With gas and airline prices soaring, the state is marketing local travel destinations in the hopes of keeping would-be vacationers from going out of state.

New Jersey has made more than $1.5 million available for marketing grants to let people know what New Jersey has to offer.

?There are 91 million people within 400 miles, which is just over one tank of gas,? says NJ Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells. ?So we?re continuing to reach out [be]cause we want all those people to know about New Jersey.?

So far, some of that marketing is working. Numbers show that since Memorial Day weekend, Cape May has seen a 15 percent increase in tourism since last year.

Some New Jersey hotels are also offering deals, such as free gas cards when a room is booked for three nights or more.

StateDivision of Travel and TourismNew Jersey Transit