It was high gas prices last year that forced many to trade in the annual summer vacation for something more affordable and closer to home. With that, "staycation" became a household term.

But with some relief at the pump this year compared to last, will local residents now be heading out of town or staying in the area?

It's become a father/son activity Aaron Elliott and his son, Ethan, look forward to.

"Fish and swim and stuff," Ethan Elliott said.

"We enjoy the outdoors. When we're not hunting or fishing, we're water skiing or doing baseball outdoors," Aaron Elliot, Ethan's father said.

Just minutes away from their home, Lake Bryan makes a perfect weekend getaway.

"Pretty much every Saturday and Sunday," Ethan said.

"It's a way to pass time; it's a lot of fun with friends and family and you don't have to spend a lot of money. That's the good thing about it," Aaron said.

The Elliotts are part of growing trend of "staycationers"-- people who spend the summer taking in local activities instead of heading out of town.

"We're going to go boating. We're going to go wake-boarding in a little bit," Chad Johnson said.

A Texas A&M student, Johnson plans to spend a lot of time in B-CS this summer. But this staycationer isn't motivated by finances.

"I'm in school, I'm taking 13 hours for summer," Johnson said.

Many businesses are hoping to attract local tourists this year by making them feel like they're miles away from home.

"That's what we want with the atmosphere, where they don't feel like they're in Navasota," Dwayne Fuller with Bogart's Casa Blanca said.

Bogart's Casa Blanca, a Grimes County bed and breakfast, is just across the street from the local tourism office. But once you open the doors you're transported back in time.

"In another world, just absolutely in another world. They can just sit back and fantasize what it would be like in Hollywood," Fuller said.

The destination feel of the B&B seems to be paying off. Fuller says business has increased each month, and even each week.

"Gas prices are not as bad this year so maybe we'll be going a little farther than we were planning," Bryan resident Erica Davis said.

But for the most part people say they're planning on reeling in the summer here in town, like Aaron and Ethan.

"We're planning on going to Disney World early next year so we're going to save up this summer," Aaron said.

AAA says the average vacation will run a couple about $250 a day for lodging and meals. But add travel, and some kids into the mix and the price only goes up from there.

For some cost cutting staycation ideas click on the links below: