From Amelia: Discover Appalachian Mountain views in Greenbriar State Park in Boonsboro in Western Maryland, hunt for fossils at Calvert Cliffs in Southern Maryland, hang glide in Caroline County. Go to Annapolis one morning, and then head south to St. Mary's City. Ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad near Cumberland.
From Missy Kelly, customer service representative for the Maryland Park Service: Don't overlook nearby state parks, with their lakes, beaches, trails, picnic areas and campsites. There's a swimming beach at Gunpowder Falls park in Harford and Baltimore counties, hiking trails and mountain biking trails and a swinging bridge in Patapsco Valley State Park in Howard and Baltimore counties; a lake for swimming, fishing, and boating, as well as camping and hiking in Cunningham Falls State Park in the Catoctin Mountains near Thurmont.
From Leffel: You don't have to go to Disney World for amusement park entertainment. Look closer to home for water parks, amusement parks and zoos. Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa., could be a day trip from the Baltimore area.
And Six Flags, with a park in nearby Largo, is selling a $49.99-a-person pass that's good all season.
And from Wal-Mart, courtesy of a new customized Web site: www.walmart.com/staycations: Turn your backyard into a water park, use locally grown produce in family barbecues, and stay home.
More of us are likely to do just that, Leffel said.
"More of us are forced to think about this because it has become such a hassle and high price to travel far away," he said. "It is going to be a trend as long as gas prices are this high and airlines are treating people the way they are. People are frustrated with planes and airports. They're looking at the trade-off and going, 'It's not worth it.' This will be with us for a while."
lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com
Staycation tips
*Pick up a Destination Maryland guide by calling 877-333-4455, visiting the visitmd.org Web site or stopping in at a state welcome center. The Maryland Welcome! Passport included in the guide offers discounts to places such as Berrywine Plantations/ Linganore Winecellars and the Children's Museum of Rose Hill Manor Park, both in the Frederick area; Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo near Thurmont, Ride the Ducks of Baltimore and the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum in Harford County.
*Take advantage of free or discounted museums and other attractions in Baltimore. The Walters Art Museum and Baltimore Museum of Art offer free general admission. Go to www.baltimore.org and click on deals & discounts to print out coupons for admission to Baltimore area attractions such as the B&O Railroad Museum and the Museum of Industry or find out about restaurant deals.
*State parks. Visit www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands for a list of state parks and available activities. To find out about private guides and outfitters available for kayaking, horseback riding or rock climbing, visit www.dnr.md.gov/outdooradventures/guides.html. To find out about reserving campsites, cabins and picnic shelters in state forests and parks, call 1-888-432-2267.
*Take day trips to nearby destinations in neighboring states, such as Amish country in Lancaster, Pa., the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pa., or Harpers Ferry in West Virginia.
