With gas prices threatening to reach $4 per gallon soon, some local residents are rethinking their vacation plans, but others feel that a summer getaway is simply too important to give up.
Gas prices in Conway on Monday ranged from $3.82 to $3.88, according to www.thecabin.net/gas, provided by GasBuddy.com.
Amy Hartle, manager of Cruise Planners on North Street, said individual situations vary, but the travel agency has seen a slowdown in business.
"It's really slow since the economy has been down. They're tending to drive more than fly. I'm seeing them stay home more than even going to Florida. People around here go to Florida a lot, and they're not even doing that very much because of gas prices."
Robert Jones of Conway said June 8, "My wife and I just returned yesterday afternoon from a vacation in Northern Michigan. When we arrived, gas was $4.19 per gallon in the Macanac area. Just before leaving it dropped to $4.09 per gallon. Looks like it increased in Conway while we were gone."
He said if gas prices soar past $4 as some rumors have predicted they will, "I guess we will just stay home more if this happens."
Sandra Hamblen of Mayflower said, "Gas prices have changed our life, not just our vacation plans. We combine errands to make one trip to Conway, we eat at home more, and make doctor and dentist appointments on one day."
She said she and her husband have traveled extensively over the years, visiting most of the 50 states, as well as the Virgin Islands, Mexico and Canada.
"Even when we needed a new sofa, we took our boys to Washington, D.C. New carpet? Well, we went to Disney World instead, making memories. We visited amusement parks, often twice, toured every educational site we could find, exposing our boys to history, art and music."
She and her husband retired in their early '50s and planned to visit the remaining three states they have not seen, as well as taking their 3-year-old granddaughter on some trips. On Memorial Day weekend, they drove to Huntsville, Ala., to visit their son. They had planned to drive to Atlanta, Ga., to see a new aquarium.
"Filling up for a total of $200 for gas, we changed plans and drove home a different route for a change of scenery," she said. We do have a trip to Branson this month with our church to see the musical 'Noah,' but other than that, we will stay close to home. Good ol' Arkansas will have to suffice. Maybe a few days at Mount Magazine, Lake DeGray, or our favorite, Hardy."
Catherine Zinno of Conway said, "Gas prices are definitely affecting my family, but we still have vacation travel plans."
As a school teacher, Zinno has the same vacation schedule as her children. The family travels every summer, she said. This year they will travel to Wyoming to a cousin's ranch and will visit Yellowstone National Park and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
"I grew up in a family where both of my parents were school teachers. My parents instilled in me a love of travel and discovery. I am simply passing on that love to my children," she said.
She said the family always travels by car because "with six kids it is simply cost prohibitive to fly."
This summer the family will also make its annual trip to New York.
"Our trips almost exclusively center around family. That does help with costs," she said.
Greg Reddin of Conway said he and his wife, Tanya, have made an anniversary tradition of visiting different states. They recently returned from a five-day tour of Kentucky.
"The route we took cost around $300 in gas," he said. "Once we reached our destinations we parked the minivan and rode bikes and walked for transportation. It wasn't cheap, but I'd gladly pay more. I try to do everything I can to conserve fuel when I'm home even though I work in Little Rock. But vacation is vacation. Family memories will last a lifetime as do 'couple memories.' It's worth every penny.
"I'm sure gas will get prohibitively expensive someday and there is a point where I won't be able to afford it anymore. I'm sure some folks already can't afford it and I don't want to overlook that. But I think anniversaries and family vacations are the absolute best time to splurge even if you have to save up all year for them. These are moments you will never get back and they are priceless."
Reddin said his family also enjoys camping at Arkansas State Parks as well or getting away to hotels in Little Rock and Hot Springs.
"The bottom line is this," he said. "Don't drive yourself to financial ruin for the sake of good memories, but memories are worth the money you will spend. When I'm at work and those pictures flash across my computer screen, it really does take me to a different place."
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
