July 4 holiday being spent closer to home

PITTSBURGH, July 4 (UPI) -- The number of Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home for the Fourth of July weekend fell 1.3 percent from last year, AAA estimates.

Bevi Powell, spokeswoman for AAA's East Central region, said the non-profit automobile service group's nationwide data suggests about 40.5 million people were traveling at least 50 miles from home this Independence Day weekend, down from 41 million people in 2007, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Friday.

"People aren't going quite as far," Powell said. "In fact, 41.5 percent intend to travel 250 miles or less round trip."

Powell said an estimated 39.5 percent of those surveyed were traveling for entertainment or amusement while 25 percent were primarily going to visit family.

Pittsburgh-area state parks, movie theaters and amusement attractions said their businesses have been boosted by local residents choosing to stay home for the weekend.

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