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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 to check extra bags on some airlines. The airlines are ready to cut capacity. And recent reports have told us rental-car costs are rising.
These increasing costs are causing residents throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area to rethink, restructure or abandon vacation plans for the summer. Though employers likely won’t have their employees skip 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 buzzword to describe taking a vacation at home, can allow North Texas residents to see many of the historical sites, entertainment venues and museums in 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 their homes. The list on these pages gives different opportunities. The entire Star Community Newspapers news staff has talked to people to find out what they are going to do.
Here are their comments, listed by city:
PLANO
High gas prices not only affect the local traveler getting to and from work. Families are seeing summer vacation and travel plans are also being negatively affected.
Some families are opting to stay at home and are 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 canceled her family’s vacation to Colorado because it would “cost a fortune” to visit 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 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.
Stahel plans to spend time with his grandchildren either at the family cottage on Lake Bonham or at home in Plano.
But Stahel made one thing clear: he is “going to drive much less, that’s for sure!”
Stahel has “recruited” his teenage 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
FRISCO
Each summer, Frisco resident Trey Troxel travels to destinations like 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 said he can’t afford to go anywhere else.
“The cost of traveling is just too high,” he said. “The cost of everything is just too high.”
Troxel is not alone. The stay-cation is cropping up 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 nearly 70 percent of his customers live in Frisco. His summer camp is booming, with a few weeks already fully enrolled with 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 their energy loose through giant bounce houses, rock climbing, and laser tag. This year about 15 campers will attend each week. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and includes food and drink 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 they are forfeiting their summer travels for adventures near home, and the children often enjoy the local activities just as much as travelling.
Prosper resident Jennifer Sanchez’ children are having summer fun at Prosper Party Place, and she said she also plans to bring them to Frisco for other events. Their North Texas excursions are a far cry from their normal trip n an annual vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The family of six had booked a hotel for this year’s trip but accepted the cancellation fee when they realized 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.
John Land, Frisco Chamber of Commerce president, said his family is having a stay-cation this year. He and other residents might give Frisco tourism and shopping destinations the boost they need in the 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 he expects retail sales and tourism site revenues to remain steady, but hotel occupancy could see a decline.
For those who decide to stay around town but want to get out of the house, some local hotels are offering deals to help.
“The Sheraton Stonebriar and Homewood Suites offer great special rates on the weekend,” said Denise Stokes, Frisco convention and visitors bureau spokeswoman said. “You have to call to get the special rates.”
--ANN MARIE SHAMBAUGH
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,” 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,” Tasha Alderson, of McKinney, said. “We won’t this year. We don’t have the money.”
If you’re stuck in McKinney this summer, there are plenty of things to do 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 children and families that you can enjoy without driving to Arlington or Fort Worth.
“What we don’t have is white water rafting or mountains to climb that are cool, but most of the popular tourism activities you can do in other places can be done here,” Ricketts said.
Many of McKinney’s public pools have water park-style slides and fountains to help children cool off and have fun during the hottest parts 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 children 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, too, Ricketts said.
“The downtown area is still not too hot to walk around,” Ricketts said.
Ricketts said McKinney also has a number of pristine parks that give families space to do many activities together, such as fishing or having a picnic.
“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 outdoors with nature trails and museum exhibits that grab children’s 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 will cost less than 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 variety of ballpark food with special deals during 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 might 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 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 doesn't normally take a vacation during summer, they planned on taking one this year because her son will be going to college this fall.
However, there were several factors that made the family decide against leaving Allen for 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, and by the time his season is over, the summer is over.
Though they are not going to take a fvacation, she said they plan to attend the Allen USA Celebration and several baseball tournaments in which their son will be playing.
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 you know, we want to do that again. A family vacation would be great,” Trees said. “I would say family activities has been the biggest reason why we don’t do the week-long thing.”
Among the things they do on a regular basis are girl scout events, visiting the pools at Twin Creeks, playing sand volleyball, going to the movies and playing in baseball and volleyball tournaments.
She said gas money is also a problem because four people in the Trees household can drive. Because they have so many people driving, Trees said the gas money takes away money they would use for vacation.
“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.”
Normally 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, 13, 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., supporting 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
LITTLE ELM/OAK POINT
Little Elm resident Joe Cardinal is not planning to leave town for very long this summer. He might 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 summer 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.
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, where hikers will find 1.5 miles of rustic wood chip trail. There are two trail heads: one is across the street from the Cottonwood Sports Complex and 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, where a group of polo clubs stage games and other activities on six polo fields. For more information, visit 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. Call the library 214-975-0430.
The Little Elm Festival Association needs volunteers to help with the town’s parks and events the association plans every year. For information on getting involved with the festival association, call 214-975-0406.
--PENNY RATHBUN
THE COLONY
For The Colony resident Kathleen Doss, the cost of traveling is 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 round trip.
“We, 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 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,” she said.
Doss speculated that not only are folks cutting back on vacation time but also on entertainment budgets in general. She mentioned 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 said she thinks people will be seeking the cheapest options to pass 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 said they might consider getting season passes to Hawaiian Falls for their grandkids, or just stay home.
“We’re probably just going to be staying here and have the grandkids over to swim, and enjoy the family,” he said. “They do that [go to Hawaiian Falls] several times during the summer.”
Like Doss, the Sharps are concerned about how the economy and the cost of fuel are affecting not just vacation time but also 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, 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.
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 more concerned about making sure she keeps fuel in her van and a generator for professional reasons than she is about spending money leaving town on vacation.
--BLAINE CRIMMINS
CELINA
Before this year, Bobby and Cathy Apple, of Celina often traveled the United States on vacation, but with the price of gas at 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 have planned 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 used 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
COPPELL
Summer is the time for some people to take a break from work and 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. He would spend time with his brother and visit the sites of Santa Fe, the mountains and anything else they could.
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 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 use while 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 expand time between trips to the gas pump, Sensabaugh said he tries to consolidate his errands.
“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.”
Sam Sasser said, “We can’t do anything about [gas prices], and our congressmen aren’t willing to do anything.”
Todd Anderson said he is going to the beach. “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
MESQUITE
Mesquite has many things for the stay-at-home vacationer to do, including:
*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 and pro shop, and on course improvements to tees, fairways, greens, irrigation system and cart paths.
Fees are $27 on Monday through 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 and proceeds benefit 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 children. The park is open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through 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: 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 fro m11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
--LYNN PROCTOR WINDLE
