We were in the very center of the path of totality and it was amazing. Really, I had thought it was being overblown....but it was really an extremely cool experience. We would go out and look every 15 to 20 minutes, watching the moon take a bigger and bigger bite out of the sun. It was amazing how so little of the sun kept the light bright and the heat hot. Finally, at about 90% it had become noticeably cooler and the light took on this odd look...the colors just different, more saturated. Watching as the sun slowly disappeared altogether, then removing the glasses to see the amazing sight of the corona only visible around the moon - just so cool. It looked just like the photos, like a hole in the sky. You could clearly see Venus, a planet you can almost never see. It was not as dark as I expected, though I have had friends who were in rural areas say it was like night there. The street lights and light pollution where I was made it more like late twilight. The cicadas and crickets took up their calling and it was as cool as it is at night. After two minutes plus, the "diamond ring" effect began, the glasses went back on, and it the reverse occurred.
I thought the whole thing was being exaggerated - but it was so cool I may have to drive a few hours southeast to see the next one.