Travel Poll

Poll: Three-fourths say terror attacks had no effect on vacation plans

By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Three-fourths of Americans say the terror attacks have not affected their summer vacation plans, and they expect to spend at least as much on vacations as last year, according to an Associated Press poll.

Eight stressful months after the Sept. 11 attacks, the AP poll suggested Americans appear very much in the mood to get away to a summer vacation.

The beach was the most popular destination followed by the mountains, a major city and a theme park, according to the poll conducted for the AP by ICR of Media, Pa. The poll of 1,000 was taken May 10-14 and has an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Three in 10 said they wanted to visit some combination of those destinations.

For Elaine Edwards of Haysi, Va., just driving to a nearby park with her husband and 9-year-old twin daughters will be plenty of vacation after the attacks.

"I don't see them running an airplane into the Breaks Interstate park," she said, referring to a park with a mountain that straddles the Kentucky-Virginia border.

A third of those interviewed said they plan to visit a state or national park. Those who planned to visit a park were more likely to be younger and male and to have more education.

Tommy Kee, 27, a construction supervisor from Grantville, Ga., near Atlanta, said he enjoys going to parks in his time off.

"I enjoy getting away from everything," Kee said. "It's a very reasonable way to get away."

Half said they expect to spend as much on vacations as last year, and a fourth said they probably would spend more.

Six in 10 said their primary mode of transportation would be by car, and just over a fourth said by plane. Other responses were scattered among bus, train, cruise or not taking a vacation.

The experiences of the last year haven't discouraged 67-year-old retiree Louis Tannich of Waldorf, Md., from taking vacations of all sorts.

"I retired to travel whenever an interesting trip came by," said Tannich, who is retired from the Navy. "And I intend to do that."