Have just returned from a 10 day trip west. (Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons etc.) I was surprized at the lack of crowds in this popular area. Hotels in West Yellowstone and Jackson Hotel had "vacancy" signs out front. Has everyone gone to Europe and Canada because of our good dollar? Have others of you experienced a lack of crowding in popular US tourist areas? Curious!

Marie,
I think what you have experienced is the slowing down of the U.S. economy and the highest level of job losses in about 9 years. I think that people are taking smaller vacations this year and forgoing more expensive destinations and bigger trips.

I've flown about 8 times on business since mid-June and the airports are noticeably quieter than several months ago.

Marie, I wonder if it has anything to do with more schools going to "year-round" schedules, so summer vacation isn't what we were used to. Our schools have 11 weeks of summer, a one week fall and one week spring break, with talk of going to two weeks in fall and two in spring.

Noticed the same thing at the beach. The week before July 4th and two weeks after.. there were vacancies on many places. We have never seen that before in the 10 yrs we've been going to the same place.

Someone on this site mentioned how hotels near Disney have discounted prices.

People are finally admitting we are heading into a recession probably sometime next year. Cash is king and the deals will abound, travel and otherwise. It's a cycle that repeats itself every 10 years. The greed of the good times makes way for the panic of the lean years.

Good, xxx, precisely what is needed to erode the remainder of consumer confidence and make yours a self-fulfilling prophesy. Does that somehow please you? Sounds as if you are rubbing your hands together in glee at the prospect.