Frugal vacationers boost Old Sturbridge Village

Year-to-date attendance at Old Sturbridge Village jumped 33 percent over the same period in 2007 as rising gas and air-travel prices prompted many consumers to take cheaper family vacations closer to home, an Old Sturbridge Village official said.

Located in Sturbridge, Old Sturbridge Village bills itself as a "living history museum" with more than 40 restored buildings, including farm houses and churches, on 200 acres of fields and woods; its attributes make it an ideal venue for outings for families with children.

Between Jan. 1 and April 30, the number of Old Sturbridge visitors was 41,157, compared with 30,948 for the same period in 2007, with two school vacation weeks in April 2008 giving the four-month numbers a nice lift, said James E. Donahue, president and chief executive of Old Sturbridge Village.

Donahue noted in a statement that 7 million people live within an hour's drive of Old Sturbridge Village.

His press release also cited results from a recent survey by AAA of Southern New England, which found that 58 percent of respondents plan to book a less expensive vacation this year than last and that 9 percent added that they plan a vacation this year closer to home.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)