I moved here to the US from the UK 7 years ago. When I got here gas was $1.60 a gallon..its now just under $3 a gallon (keep in mind its a US gallon not a UK gallon). A few years ago it got up to nearly $4 a gallon and people were going ape.
Cheap gas changes a culture so much. In the UK the cost of gas has to be taken into account day a day trip. So in the UK its the cost of the tickets to get in at say Alton Towers, food and gas. Here it would just be the cost of the tickets that you think about it.
Mind you driving here and the distances involved is vastly different. When I lived in England near Peterborough I would never have gone to Manchester for the day. Would have taken too long and cost too much. Here I have gone to Bush Gardens, about a 4 hour drive, spent a couple of hours there and driven back and not thought anything of it.
Next year I am going to Florida for a week and there are people who not only suggest I drive there (about 24 hours on the road)but have actually done it for a long weekend. Ive not yet become American enough to seriously consider that one though !