Travelers Stay Closer to Home This Summer

by Abigail Knowles Wolfe (BPRW)

Have you ever noticed that you only check out the sites of your own city or town when guests are in town? For those of us living in Miami or Chicago or New York City or Los Angeles we may only head out to admire the attractions that put our home towns on the map when visitors are in town. We suddenly have the desire to show off what makes us special, to display our skyscrapers or beaches or celebrity hang outs as if we frequent them on a daily basis. The truth remains that we are often so caught up in our own lives, our work, family, church and friend groups, that we tend to stick to the same routines day in and day out.

This year may be the time to explore those places of local lore however. With a weak dollar and consistently rising gas prices it appears that Americans will be sticking closer to home this summer, putting off those exotic foreign trips for the more convenient and less costly domestic ones. Nevertheless, in a nation as vast and diverse as the United States there are all kinds of adventures to be had. From the Grand Canyon to Niagara Falls and everywhere in between there are sure to be some fascinating places right here in our own backyards that many Americans have yet to explore.

Even people with only a few days of vacation time available to them can take advantage of local hotels or resorts and their facilities. Some of these fine establishments will allow local people and tourists alike the use of their pools, spas and beaches for the day at very affordable prices not otherwise offered. National Parks also offer a plethora of outdoor activities for the whole family including options like kayaking and biking for the more active and bird watching and nature walks for the less active. Making the most of what we have helps everyone enjoy the summertime while not breaking the bank.