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I don't remember where I was going that day, but I know where I'll be for the next total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Having never seen an eclipse in person, I started making plans as soon as Kevin alerted me to this event. e path of totality — the time when the moon travels between the sun and the earth and blocks the sunlight — will make landfall in Mazatlán, Mexico, and then move diagonally across North America. NASA says the top viewing spots will be Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Kerrville, Texas. Given these choices, I'm opting for Dallas, which will experience totality for 3 minutes and 45 seconds. at's 40 seconds less than Kerrville, but when I factored in access to creature comforts, it was an easy decision. Kevin and his crew ended up sleeping on an Oregon beach, so to avoid a similar fate, I made a recon excursion last month and did a bit of sleuthing. e Hall Arts Hotel in the Dallas Arts District easily won my heart and my April booking. e contemporary, light-filled property, which opened in 2019, boasts a stunning art collection, an impressive rooftop pool, and Napa-inspired Ellie's Restaurant & Lounge. Developers Craig and Kathryn Hall are the proprietors of California's award- winning Hall Wines and lifelong art collectors. e Dallas Arts District was formed in the 1970s when the City of Dallas made the decision to move its major arts institutions, which were then scattered across the city, into one neighborhood. Today, the 68-acre area includes performing arts venues, museums, sleek office towers, and urban parks, and is the largest contiguous arts district in the country. I love that contemporary buildings here are interspersed with greenbelts and impressive art installations. Even though I experienced triple-digit heat when I visited, this combo was surprisingly energizing. In addition to lodging, I checked out the best viewing options. Of course, the eclipse will be visible across the city, but I think it would be fun to watch with like-minded astronomy geeks. e Perot Museum of Nature and Science seemed like a good choice, and my recon revealed that there will be 20-30 astronomers at the museum that day providing play-by-play coverage of the magical experience. Tickets will be available online after January 1. e 66-acre Dallas Arboretum is also putting together a stellar event with experts coming from around the country, including astrophysicist and science educator Dr. Jeffrey Bennett and Patricia Tribe, former Director of Education at NASA's Space Center << SKYLINE: COURTESY OF HAUBERT JOSEPH, VISIT DALLAS detour destinations