? While numerous people will hit the road this weekend in spite of intense Labor Day traffic, many others will stay local and try to enjoy what southwestern Connecticut has to offer.

The Maritime Aquarium in Fairfield reports recreational visitors are up by 11 percent ? a huge jump from last year ? and organizers expect a large influx of people this weekend.

The Discovery Museum in Bridgeport has also reported huge numbers of summer visitors. It can thank the ?staycation? concept, which has caught on as a result of soaring fuel costs. Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell says the state?s Web site for local activities has had over 26,000 hits since July.