Cedar Rapids Weather
Dubuque Benefits from 'Staycations'By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter
DUBUQUE - Record prices at the pump are keeping travelers close to home. The trend has even created a new phrase. They are called staycations. It's when vacationers visit local attractions instead of traveling across country to enjoy time off.
Whatever they can see, whatever they can do that they've never done before, the Carey family is here to do. 8-year-old Joey Carey said, "We are here for a few days we're just here for vacation, six days, five nights." They're spending almost a whole week, just a few hours from home. Joe Carey said, "We probably would have gone further but the prices were too steep to keep going too far." Because Dubuque sits in the middle of many major metropolitan areas, like Milwaukee, Chicago, Saint Louis, Omaha, the Twin Cities, a lot people are meeting in the middle for their staycations. Tourist Dom Lipka said, "we've just been visiting old friends we've known for years and years and decided to stay in the area because it is very expensive to travel." On this Monday afternoon attendance at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium is almost double what it was last year at this time. Dozens of these visitors are from Dubuque. Museum Marketing Director John Sutter said, "a lot more members came in this summer and a lot more memberships were purchased this summer and I think it has to do with people wanting to stay closer to home." On a staycation drivers don't have to fill up as often, and they are not watching that painful price pile up. Lipka said, "It’s about quality time. It's more about spending time with the family interacting, no matter where you're at." And isn't that what it’s really all about? Whether it’s a vacation or, a staycation. It can be good idea to check for deals at your nearby chamber of commerce. A lot of cities offer discounts to local people who want to visit tourist attractions. More Good Stuff |
What's On KCRG
Most Popular >> |
Conversation Guidelines
Be Kind
Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.
Share Knowledge
Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.
Stay focused
Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.
Report Trouble
Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.
read the full guidelines here »
Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.
Most Popular >>