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E-mail This StoryA gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is approaching $4 per gallon. The price of an airline ticket is going up, and now you have to pay extra to check your bags on some airlines. And the airlines are ready to cut capacity. Recent reports have told us that rental-car costs are rising.
These increasing costs are causing residents throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area to rethink, restructure, or otherwise abandon their vacation plans for the summer. Though employers likely won’t have the good fortune of having their employees skip their vacation time, many people will decide to see what there is to see in the immediate area.
A common joke among New Yorkers is that they’ve lived in New York all their lives but have never been to the Statue of Liberty, or the top of the Empire State Building. The concept of “stay-cations,” a recently coined buzz word to describe taking a vacation at home, can allow North Texas residents to see many of the historical sites, entertainment venues, and museums throughout the area.
A recent Star Community Newspapers Internet poll found that 69 percent of respondents would “not leave their backyards” this summer. Some 20 percent would travel within 100 miles, and 11 percent would go on their “dream vacation.”
But that 75 percent doesn’t need to stay tethered to its homes. The list on these pages show a multitude of opportunities. And the entire Star Community Newspapers news staff has talked to people in their cities to find out what they are going to do.
Here are their comments, by city:
THE COLONY
For The Colony resident Kathleen Doss, the cost of traveling is even impacting her ability to visit her newest grandchild.
“We were going to go to North Carolina to visit our youngest daughter, who just had a baby in January, but we just can’t afford it,” Doss said. The same trip earlier in the year cost $400 in gas roundtrip.
“We as the American people have gotten out of hand. We’ve been spoiled thinking we can just jump up and go wherever we want,” she said. “Now we have to make definite choices as to what we want to do.”
Doss and a group of her Red Hat Society friends are, however, planning a trip to Lake of the Pines in East Texas later next month, which is “two hours away. That’s as far as we’re going, and we’re all riding out together to save money for everybody.”
Aside, Doss speculated that not only are folks cutting back on vacation time but also on their entertainment budgets in general. She mentioned how going to a restaurant on a Friday night used to include a minimum of a 45-minute wait. But this past week, “the place was empty. I was shocked,” she said.
Doss believes people will be seeking out the cheapest options to pass the time this summer. “They’ll be looking for houses with swimming pools and doing more home things … or more things right in this area,” she said.
Another The Colony resident, Mary Sharp, also won’t be going anywhere this summer.
“Last year we were on a cruise,” she said. “This year we’re just staying at home and playing in the pool. We’re not doing much of anything.”
Her husband Don Sharp concurred.
“We’re probably just going to be staying here and have the grandkids over to swim, and enjoy the family,” he said, adding that they might consider getting season passes to Hawaiian Falls for their grandkids, too. “They do that several times during the summer,” he said.
Like Doss, the Sharps are concerned about how the economy and the cost of fuel are affecting not just vacation time but their day-to-day lives.
“You definitely think about it before you take a trip these days more than you used to. You have come up with ways to reduce the number of trips you make, taking care of several errands at once” whenever you can, Don Sharp said. He now rides his motorcycle to work from The Colony to Addison because it costs him only $15 per week in gas compared to $80 a week when he drives his truck. “Even though it’s hotter than blazes it’s worth it to me to try to cut some costs that way,” he said.
Pam Gibson of The Colony isn’t much of a fan of North Texas pastimes anyway, so she also doesn’t have any vacation plans. “It’s Texas. There’s nothing to do but eat or shop. I’m kind of a nature girl. I love the mountains. It’s too flat (around here),” she said, adding that when she can she’ll try to take in some live music around town or something similar.
Gibson and her mother run a mobile pet grooming business, so if resources are going to be spent at the fuel pump they’re going to be business related. She’s a lot more concerned about making sure she keep fuel in her van and generator for professional reasons than she is about spending money on leaving town for vacation. - BLAINE CRIMMINS
LITTLE ELM/OAK POINT
For Little Elm-area residents who are taking a stay-cation this year, local attractions beckon them to explore entertainment options closer to home to break out of summer routines.
Nature lovers do not have to leave Little Elm to enjoy the outdoors. The Cottonwood Trail is at the end of Lobo Lane. There hikers will find 1.5 miles of rustic woodchip trail. There are two trail heads. One is across the street from the Cottonwood Sports Complex. The other is at the end of Hardwicke Lane. At either starting point, hikers can enjoy the entire trail system that includes numerous access points to Lewisville Lake.
