State continues to be a bargain

Nebraska State Historical Society director Mike Smith pointed out during a recent visit that history brings about $170 million to the Nebraska economy, much of it from history-related tourism.

Now new AAA figures show that those tourists are getting a bargain.

According to the 2008 edition of the auto club's Annual Vacation Costs Survey, Nebraska is the second most affordable vacation destination in the country.

Average lodging costs in the state are $100.33 and average meal costs in the state are $59.32, totaling $159.65 per day, according to the survey.

The costs are figured on a two-bedroom hotel room for two adults and an extra person charge for two children. The meal cost includes three meals per person for four people, excluding beverages, taxes and gratuity.

A hundred and fifty-nine bucks leaves you more than $84 a day below the recommended $244 per day recomended travel budget for food and lodging to cover two adults traveling together in North America, according to the AAA survey.

The top five most affordable destinations, in order from least expensive to most, were North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota.

The most expensive destination was Hawaii, followed by the District of Columbia, New York, Nevada and Florida.

AAA has been tracking vacation costs since 1950, when the average daily cost for meals and lodging was $13 -- adjusted for inflation, that's $111.95 a day today.

"Nebraska's affordability has always been alluring to travelers," said Christian Hornbaker, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's Travel and Tourism Division. "What we want to do is educate tourists about what they can get for their money, and how far it really can go in Nebraska."

You can educate yourself by visiting http://www.visitnebraska.org

You'll be amazed at the vacation possibilities available right here in the Cornhusker State. E-mail some suggestions to your friends or relatives who may be planning to visit this summer.

Better yet, save some gasoline money be visiting some new Nebraska sites yourself this year.