On Sunday, I’ll be packing up the family and joining others to go eclipse chasing in South Carolina. Our plan is less than fully fleshed out, is possibly harebrained, and might end in heinous asphalt gridlock staring up at the sky from the side of the road. But that’s fine, as long as we make it to the path of totality — the 70-mile-wide shadow the eclipse will cast America, from Oregon to South Carolina.

If there are so many people on the road that we never even make it to the PoT, I’m sure I’ll be wishing I stayed in Richmond and went to Brown’s Island (pictured on home page) instead. Why? Because Richmond National Battlefield Park, The American Civil War Museum, the James River Park System and Venture Richmond are teaming up to host a solar eclipse viewing party there on Monday from 1-4 p.m. The event is free and open to anyone and the first 600 people there get NASA-approved eclipse viewing glasses. There will also be junior ranger eclipse booklets and badges for 200 kids between ages of 5 and 14.

Sure, Richmond (at about 2:44 p.m.) will only witness 86% of the total eclipse we’ll (hopefully) see in S.C., but that’s still pretty cool. One well worth the trip to Brown’s Island to take in with hundreds of other like-minded solar gawkers.