Cottonwood Creek Marina is open daily. It features picnic areas, docking areas, and a ships store. It has eight fuel pumps and pump-out stations. For information on the Cottonwood Trail and Cottonwood Creek Marina visit the Town of Little Elm Web site at ci.little-elm.tx.us.
For those interested in sailing and yachting, the Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club hosts regattas on Lewisville Lake. For information, visit www.cscsailing.org/index.html.
Another opportunity for a stay-cation is Oak Point Polo. In neighboring Oak Point, a group of polo clubs stage games and other activities on six polo fields. That Web site is www.oakpointpolo.com/.
For those who want to spend their vacation time making their corner of the world a better place, there are many volunteer opportunities in Little Elm.
Little Elm Public Library always needs volunteers for many activities. Call the library 214-975-0430.
The Little Elm Festival Association is in need of volunteers to help with the town’s parks and the various events the association plans and implements every year. For information on getting involved with the Festival Association, call 214-975-0406.
Little Elm resident Joe Cardinal is not planning to leave town for very long this summer. He may take a short motorcycle trip with his daughter, but he is not planning an extended trip. “I'll be staying home and relaxing or going to the mall or eating at all the restaurants in Little Elm,” he said.
Another favorite activity for Cardinal and his family will be riding around Little Elm looking for a house for his son, wife, and their 2-year-old son. Cardinal’s son Travis has just been discharged from the Air Force and is planning to settle down in Little Elm. - PENNY RATHBUN
FRISCO/PROSPER
Each summer Frisco resident Trey Troxel travels to destinations such as Colorado or Oklahoma to spend his vacation relaxing by riding horses n until this year.
Troxel decided to visit ranches closer to home, because with diesel near $5 per gallon, he can’t afford to go anywhere else.
“The cost of travelling is just too high,” he said. “The cost of everything is just too high.”
Troxel is not alone. The stay-cation is evident in and around Frisco, as families search for local fun family alternatives to the gas-guzzling road trip. Prosper Party Place is just north of Frisco’s border, but owner David Whiteman said that nearly 70 percent of his customers live in Frisco. His summer camp is booming, with a few weeks already maxed out at 20 campers.
“We didn’t run one ad anywhere, and we have more kids coming into camp this year than last year,” Whiteman said.
Last year, after much advertising, about seven children showed up to let loose their energy through giant bounce houses, rock climbing, and laser tag. This year about 15 campers attend each week. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and includes food and drink, all for $150 a week.
“I’m just amazed,” Whitehead said. “It’s not what I was expecting at all.”
He also said that several parents have specifically told him that they are forfeiting their summer travels for adventures near home, and that the children often enjoy the local activities just as much if not more than travelling.
Prosper resident Jennifer Sanchez’ children are experiencing summer fun at Prosper Party Place, and she also plans to bring them into Frisco for other events. Their North Texas excursions are a far cry from their normal trip n an annual vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The family of six had booked a hotel for this year’s trip, but accepted the cancellation fee when they realized that plane tickets were going to be more than $600 per person.
“We have to figure out what we’re doing at home now,” Sanchez said.
Frisco Chamber of Commerce President John Land said that his family is having a stay-cation this year. He and other local residents may give Frisco tourism and shopping destinations the boost they need in this sluggish economy.
“There are so many things to do in Frisco,” Land said. “If we went and traveled somewhere these are the same types of activities we’d be looking for.”
He also said that he expects retail sales and tourism revenues to hold steady, but that hotel occupancy could see a decline.
For those who decide to stay around town, but want to get out of their house, some local hotels are offering some sweet deals to help with that problem.
“The Sheraton Stonebriar and Homewood Suites offer great special rates on the weekend,” Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau Communications Manager Denise Stokes said. “You have to call to get the special rates.” - ANN MARIE SHAMBAUGH
COPPELL
Summer is the time for people to take a break from work and go visit loved ones. However, with the rising cost of fuel, many people who would jump at the chance to leave town are now thinking twice about hitting the road.
Jerry Sensabaugh of Coppell, said before gas prices went up, he never had to consider going to visit his brother who lives in Albuquerque, N.M. He would just jump in the car with his wife and drive to the airport. Once there, he would spend time with his brother and go visit the sites of Santa Fe, the mountains, or anything else they could see and experience.
Sensabaugh said he and his wife go see his brother once a year. The last time he left Coppell to go see him was last summer.
