Plan Accordingly This Memorial Day, Or You May Miss Out

Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner, which not only means a time for somber remembrances of the nation’s armed forces, but also sun, fun, and barbecue for millions of Americans.

According to the AAA, 37.5 million Americans are planning to travel at least 50 miles or more away this Labor Day weekend, an almost 5% increase from last year. Of them, a staggering 33 million will be able to get to these far-off destinations thanks to the fact that average fuel prices are one dollar lower than last Memorial Day weekend. Some, however, are flying to their vacation spots, since the cost of domestic flights along the Top 40 routes have dropped 2%, inspiring a 2.5% increase in air travel this year.

“Following a harsh winter, many Americans are trading in their snow boots for flip-flops and making plans to start the season with a vacation getaway,” said AAA president Marshall L. Doney. “AAA is expecting more Memorial Day travelers this year than any time in the past 10 years as confident consumers come out of hibernation ready to explore national parks, beach destinations and America’s great cities.”

There are also certain things Americans would be wise to buy before partaking in their planned festivities. Both food and party equipment will be in high demand, so it will be best not to wait around to pick up the cooler, soft drinks and hot dogs.

“Memorial Day is a buying opportunity to upgrade to one of the new high performance coolers for the summer,” said Paul Kabalin, President of Engel USA. “The new style coolers hold ice better and last much longer than traditional coolers.”

Buying food beforehand may be a little bit tricky considering travel plans, but it’s a savvy thing to do, as there’s a good chance grocers and supermarkets may very well run out of supplies. Memorial Day is the second biggest barbecue event of the year, after all, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association.

So popular is grilling and barbecuing on Memorial Day that Americans eat a jaw-dropping (and mouth-watering) 818 hot dogs per second — and that’s not even the most popular type of food to have, either. According to a report from the Christian Science Monitor, 85% of folks prefer grilling burgers, 80% like steak, and 73% cook up some chicken.

If you’re one of the millions who plan to vacation this memorial day, be sure to plan accordingly. No one would want to be meatless on such an occasion!

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