By The Associated Press

(AP) - STAYCATION DREAMING: The chief executive of one of the country's largest amusement park companies said since the economic downturn has people staying closer to home, staycations have boosted business at the parks.

HERE TO STAY: CEO Matt Ouimet of Ohio-based Cedar Fair Entertainment predicted the staycation trend would continue even with the economy improving.

SO CLOSE YET SO FAR: Cedar Fair, which owns 11 amusement parks and four water parks, generally draws most of its visitors from within a couple of hundred miles.

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