“I reconsidered [seeing my brother] several times,” Sensabaugh said.
However, Sensabaugh said he and his wife have to plan their budget more carefully to save for fuel pricing.
“It could get fairly expensive to run around and see the things you want to see,” Senabaugh said.
Sensabaugh has been a Coppell resident for 22 years and not only tries to conserve gas usage while going out of town but also tries to conserve where he lives and works. He is president of a visual production service where he drives a company truck. Sensabaugh said it is convenient for him, because he has a way to move all the equipment he works with on a regular basis. However, the truck goes through about $35 worth of gas per week. His personal car fares better at about $20 of gas per week.
To try to expand time between trips to the gas pump, Sensabaugh said he tries to consolidate his errands into fewer trips.
“I try to combine trips,” Sensabaugh said. “I try to do it all in one trip.”
He also said he tries to limit his trips as much as possible unless it’s necessary for him to be on the road.
“I try not to travel nearly as much,” Sensabaugh said.
The recent rise in gas prices will not stop him and his wife from taking a vacation, but it has made the planning progress longer than expected. - JESSE WILLIAMS
FLOWER MOUND
Flower Mound residents are trying to cut back on vacation expenditures, but some are going farther away
“We’re going to the new Schlitterbahn,” said Gina Contreras “Gas prices are high, but we just deal with it. There’s not a lot we can do.”
Said Sam Sasser: “We can’t do anything about [gas prices], and our congressmen aren’t willing to do anything.”
“We’re going to the beach,” Todd Anderson said. “When we got a great deal on plane tickets, we decided, ‘Let’s just fly!’ ”
Lori Norkett, on the other hand, isn’t quite sure what her family will do.
“We have an opportunity to go to Colorado, but we aren’t sure if we’re going yet,” she said. - CHRIS ROARK
LEWISVILLE
High gas prices are certainly affecting the travel plans of Lewisville residents.
“Gas prices certainly hurt, but what can you do?” Carrie Bush said. “We’ll probably hit the water park a few times.”
Charlie Lopez is flying to Colorado to look for property. “Gas prices have a lot to do with that,” he said.
Kathy Litherland said, “We were thinking about going ‘RVing’ but there’s no way.”
“We’re only traveling because we absolutely have to,” Lisa Dutton said. - DAN EAKIN
CARROLLTON
Carrollton residents are cutting back on their vacations, though some are still traveling.
“We went on a three-week cruise a month ago,” said Dale Graham, Carrollton resident. “That was it for us this year.”
Graham said he plans to spend his summer at senior centers in Carrollton and Lewisville playing pool and pinochle.
“I don’t really go anywhere,” said Charles Carter, Carrollton resident. “I ain’t got no money.”
Carter said he plans to spend his summer playing pool at the Carrollton Senior Center and fishing.
“We went to Chicago in May to visit our children,” said Salim Sajan, Carrollton resident. “Air travel is very expensive.”
His wife, Hameeda, said they may go to Houston in August for their daughter’s graduation, but plan to spend the summer “coming to the senior center, going to the library, playing with our granddaughter, learning basket weaving, and going out to lunch sometimes.” - SENITRA HORBROOK
PLANO
High gas prices not only affect the local traveler getting to and from work. Families are seeing that summer vacation and travel plans are also being negatively affected.
Some families are opting to stay at home and utilizing local attractions instead of going away on vacation. The idea of having a “stay-cation” is a notion that is becoming increasingly frequent due to the high gas prices.
Plano resident Janet Jenkins has regretfully cancelled her family’s vacation to Colorado because it would “cost a fortune” to visit the out-of-state relatives this summer.
“We will probably stay locally, in regards to doing something exciting over the summer break,” Jenkins said. “We could spend more time at the country club or in the neighborhood pool rather than spending so much money on transportation to go somewhere.”
Jenkins said that she will probably use the extra vacation money and invest it back into her work expenditures.
“It stinks, but as a realtor, I am constantly driving people to see houses,” Jenkins said. “I’m spending twice as much to fill up my gas tank now!”
Former City Council member Shep Stahel has had to re-arrange many of his summer vacation plans.
In any case, Stahel plans to spend time with his grandchildren either at the family cottage on Lake Bonham or at home in Plano.
But one thing made clear, Stahel is “going to drive much less, that’s for sure!”
