First, if you're going to travel to see it, book now. Places along the path are filling fast. We're going to go to the southern part of Texas where the chances of cloud cover are less than places to the north, and several places we contacted were booked and another said they only had a few left.
Second, we learned from the last eclipse that the best views at totality are either naked eye or with binoculars. Filters aren't needed at that point. I brought all my artillery including the binos, the 8-inch
Third, solar filters are good to have for for scopes and binos for times before and after totality, and are easy to make from the Baader solar film. And the cardboard solar glasses are OK for eyeballing before and after totality.
Fourth, the time of totality goes fast. By the time everyone in my family had a look through the one pair of binos I brought, it was over, and each of us only got a very short time. So my advice is for each person to have his or her own binos.
Fifth, if there is any way you can get to see it, do it. After the last one I fully understand those folks who will travel the globe to see every one they can. It's a phenomenon you just can't imagine until you experience it yourself in person. Watching it on a screen just doesn't do it.