Summer Vacations

Looks like the economy is going to have a severe impact on this years summer vacation season.

Already we’ve seen a drop in the attendance of people to such iconic summer vacation Mecca’s as Disney World in Orlando Florida, and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. This is a trend that is going to continue as the rough economy continues. I think we’re seeing a long-term depression, similar to what we saw in the thirties. There is not going to be a quick fix for this and we can expect this present economy troubles to continue for perhaps five years or more. So my advice is to do what everyone else is doing and break out the tent and camp stove for some good old-fashioned family adventures outdoors. There are plenty of places in your immediate neighborhood to go camping, no matter where you live in the U.S. and they are just begging for you to discover them. Look on the maps, visit the National Forest Service website or the National Park System site and see for yourself. We have an incredible system of campgrounds, National Forests and National Parks in this country and I’ve always felt they were under utilized by the very public that owns and funds them. We need to love our wild spaces and use them wisely so let’s do it! If you can’t afford to go to Magic Mountain or Disneyland, then hit the road and visit your nearest local campground, build a fire, tells some stories around the campfire. Get a license and go fishing with your kids or spend a quite afternoon fly-fishing by yourself. If a National Park is nearby and you can afford the gas, then what are you waiting for? Go to it, explore it, find out the secrets it holds and why it is a National Park. Enjoy and love it, it belongs to you and is your heritage.