Waycation: State parks full up as travelers pinch pennies

Every camping space, cabin and yurt in Idaho State Parks was reserved for this Fourth of July weekend, for the first time ever. One-hundred-percent booked, said a KUOW report. In Washington state, camping reservations were up 9% in the first half of 2009, proof, said a state spokesperson, of the staycation trend.

Hmmm? As I understand the recessionary term, a "staycation" is when you stay at home, or within a few miles, instead of spending lots of dollars for driving, flying, or using other methods of transportation to get out of town. It's still a "vacation" if you're leaving the city, even if you're staying in your own state's park system, even if you're saving cash by camping instead of staying in a hotel.