This may sound like an obscure term, but with gas prices continuing to rise with no hopes of coming down, staycation is becoming part of everyday language for more and more people making summer travel plans.
According to a recent survey conducted by the travel Web site TripAdvisor, an estimated 50 percent of American travelers are changing their summer travel plans and looking for more local, cost-effective ways to spend the summer months.
Staycations can have many advantages compared to distant vacation hot spots. You obviously save on gas and road miles on your vehicle.
In most cases, the level of stress is reduced; travelers don’t have to worry about packing appropriate clothing or forgetting that favorite outfit for a night out on the town.
“Customers are definitely coming in a little more conscious about finding the best rates for airplane tickets and other travel plans,” said travel agent Katie Bodden with Travel, Travel of Auburn. “I’ve gotten a few questions about things to do that are a little closer to the Auburn area. But, everybody realizes that the gas prices aren’t going to get any lower anytime soon.”
Creativity is key when it comes to planning the ultimate staycation. The more creative staycation planners are, the more fun and exciting their summer “trips” can be.
Retailers are becoming more conscious of customers staying closer to home this summer and are making efforts to accommodate student and family staycation plans.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. initiated a summer advertising campaign featuring reduced prices on outdoor items such as grills, tents, pool toys and patio furniture, to help create the best staycation experience possible.
“I haven’t heard of staycations before now, I don’t drive as much because of high gas prices, and I take the Tiger Transit to class a lot,” said Janie Huddleston, a sophomore in animal science pre-vet. “As far as traveling, I really do enjoy it, and it’s a bummer that I don’t get to drive as much.”
Looking for local summer fun? The Auburn and Montgomery areas have some great staycation opportunities.
For the outdoor enthusiast, visit the 696 scenic acres of Chewacla State Park, located on Shell Toomer Parkway 4 miles south of Auburn.
Chewacla offers 36 camp sites with great facilities and picnic areas, eight hiking trails and a challenging mountain bike trail.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. visitors can rent canoes and pedal boats for a reasonable price or enjoy a lake-front beach area for swimming and working on that summer tan.
Park admission is $2 for adults during the week and $3 on the weekends and open from 7 a.m. until sundown.
If the sun isn’t for you, take a short drive down to Montgomery for some great shopping and tasty restaurants at the East Chase Shopping Center located off I-85 South on exit 9.
After a day of shopping, visitors can curb their appetites at restaurants including Bonefish Grill, Zoë’s Kitchen and La Jolla.
Montgomery has more to offer than just shopping.
Another staycation hot spot worth a visit is the Alabama Shakespeare Festival boasting the sixth largest Shakespeare festival in the world and attracting more than 300,000 annual visitors.
Upcoming summer plays include The Beaux’ Stratagem and West Side Story.
Box-office hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and until 9:00 p.m. on performance evenings and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on performance Sundays.
Tickets are $19 for adults and $17 for patrons under 25.
“I think Auburn is a great staycation location, because all of my friends are here, so it makes it a lot of fun,” said Amy Barton, a sophomore in public relations.
Students spending summer in Auburn feeling the confinement of high gas prices or the stress of busy class schedules can still find summer fun at an affordable price and with little travel time.
Staycations can be just as much fun as those week-long beach vacations if imagination, creativity and an open mind are used.
