(Host) There have been plenty of hot, sunny days this summer, just the kind of days meant to be spent at a state park or a beach.
And that’s where many of us have gone to escape the heat.
As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, daytime attendance at campgrounds and beaches is up more than 50 percent.
(Keck) Craig Whipple, director of Vermont State Parks, says it’s been a very good year.
(Whipple) "Day use activity – which is going to the beach and picnicking and day activities – is up 53 percent. Camping is up almost 2 percent. So you combine those together and total park attendance is up 26 percent."
(Keck) Whipple says the weather has been a big plus- but the economy factors in, too.
With gas prices and airline tickets costing more, recent public opinion surveys indicate many people are forgoing their summer vacations. For those who do plan to travel, many say they’ll spend less and stay closer to home.
Ted Austin, director of New Hampshire’s parks and recreation department, says camping is proving to be a cost effective alternative. And they’ve seen attendance jump between 4 and 6 percent this year.
(Austin) "For the same fun, people are seeking, we think, activities that don’t cost as much. We have people coming to our parks instead of making the trip to the Grand Canyon, which is a much more significant sort of commitment of resources. So right now, while we’re seeing plenty of in-state, we’ve got plenty of out-of-state visitors. It all just bodes well for parks being a great value."
(Keck) It’s also a good value for the states. Craig Whipple says the 730,000 people who visit Vermont’s parks every year, generate about $60 million of revenue.
For VPR News, I’m Nina Keck.