This summer we were going to venture out on a 25-city, four-week tour of Europe, but we just felt like the whole spending-money-like-a-rap-star thing was really played out.
OK, so the 2012 summer budget really only allowed for sitting in front of the AC eating a pint of ice cream.
Turns out we are in the minority, because AAA travel club reports that the number of Americans traveling has been on a slow and steady increase for the last two years. AAA's travel data from July 4 of this year showed a 4.9 increase from last year for people trekking more than 50 miles from home to celebrate.
"Americans are still in love with their vacations and they are finding ways to finance those vacations despite the slow-growing economy," said Cynthia Brough, director of public relations for AAA's national office. Brough said that travelers these days are looking for value and economy, however they personally define it.
Now we know you probably can't top our pint of ice cream experience, but on the off chance you actually traveled outside your kitchen this summer, we'd love to see the photos and live vicariously through them. Maybe you went to the beach, or the mountains, or our personal fave, a cross-country tour of our finest frozen dessert factories.
Or perhaps, you stayed closed to home, splashing around the pools at Echo or Greis Park, fishing at Hempstead Lake State Park or heading to a local beach.
No matter where you went, inside or outside your Patch, share your photos here so we can get inspired for next year.
