Whether your idea of summer fun is catching a wave or catching a show, you can save money by taking advantage of military discounts. These discounts include savings on all-inclusive resorts, theme parks, museums, zoos, and much more. Don’t plan your trip before checking out these great ways to get more entertainment, education, and excitement out of your budget.
Throughout the United States
Blue Star Museums
More than 2,000 museums across the United States are participating in Blue Star Museums 2015. This annual program that runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day gives active duty service members and their families an opportunity to visit select fine art museums, history and science museums, children’s museums and nature centers free of charge. Visit the National Endowment for the Arts website to find a Blue Star Museum in your area.
SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens®, Sesame Place® and More
SeaWorld Parks & EntertainmentTM salutes active duty military with its Waves of Honor program. This program offers any active duty military, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman, and up to three direct dependents, one complimentary admission per year to the following parks and attractions:
- SeaWorld Orlando
- SeaWorld San Antonio
- SeaWorld San Diego
- Busch Gardens Tampa
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Sesame Place, Langhorne
- Aquatica San Diego
- Adventure Island Tampa
The discounts are not available at the front gate. Please visit WavesofHonor.com for details and eligibility information.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is a great city for budget-conscious travelers. There are plenty of things to do that are inexpensive and even free! Check out these attractions that offer special military discounts:
Boston Children’s Museum – The Boston Children’s Museum is the place for kids. They will love innovative and interactive exhibits such as Arthur® and Friends, Bubbles, Johnny’s Workbench, Art Studio and more. An active duty service member or one of their dependents can receive a complimentary admission.
New England Aquarium – Sea lions and turtles and penguins! Oh my! The New England Aquarium is the perfect place to explore those and thousands of other aquatic animals. Active duty and dependents receive an admission discount of $10 (adults) and $5 (children).
Old Town Trolley Tours – See the city from the comfort of a trolley. Enjoy an entertaining and educational guided tour and hop on and hop off to see historical sites and attractions. Tickets are discounted for military.
Skywalk Observatory – Active duty and retired military and dependents can receive free admission to this observatory that offers sweeping 360 degree views of Boston and beyond.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Myrtle Beach area has 60 miles of beaches, more than 100 world-class golf courses, luxurious family-friendly resorts, fine dining, fun attractions, and much more. The area welcomes service members with special military lodging packages that offer significant savings over regular rates.
New York City
Service members who visit the Big Apple might be pleasantly surprised to know that many of NYC’s most popular attractions offer big military discounts. Some of the discounts include the following:
The Bronx Zoo – Active duty or reserve members can receive a free Total Experience Ticket or General Admission ticket and a 50% discount for up to three family members included on the same admissions transaction. Discount is not available through the online ticket store.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex – This complex is home of the USS Intrepid, a former aircraft carrier that fought in World War II and survived five kamikaze attacks and one torpedo strike. Visitors to this National Historic Landmark can explore the aircraft carrier, as well as the Space Shuttle Pavilion, the Growler submarine, and the British Airways Concorde. Active and retired U.S. military receive free admission. Veterans receive a discounted admission.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) – A Blue Star Museum participant, the MoMA offers free admission to active duty military and military families with dependent cards.
Park City, Utah
The scenic mountain community of Park City in Utah is famous for its ski resorts, but is actually a year-round vacation destination and makes an ideal summer getaway. There are world-class resorts and restaurants, outdoor activities including hiking, biking, golf, horseback riding, and river rafting, art galleries, theater and dance performances, and a thriving nightlife. If you are active duty military, Park City also offers military discounts so that you can save on your visit, including:
New Park Resort – U.S. Armed Forces families can enjoy a 25% lodging discount.
Park City Lodging – A military discount provides 20% savings off lodging during regular season.
Caribbean
With beautiful white sandy beaches and gentle ocean breezes, the Caribbean is the perfect place to enjoy some rest and relaxation. There are many hotels and resorts that offer military discounts, such as:
Bolongo Bay, St. Thomas – The Bolongo Bay Beach Resort sits on a 1,000-foot beach and offers an abundance of water sports, live entertainment, dining options, and much more. Active duty military personnel can receive 30% off room-only rates, 20% off all-inclusive rates in Oceanview accommodations, and a complimentary Sunset Cocktail Harbor Cruise, as well as $150 in island credits for stays 5 nights or longer.
Sandals Resorts – Sandals Resorts offer luxurious all-inclusive vacations at some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Active duty or spouse, retired, reserves, U.S. National Guard and U.S. veterans can receive an additional 10% savings on top of any current promotion. This is a year-round discount that is good at any Sandals Resort in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Grenada or Barbados.
A valid military ID is required for all the above discounts. Visit the specific websites for additional details, eligibility and exclusions.
