North Alabama Attractions Cashing In On Staycationers

Spring breakers are smashing attendance records at local attractions. Staycationers are helping businesses cash-in during what is considered one of the most critical weeks and what could become a critical few months for some state parks.

Birmingham's tourist destinations, like McWane science center, Vulcan, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Birmingham Zoo, have seen at as many as 42 hundred children in one day.

State parks are also packed and hope it stays that way in the months to come because some could lose all of its state funding.

On Friday, stakes were going down, tents were going up, and merchandise was coming out for Tannehill State Park's Trade Days.

"It supplements my retirement and gives me something to do and a means of income," said Joe Lowery, a Trade Days vendor.

Customers shouldn't be hard to come by for the 380 vendors. Last week, all four hundred campsites filled up. Now, almost every square foot is occupied by families eating, playing and exploring.

"We have an excellent opportunity to have this many people in the park and encourage them to come back. Our livelihood depends on each and everyone of these people form campers to picnickers," said Stacey Green of Tannehill State Park.

Tannehill and Brierfield State Parks hope for a busy summer because both may lose all state funding in 2012. That means usage fees could go up and programs could be cut.

"It should be a very valid argument to the state. We are the top visited facility in the state. We have half a million people a year, so we offer something they want," said Green.

Tannehill's Trade Days runs through the weekend. Admission is three dollars for adults, two for seniors and one for children.

Spring Fling will take place in Linn Park from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The City of Birmingham also has coupons available at Spring Fling and libraries, which gets two children into some Birmingham attractions this weekend with the purchase of one adult ticket.