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AAA Predicts More Vacations, Highlights Connecticut Travel Spots

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- As summer approaches, a recent AAA survey shows that more than one-third, or 35 percent, of Americans plan to take a family vacation over the next few months, with many heading to favorite spots in Connecticut. 

According to a recent AAA survey more than 35 percent of Americans plan to take vacations this year, including to spots in Connecticut. One of the top spots is the Mystic Seaport/Aquarium.

According to a recent AAA survey more than 35 percent of Americans plan to take vacations this year, including to spots in Connecticut. One of the top spots is the Mystic Seaport/Aquarium.

Photo Credit: Mystic Seaport/Aquarium

One of the main reasons for the increase in travel can be attributed to the lowest gas prices in 12 years that has resulted in nearly $12 billion in fuel savings and is the driving force for many Americans to hit the road, AAA said.

Fifty-five percent of those polled said affordable gas is the impetus behind their plans to travel more than 50 miles away from home sometime in 2016. The most popular types of vacations for traveling families, according to the survey, are these: 

  • Road trips (69 percent) 
  • National parks (49 percent) 
  • Theme parks (42 percent) 
  • International destinations (26 percent)
  • Cruises (19 percent) 

In Connecticut, an informal poll of the eight AAA Northeast branches in Litchfield, New Haven, and Fairfield counties identifies Mystic Seaport/Aquarium, Lake Compounce, and the casinos as the most popular vacation for member families. 

“Whether it’s a cross-country road trip or a dream vacation to a far-off destination, travel offers busy families an excellent opportunity to share experiences and connect with each other in meaningful ways,” said Bill Sutherland, AAA senior vice president of travel and publishing. 

For residents planning on a road trip, AAA offers the following tips:

  • Road Trips: Map out your route in advance using AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner or visiting a AAA office. While in a car, take frequent stops, about every 100 miles or two hours, to remain alert; buckle up; and drive at the speed limit. 
  • National Parks: Celebrate the centennial anniversary this year in a National Park. The closest national park to Connecticut is Acadia in Bar Harbor Maine, a 47,000-acre reserve whose landscape is marked by woodland, rocky beaches and granite peaks like Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the United States’ East Coast. 

For additional information on planning a trip, visit www.aaa.com.

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