Visits to the N.C. State Parks has jumped way up across the state.
A third of the state's parks and recreation areas have seen a 20 percent increase in visits, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
Through August the state parks recorded 10.6 million visitors, up 14 percent from a year ago and surpassing visitation during the same eight-month period of 2007, which was a record year.
The increase is likely because families are looking for cheap entertainment.
"Citizens in North Carolina traditionally have turned to state parks for affordable family recreation during difficult economic times, and these attendance numbers reflect that," said Lewis Ledford, state parks director.
The parks have also benefitted from fewer major storm events. Hurricanes and ice storms can curb attendance. Also, large construction projects that interrupted operations at a few parks have been completed, including a new summit viewing area at Mount Mitchell State Park and new roads and infrastructure at Gorges State Park in Transylvania County.
The record for attendance in the state parks was set in 2007 with 13.4 million visitors.
