Memorial Day Weekend, 2008

The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer in America. Traditionally, we've done our first long vacation trips on this weekend. This year may be a little different.

• "Gasoline Near $4 Shortens Trips for U.S. Memorial Day"
  Bloomberg (May 23)
  "May 23 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. travelers are shortening their Memorial Day weekend trips or staying home as rising gasoline prices, costlier air fares and a weaker economy sap their confidence and bank accounts."
• "Memorial Day travelers face headwinds"
  CNN (May 23, 2008)
  "Record gas prices force some would-be holiday weekend drivers to stay off the roads. Travel expected to lessen for first time since 2002."
• "AAA: Memorial Day traveling to drop"
  Sacramento Business Journal - Nashville Business Journal (May 23, 2008)
  "Higher fuel prices and weaker consumer confidence will keep more Americans at home during Memorial Day holiday compared with last year, according to AAA."
• "usmemorialday.org"
  This website "created to help promote the return of the original intent and meaning back to Memorial Day, to be a central point for finding information on the day, and to provide an online community for people to share their feelings, pride, respect and honor for those that gave their all. This site also promotes restoring the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day to the 30th of May."

I live on the edge of lake country in Minnesota, so I'm rather interested in how many people decide to take some time off at the lake this year. Aside from tourism being a part of the local economy, I've got a personal interest: a directory of travel-oriented businesses and services in Minnesota which also maintain websites.

• Minnesota for Web-Wise Travelers