When we had a total eclipse down in the west country in 1999 we were able to buy cheap cardboard sunglasses with dark plastic "lenses" for looking at the sun. We took our caravan down to Cornwall to see it and had an unforgettable view. It was especially sweet as we had to accept our second choice of site and as it turned out our first choice was obscured by clouds and people saw nothing
That is the risk with eclipses; clouds, poor weather, etc. Many travelled to the best spots in Australia last year and some copped clouds.
We don't get to see it here, nonetheless the Great American Eclipse and the path of totality will be gobsmacking news.
I will be watching Space Weather News, that will give an idea of the state of the Sun, coronal holes, sunspots and CME's before, during, and after.
Great American Eclipse: https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/
and Astronomy.com: http://www.astronomy.com/great-american-eclipse-2017
and ANOTHER site: http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/american.htm
and NASA