Stahel has “recruited” his teen-age grandsons to help him repaint the barn and re-fence the pasture on and around his property.
“It won’t be much of a vacation, but it’s a good chance to spend some time with them,” Stahel said. - KIM NGUYEN
McKINNEY
Vacations are becoming a rarity these days.
“We’re not taking one because gas is so high,” said McKinney mother Pam Copeland.
Families have to squeeze their budgets due to rising gas and food prices and vacations just add to the problem.
“We bought a camper at Christmas time so we could do camping close by,” mother Melanie Murphy of Allen said. “We can’t afford it.”
Some families can’t even take short weekend trips out of town to other states.
“We have gone to Florida in the past,” mother Tasha Alderson of McKinney said. “We won’t this year. We don’t have the money.”
Luckily, if you’re stuck in McKinney this summer, there are plenty of things to do right in your own backyard that won’t stretch your dollar to its limits.
McKinney Chamber of Commerce president Terri Ricketts said McKinney has a variety of activities for kids and families that you don’t even have to drive to Arlington or Fort Worth to enjoy.
“What we don’t have is white water rafting or mountains to climb that are cool, but most of the popular tourism activities that you can do in other places can be done here,” Ricketts said.
Many of McKinney’s public pools have big water park slides and fountain to help the kids cool off and have fun during the hottest points of the summer.
“Our water parks aren’t like Wet n’ Wild, but they have water features,” Ricketts said. “They have those fountain things and things for kids to play in.”
Many local businesses such as the Little Gym, the Zone, and Frozen Ropes offer activities for kids of all ages in an indoor, air conditioned environment that allow them to play without getting heat exhaustion.
Downtown still has plenty of unique shops for parents to peruse, Ricketts said.
“The downtown area is still not too hot to walk around,” Ricketts said.
Ricketts said McKinney also has a number of pristine, beautiful parks that give families space to do everything from picnics to fishing.
“At Towne Lake, you can enjoy the paddle boats,” Ricketts said, “and it’s still very pleasant to ride bikes in the early morning and evening.”
The Heard Natural Science Center and Wildlife Sanctuary also gives families a place to enjoy the great outdoors with nature trails and museum exhibits that will grab the kids’ attention such as their newest “Rat Snakes to Rattlers” exhibit.
Ray Ricchi, executive vice president and general manager of the Ballfields at Craig Ranch, said they also offer baseball games all week long that won’t cost the price of a Major League Baseball game package.
“You’ll save about $200,” Ricchi said. “We have free parking, you’re five minutes away and tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for seniors and kids.”
The Ballfields feature games in the Texas Collegiate League, home to McKinney Marshals, and starting this year in the Continental Baseball League, home to the McKinney Blue Thunder.
Ricchi said families not only get a good game, but also a wide variety of ballpark food with special deals throughout the week.
“It’s just great old fashioned baseball and it’s a big family draw,” Ricchi said. “On any given night, there’s a free popcorn night and a free cotton candy night. Wednesday is $1 tickets, and dollar hot dogs.”
Ricketts said families may not be able to take the big trip to Walt Disney World or Universal Studios like they used to every summer, but the most important part is that they get to spend that time together no matter where they are.
“Taking time off together makes the holiday,” Ricketts said. - DANNY GALLAGHER
ALLEN
Susan Chambers said though her family normally does not take vacations during summer, they planned on taking a vacation this year because her son will be going to college this fall.
However, there were several factors that influenced the family to decide against leaving Allen for a vacation.
“A lot of it is due to the gas prices and the airline prices going up so much,” Chambers said.
She also said because her son has so many baseball tournaments out of town, the family often travels with him n and by the time his season is over the summer is over.
Though they are not going to take a family vacation, she said they plan on attending the Allen USA celebration and several baseball tournaments in which their son will be participating.
Missy Trees, an Allen resident, said her family has so many activities for their children over the summer that it is difficult to schedule family vacations.
“We did a cruise about two years ago, and … we want to do that again. A family vacation would be great,” Trees said. “I would say family activities have been the biggest reason why we don’t do the week-long thing.”
Among the things they do on a regular basis include Girl Scout events, visiting the pools at Twin Creeks, playing sand volleyball, going to the movies, and baseball and volleyball tournaments.
She said gas money is also a problem, as four people in the Trees household are able to drive. Because they have so many people driving, Trees said the money used for gas takes some money they would be able to use for vacations.
