoriatic Arthritis diagnosis, and as I am getting my quality of life back, I’m determined to live my best life! And if that includes doing small interview clips, that just makes my day even better!
The last time Cleveland OH found themselves in the Path of Totality was 1806, so this was a great day and you could feel it. Cleveland will experience another eclipse in 2099. But not a total as it will cut through more to the center of OH. Cleveland’s next Total Solar Eclipse will be… Wait for it… 2444! So, for those who want to see it again, Cryostasis is the way to go!
There is a Total Solar Eclipse that will go through Western Iceland on August 12, 2026. I don’t know y’all. Iceland is on my bucket list. I’m just sayin! Should I go Solar Eclipse Chasing again and make it a Thrice in a Lifetime event?
I love anything that has to do with the moon. The energy it puts out. The control it has over, not only our whole planet but also our minds, bodies, and spirits. It’s a powerful tool to refresh and renew your soul.
Here are a few of my favorite moon quotes:
– “I will never be a morning person, for the moon and I are much too in love.” — Christopher Poindexter
– “The sun watches what I do, but the moon knows all my secrets.” — M. Wonderland
– “Stay wild, moon child.” — Riitta Klint
– “There was a reason that she was so romantic about the Moon. It never asked her questions or begged for the answers nor did she ever have to prove herself to it. It was always just there—breathing, shining, and in ways most humans can’t understand: listening.” — Christopher Poindexter (As a single empty nester, I feel this quote in my soul)
We stayed at the Days Inn Wyndham in Erie, PA, right off the I-90 exit. I booked my hotel last May when prices were still low. Only paying $180ish for the two nights. I looked at the prices closer to the eclipse and I was glad I booked early! They were running $900 – $1,6000 per night. Not just at Days Inn, but a variation of all the hotels in the area. I found that insane, and personally disgusting. But, it’s nothing new. Even when I went to Vermont when my son graduated college a few years ago, the prices skyrocketed. But that’s all on Corporate Greed. No fault to the workers, so don’t attack them!
I admit, I was a little worried about the hotel when I actually looked at the reviews. But I talked to Michele at the front desk and got some answers. The hotel wasn’t bad overall. Nothing too unexpected when staying at a hotel. You could tell they did some upgrades. Getting rid of the carpeted floors (in some of the rooms, maybe not all. Not 100% sure there) and painting was obviously done. They were recently purchased by Days Inn, previously Econo Choice, so they have approximately one and a half years to bring it up to the Days Inn standards. If you stop here, be understanding! But again, it really wasn’t bad.
The gym is out of service until things are brought up to standards. As it is an older building, if you are disabled, there are no elevators. They are grandfathered in and are not required to put them in. So, if you book a room, make sure to include in the notes that you need a first floor. Thankfully they still had some first-floor rooms when I got there. If you have any concerns or problems, don’t hesitate to speak with the front desk. They are very receptive. I’m not one to scream issues out to them in a room full of guests. The only thing you can do is be respectful and speak to them and make them aware of any issues.
I was pleasantly surprised by the hot breakfast because I thought it was only going to be a continental breakfast. They had fried eggs, bacon, egg bites, bacon, muffins, yogurt, and more. I made myself a sausage and egg muffin sandwich each morning and had the egg bites. Sliced cheese would have been nice for the sandwich, but I understand why they don’t have it lol. That’s just a personal preference on my part. The flavoring was very nice though!
Please note this is not a sponsored post for Days Inn. Just a review by someone who is getting back into traveling and wants to share my experiences. With that said, I am open to working with hotels in HONEST reviews. Reach out to me!
Where were you during the April 2024 Solar Eclipse going through the United States? Were you able to go out and enjoy the partial eclipse or total eclipse? Share on my Facebook page, or comment below!
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Vintage Roots and Hippie Wings 