Originally published Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Gas prices prompt Washington travelers to stick closer to home for July 4
With July 4 one of the more popular weekends to travel in summer, many Washingtonians aren't willing to forgo trips — even with gas...
Close-to-home escapes
Looking for a last-minute July 4 getaway? Try these Western Washington spots;• Out on the Pacific coast, Westport is the quiet option for July 4. The 18 miles of beach just outside of town is a no-fireworks zone.
Ocean Shores, just across Grays Harbor from Westport, rocks and shakes to fireworks.
Both spots offer beachcombing, beach walking, surfing, surf fishing, bird-watching and even driftwood fires at night. Westport does have a good fireworks display at dusk.
• Drive to Lake Cushman — Staircase — the gorgeous southeast corner of Olympic National Park opened today for the first time in six months. The access road to Staircase, U.S. Forest Service Road 24, got hammered during the big December storms.
Staircase has gorgeous hiking trails, a pristine section of the Skokomish River, a campground, picnic areas and the aura of a Northwest forest that has never been logged.
For more information, go to www.nps.gov/olym or call 360-565-3100.
The Olympian
How to get better gas mileage
Check your tire pressure regularly. For every pound your tires are under the proper level, fuel efficiency drops 2 percent. Check your tires while they're cold once a month.Get regular vehicle maintenance inspections. These inspections may identify problems, such as dirty air filter or bad spark plugs, that could reduce fuel efficiency.
Open your car windows. Using the car air conditioner eats up gas.
Drive conservatively. Practice techniques such as slow acceleration from a stop, driving at steady, but moderate speeds, and turning on cruise control.
Source: AAA and Times news services
With July 4 one of the more popular weekends to travel in summer, many Washingtonians aren't willing to forgo trips — even with gas prices in Washington averaging $4.35 today. Instead, they're saving money by taking shorter trips throughout the region or seeking savings in other travel costs such as meals and lodging.
Larry Breer of Yakima planned on taking a road trip to Kansas this summer. But because of rising gas prices, he and his wife decided to stay close to home in the Pacific Northwest instead.
"We need to get out of the place every once in a while and not sit here in mildew," said Breer, a retired Air Force technical sergeant. "We may take a trip to the Pacific coast with our camper or go down to Oregon. There are some very nice campgrounds there."
To check expected road congestion on Washington highways, see the state's special Web page, www.wsdot.wa.gov/Congestion/IndependenceDay/">www.wsdot.wa.gov/Congestion/IndependenceDay/ Or phone 511 for statewide highway conditions or see www.wsdot.wa.gov to check on ferry and road conditions throughout the state.
Nationwide, despite the high gas prices the AAA estimates that 34.2 million Americans will travel by automobile during the Fourth of July weekend, only a 1.2 percent decrease from the same period a year ago.
Kristin Jackson of Seattle Times Travel contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
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