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Staycation good getaway
alternative during bad economy
By Rep. Dan Kristiansen
With people losing their
jobs or having their work hours/paychecks cut back as a result of this
difficult economy, going on that big family vacation this summer to
Disneyland or another resort is most likely out of the question. If your
budget is tight, it doesn't mean you have to stay at home and stare at
the four walls. Why not consider a staycation?
In lieu of a vacation, a
staycation is a period of time in which an individual or family relaxes
close to home or takes day trips to area attractions.
Ruth Richardson's article
two weeks ago in this newspaper highlighted some excellent examples of
what she and her family did during their staycation, which provided four
days of fun for under $200.
We are fortunate to live
in a state that offers some of the most beautiful, pristine, and outdoor
recreational-friendly areas of the nation. More than 100 state parks
provide a diverse range of activities, from hiking to biking, skiing to
sailing, exploration of rocky shorelines or climbing snow-capped peaks.
Within the 39th Legislative District, we have Rasar, Rockport, Mount
Pilchuck and Wallace Falls state parks -- all offering low-cost, fun
activities, and within a very short drive from Sedro-Woolley. For
information on these and other Washington state parks, go to:
www.parks.wa.gov.
Another alternative is the
national park system within Washington. During three weekends this
summer, entrance fees will be waived at national parks and monuments.
The weekends are June 20-21 (this weekend), July 18-19 and Aug. 15-16.
Parks included under the fee waiver are: Mount Rainier National Park,
Olympic National Park, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Lewis and
Clark National Historic Park and Whitman Mission National Historic Site.
The closest site to Sedro-Woolley is the North Cascades National Park
which doesn't have an entrance fee. The fee waiver will save you an
average of $15 for a non-commercial private vehicle. For more
information on the national parks within Washington, go to:
www.nps.gov/state/wa.
Another great resource to
help you plan your vacation is the Washington State Tourism Web site:
www.experiencewa.com. It
offers the ability to search the best places to visit by region or by
activity. You can also order a travel planner from this site.
You may also want to check
with local chambers of commerce that can direct you to the best places
in the area to visit for a staycation. Two great local resources are the
Bellingham-Whatcom County Tourism Web site at:
www.bellingham.org and the
Snohomish County Tourism Bureau at:
www.snohomish.org.
Not only will you have fun
with a staycation and save money, you'll also be helping our state's
economy. It's estimated tourism contributed nearly $16 billion to
Washington's economy last year and directly provided nearly 150,000
jobs.
With thousands of low- or
no-cost activities to enjoy here in our state, there's no reason to stay
home this summer. Check out these resources, plan for a staycation, help
our state's economy, and above all, go out and have fun with your
family. You'll be glad you did!
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EDITOR'S NOTE:
State Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish,
represents the 39th Legislative District, and also serves as chairman of
the Washington House Republican Caucus. He can be contacted at (360)
786-7967 or from his Web site at:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Kristiansen.
For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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