Local attractions fit family budgets

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - AAA reports fewer Americans are expected to hit the road this holiday weekend. The agency blames the decline of the current economy, but that's good news for local attractions.

With perfect weather to enjoy, thousands of people from across Central Indiana came up with the same idea -- let's head to the Indianapolis Zoo . The line to get into the zoo parking lot Friday was backed up for more than a mile.

"It's horrible coming in. It's backed up all the way around to Victory Field," said Zoo visitor Charlotte Provost.

For some, it was simply a visit -- an opportunity to get the kids out of the house. For others, like David Dorsett, the trip to the zoo was a mini-vacation for him and his kids.

"It's quick, it's easy. You can get away for a couple of hours and one of the advantages is you can come for a shorter period of time and still enjoy it and maybe do it more often than a longer vacation," said Dorsett.

More than one million people visit the Indianapolis Zoo each year. Zoo officials expect to hit that target number again this year. Even with the decline in the economy -- and arguably because of it -- families keep coming.

"This is one of the things people keep in their budgets, is what we found. It's a little more difficult to take those overnight trips. The zoo is part of the family experience and I think people want to keep that in their summer plans," said zoo representative Karen Burns.

The Fourth of July holiday is typically the busiest time of year for auto travel. But AAA predicts five million fewer cars will be on the road this weekend compared to 2007.

It all means families are staying closer to home.

Don't believe it? Head to the zoo. But before you get to see the animals -- be prepared to see a migration of automobiles.