Summer Travelers May Not Stray Far From New Canaan

NEW CANAAN, Conn. — Stefani Pavlicic still plans to go on vacation this summer, though she’ll likely be spending a lot of time on the nation’s roadways.

Pavlicic, 23, who lives in New Canaan and attends graduate school, typically visits her friends and family in her native Buffalo, N.Y., when she gets a free moment. She expects to again this summer, thanks mainly to having a fuel-efficient car to get where she needs to go.

“That helps with travel. I’ve tried to drive more than fly,” Pavlicic said as she took a walk in Waveny Park. Pavlicic won't go to Florida as she did last year. “This year, we’ll go to the Finger Lakes,” she said.

Several New Canaan residents say the cost of travel will keep them closer to home this summer, if they travel at all. Eliza Curtis of Forest Street plans to have her son Dillon, 9, visit with relatives in Boston to give him some time away. If she needs a trip, Curtis will travel on the ground and stay with relatives.

“I’m just not going too far with the price of gas and everything,” Curtis said. “My husband is not working, and we’re taking every penny and making it stretch.” If she does get away, possibilities for summer excursions include Philadelphia and her brother’s home in Fishkill, N.Y.

Sean Howard and Graham Taraz won’t do much traveling, either. Both work in the financial industry, which demands a lot of time and they can get away for only a short time. “We may make a long weekend if we can,” she said, mentioning that Taraz’s family goes to Cape Cod every year. “We’re trying to stay local.”

They’re waiting to take a bigger trip later in the year: their honeymoon. The couple will get married later this year at Waveny House.

How have your vacation plans changed given the economy and gas prices? Are you traveling less or staying closer to home? Let us know. Leave a comment below or visit our Facebook page and get the conversation started.

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