Conventional wisdom would suggest businesses that depend on tourists don’t fare so well during a recession. But that’s not the case for several South Sound destinations that are witnessing a nice uptick in business as people staying close to home this summer look for local ways to stay entertained. The News Tribune talked to organizations from the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium to a boat tours company to the popular Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor. The spots draw tourists and locals alike, and for the most part, they reported that people are still spending money on fun. Those that have seen their revenue dip are trying new and creative ways of bringing in customers.

POINT DEFIANCE ZOO AND NORTHWEST TREK

How’s business: Sheelah Medved, zoo and trek spokeswoman, said that attendance at the zoo and Trek is up not only over last year, but also over what the zoo expected it to be for this year.

“What we’ve found out so far is that when people stay closer to home, we get a lot more visitors,” Medved said. “We’re a pretty inexpensive place to bring the whole family.”

At the zoo, attendance from January to May is up 5 percent from last year as 198,279 people visited the zoo. The zoo also recorded its biggest May ever – with 85,480 visitors that month.

At Northwest Trek, the number of visitors for the first half of the year is up 4 percent from last year, at 53,675 people.

June, July and August are typically the busiest months for the zoo and Trek.

Boosting sales: Admission prices remain the same, but the zoo has a new exhibit – Budgie Buddies – that allows people to stand inside an aviary with the birds. For a small fee, you can feed the birds a seed stick. The zoo also started offering camel rides.

Both have been very popular, Medved said.

Kelly Kearsley, The News Tribune

SCALEBURGERS

How’s business: Recession? What recession? That’s what they’re wondering at Elbe’s iconic burger stand, Scaleburgers.

“We’re operating like we always do,” co-owner Cora Adams said this week from the small, whitewashed log structure in Elbe as she prepared for the holiday crowds.

“We’re pretty busy, especially on weekends. We’ve not noticed any difference from last year,” she said. That steady flow of hungry hikers and visitors to nearby Mount Rainier National Park means there’s been no need to tinker with Scaleburgers’ proven formula: fresh ingredients, locally-sourced meat and reasonable prices.

From miles around: The burger stand’s log book reveals Scaleburgers’ broad reach. Customers from all over the United States and the world are patronizing the stand at the site of a former truckers’ weigh station.

“Just reading down the page, we’ve got Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, France, New Zealand,” she said.

Just last week, a couple from Texas dropped in for a burger for the second time in two years.

John Gillie, The News Tribune

HOTEL MURANO

How’s it going: The hotel doesn’t release specific figures, but overall revenue is down slightly from last year.

“It’s definitely related to the economy,” said Murano General Manager Mark Van Cooney. But he’s optimistic business will pick up in the summer months, which is the hotel’s busiest time of year.

Boosting sales: The hotel has focused on improving its lobby bar to attract more locals in addition to hotel guests. It added a happy hour and a menu of appetizers in hopes of becoming a hot spot for people looking for an after-work drink or pre-show cocktail.

The Murano also is offering “staycation packages,” aimed at travelers who are staying a little closer to home this summer. The packages offer special rates, parking, and food and beverage vouchers to people from British Columbia, Washington and Oregon.

Van Cooney said the hotel is trying to attract people in town for weddings by promoting special bridal makeovers at its salon and spa. And the Murano is on Twitter and Facebook, sending messages to followers and friends about last-minute deals and other promotions.

Kelly Kearsley, The News Tribune

DESTINY HARBOR TOURS

How’s it going: The way Destiny Harbor Tours owner Tom Drohan sees it, a recession’s a great time to start and expand a waterborne tour company.

With families putting off exotic vacations, they’re now looking for novel experiences closer to home.

For a cost little more than they’d pay to attend a movie, Drohan’s company can give customers an up close tour of Commencement Bay, the Thea Foss Waterway, Gig Harbor or the Narrows, he said.

Drohan’s year-old company is now offering scheduled one and two-hour tours from two Pierce County bases, the 16th Street public float on the Thea Foss Waterway and from a dock near Anthony’s Restaurant in Gig Harbor.

“The price is good. The scenery and the wildlife is spectacular, and the air is fresh. What more could you ask?”

“There are thousands of people in the Puget Sound area who don’t have boats of their own who don’t get a chance to see Tacoma or Gig Harbor from the water. Here’s their chance,” he said.

Boosting sales: Drohan’s company last summer concentrated on charters, but in mid-May this year he began operating regularly scheduled tours Friday through Monday in Tacoma and Thursday through Monday in Gig Harbor.

He’s got brochures on every tourist rack in Pierce County, and he’s working with hotels and the Tacoma Convention and Visitors Bureau to book hotel and convention patrons.

“The way I see it, “ said Drohan, “people can’t afford not to go.”

John Gillie, The News Tribune