Millions expected to travel to see total solar eclipse

CHICAGO — For many, the anticipation is building for Monday’s total solar eclipse.

Some people are packing up their cars and taking a road trip to somewhere in the path of totality.

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On Monday, a total solar eclipse will cross North America and pass over Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.

Millions of people are expected to travel to places in the path of totality, including spots like Carbondale, Illinois or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

While some air travelers on Sunday at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport said they’re flying away from the path of totality, others are heading toward it.

Lucy Pliscofsky and her family live about an hour from the Adirondacks in upstate New York.

It’s expected to be one of the best locations in New York state and the entire northeast to view the event.

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“I have a lot of friends going north to Lake Placid to go see it, I wish I could do that but I’ll be at home,” Pliscofsky said.

Pliscofsky and her parents were in Green Bay for her hockey tournament and came to Chicago before flying back east.

The 10th grader said many of the schools in their area have the day off, but hers gave students and faculty early dismissal to watch the eclipse.

“I think it’s exciting because especially in school science this is the stuff we’re learning about and while I’m young and we’ve got technology to see it, I think it’s better to actually see it,” Pliscofsky said.

Brno Napolitano is flying back to Portland, Maine. It’s not in the path of totality, but the state itself is expected to have some of the best weather in the country and major tourism numbers.

Napolitano said many people have been talking about it, but he personally doesn’t get the hype.

Still, the rare event is peaking the interest of millions across the nation.

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