Annual Passes for Summer Savings
May 15, 2009 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under Seasonal Savings, Thrifty Travel, children's activity
Annual passes to parks and attractions are one of the best ways to stretch your summer activity budget. For example, the zoo in my town offers admission prices as follows:
- Adults (12-64) = $9.75
- Youth (3-11) = $6.75
- Children (2 and under) = FREE
I have my 8-year-old son and I so it’ll cost us $16.50 just to go to the zoo once! Holy right. However, my zoo, like most zoos offers plenty of membership offers that make going to the zoo way more affordable.My son and I could get a $54 Zoo 4 Two annual membership that allows us free admission for a year, free parking, reciprocal admission benefits at over 120 zoos nationwide, discounts on Zoo train rides, gift shop purchases, and educational camps and classes, and much more. Going to the zoo just 4 times during the year more than pays us back for the membership.
Start looking for annual memberships at various local places in your town. Usual suspects include: zoos, museums, state gardens, theme parks, and more. If you’re looking for annual passes that will garner you savings on summer vacations check out the following:
America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Annual Pass – Cost $80: Gets the pass holder/s and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle into national parks at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas. (children under 16 are admitted free).
The National Park System also offers:
- Senior Lifetime Pass. – Cost $10.
- FREE lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities.
- FREE pass for park volunteers acquiring 500 service hours on a cumulative basis.
Get a pass for the state parks in your state – at least the ones that still charge admission.
If your family likes to camp you should check out the KOA Value Kard Rewards program. You earn points for each qualifying stay at a KOA Kampground which gain you $ off other stays. There’s also a 10% savings on daily registration fees at any KOA Kampground. Best of all KOA benefits are only $24 per year.
Which annual passes does your family typically buy?
[image via stock.xchng]
Alot of times, yearly memberships to these type places are tax deductable!
Oooo, I forgot that. Thanks for the tip!