Your own Backyard; Skip pricey flights and see the sights near home.

• Author: Creager, Janine S.
• Position: Business Trends

With gas prices shooting their way passed the $3.50 mark, the traditional summer vacation may seem less of a possibility than ever before. But while discretionary income is being chewed up at the gas pump, there may be an alternative. The answer? A new little trend the Utah Office of Tourism calls the "staycation".

A staycation is a vacation that is spent close to one's home enjoying all the amenities that nearby attractions have to offer. With more than 7,300 results popping up in a Google search, more and more individuals are discovering the joys of becoming tourists in their own state, while resting comfortably in their own beds at night.

"There is not a better place in the world to stay around and hang out in than Utah," says Leigh von der Esch, in a recent roundtable discussion. As the managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism, von der Esch is always on the lookout to bring greater focus and attention to Utah's recreational and cultural opportunities. "We really have a lot we can offer ourselves on a daily basis," she adds. "We continue to see our tourism dollars go up in that 50-mile trip."

While Rolayne Fairclough, spokesperson for AAA of Utah, has not yet necessarily seen a significant decrease in travel from last year to this year, indications are that "people were taking shorter vacations and not staying so long. People are just looking within a scope of a few hundred miles. They are trying to adjust those destinations so they can afford them."

Recognizing the pinch people are feeling in their pocketbooks, experts say pushing for staycations helps tourism dollars stay right at home. With four grown children, Davis County resident Jann Hopkins and her husband Randy have found that flexibility and last minute planning is the best way to ensure that everyone can attend a family outing. And while the family has enjoyed many excursions outside of the state, a recent weeklong vacation to Zion National Park fit the family's schedule and budget just right.

"One advantage to being close by is the spontaneity factor," says Hopkins. Beyond exploring the beauties of the park itself, the Hopkins' also enjoy visiting art galleries, antique shops and sampling the local cuisine at area restaurants in Springdale and Rockville.

Close to the Heart

The state economy also reaps some of the greatest benefits from of local vacationing.

"Most of Utah is poised to take advantage of the new kind of family vacations," says Nan Anderson of the Utah...