New York ? The ailing domestic economy has a lot of Americans planning to scale back summer vacation plans.

Here are five ideas for U.S. vacations from the April issue of Travel + Leisure magazine.

¢ Summer in the city: Big cities often empty out in the summer as locals head out to the beach and the country. You can enjoy tables at hard-to-book restaurants, good seats for shows, lower hotel rates on weekends and free cultural events like concerts in the park. Travel + Leisure recommends researching and booking your trips for June, July and August now.

¢ Beach getaway: The early birds start looking for summer rentals in September and often the best properties are gone by early spring, but there are still some properties out there. For example, Travel + Leisure says 15 percent of inventory is usually still available in April at http://www.beachhouse.com.

¢ All-American road trip: Some online resources to help plan your drive include AAA’s TripTik; GasBuddy.com; National Scenic Byways at www.byways.org; RoadFood.com, listing 1,200 roadside eateries favored by gourmet gurus Jane and Michael Stern; Small Luxury Hotels of the World at www.slh.com and BedandBreakfast.com

¢ Mountain retreat: Once the snow melts, the adventures begin at ski resorts that offer summer activities like rafting, hiking, golf and biking, plus concerts, theaters and food and wine festivals.

¢ Northern cruise: Most travelers book Alaska cruises months or even a full year in advance. But there are occasionally cancellations, and if you can be flexible and persistent, you may be able to score a reservation. Travel + Leisure recommends using a cruise agent to help you navigate the waiting list and putting down a refundable deposit.