“Although Allen is kind of small, and we used to just come and go as we needed to n now we’re calling up friends and car-pooling,” she said. “We’re very conscientious of how we’re driving around.”
This time of year, Allen residents John and Beth Bistransin and their daughters Katie, 16, Stephanie, 13, and Christa, 15, would already be planning their Galveston vacation. Most summers for the family are spent with family near the Houston/Galveston area.
Beth said this year will be different. Her youngest daughter, Stephanie, will be competing for a national dance title.
Although gas prices won’t play a big part in the Bistransins’ summer plans, paid vacation time from work will.
Beth works as a CVS pharmacist in Richardson and one week of her paid vacation will be spent in Branson, Mo. in support of her daughter.
“Then my last week of vacation I usually split up,” she said. “I will stay in town so I can be at the Friday night football games because my daughter is an officer on the drill team.”
Beth said her three teen-aged daughters aren’t necessarily thrilled about staying around Allen for the summer but she said they’ll spend time poolside at home and hanging out with friends. - JON VANDERLAAN and LIZ MCGATHEY
CELINA
Before this year, Bobby and Cathy Apple of Celina often traveled throughout the United States on vacation, but with the price of gas more than $4 a gallon they have decided to take a stay-cation and remain closer to home.
“We are going to our ranch in Montague County about 90 miles away,” Apple said. “We’re limited to driving 100 miles.”
They plan several things along the way to the ranch.
“We are going to visit antique stores and eat along the way,” he said. “There is good German food in Muenster.”
We’ll sit on the porch at the ranch house, fish, and drive a four-wheeler.” Apple said. “It will basically be on the quiet side where we spend time together and talk about the past and plan for the future.”
Newly elected Celina City Council member Todd McCally and his wife, Ali, will venture a little farther.
“They only thing I have planned is to visit my sister-in-law and her family in Houston,” McCally said. “We are planning to visit a live butterfly exhibit,” he said. “I have never seen it before and it should be fun.”
In the past the McCallys traveled to Florida for the summer.
“Every summer we use to go somewhere outside of Texas, usually to a beach,” McCally said. “In fact, for eight years in a row we went to Florida. This year we will be driving a hybrid down to Houston.” - JIM KILPATRICK
MESQUITE
Mesquite has an abundance of things to do for the stay-at-home vacationer. They include:
*Mesquite Golf Course: The course is a 154-Acre 18-hole public golf course owned by the city of Mesquite. In 1999-2000 the City of Mesquite and Partnership spent $1.5 million on renovations to the Clubhouse/Pro-shop, and on course improvements to tees, fairways, greens, the irrigation system and cart paths.
Fees are $27 for the riding option Monday to Thursday, $32 on Fridays and $36 for weekends and holidays. Discounts are available for seniors, juniors and twilight play.
*Picnic at City Lake Park: Located at 403 S. Galloway, City Lake Park is an 11.80-acre site with a half-mile trail around a four-acre lake. There are 17 picnic tables including a covered picnic shelter. The park also includes a lighted tennis court, a lighted little league baseball field as well as Lakeside Activity Center. City Lake Aquatic Center is located across the street.
*Concerts in the Park: The Mesquite Symphonic Band, under the direction of Dale Coates, will perform a patriotic tribute June 30 at Westlake Park, 700 Gross Road in Mesquite. The concert begins at 7:15 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the band’s sheet music fund.
For more information on “Music in the Park”, or on becoming a sponsor of the Mesquite Symphonic Band, please call 972-216-8125, or visit www.MesquiteSymphonicBand.org.
*Amusements: Celebration Station features indoor and outdoor fun for the whole family. Attractions include an arcade, batting cages, a go-kart track, laser tag, three 18-hole Miniature Golf courses, a 10,000-square-foot paintball arena, a rock climbing wall and rides for the kiddies. The park is open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 10 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 11 p.m. Sundays. It is located at 4040 Towne Crossing Blvd. in Mesquite, at the southwest corner of Interstates 30 and 635. Admission is free, but prices vary according to activity.
*Incredible Pizza is Mesquite’s newest family entertainment center. The indoor amusement park features a miniature golf course, bowling, go-karts, bumper cars, video games and a pizza and pasta buffet. Admission, which includes the buffet is $7.99 for adults, $5.99 for children 4-12 and $4.99 for seniors. Children under three are free. Other prices vary according to activity. The entertainment center is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. - LYNN PROCTOR WINDLE
