If you’re older than 55, 60, 62, or 65, you can take advantage of some pretty nifty discounts and specials for seniors at Virginia Beach’s attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other establishments (the age you’re eligible for these discounts will vary depending on the venue).
CBSNews.com in May 2014 named Virginia Beach as one of the Top 10 Beach Towns in the United States for Retirees in regards to its activities, amenities, its proximity to healthcare, and home prices, cost of living and more.
Everyone loves a bargain,, no matter how old we may be. That’s another reason Virginia Beach is so senior-friendly: they’re plenty of wonderful free things to do:
• Visit the beach (of course!). Virginia Beach has more than 14 miles of public beaches. None charges a fee.
• The area in and around Virginia Beach offers more than 18,000 acres of state parks as well as a natural wildlife refuge. If you’re the free-wheeling sort, bicycle through False Creek State Park or Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Explore maritime forests, freshwater marshes, barrier islands, sand dunes, and more.
• Visit First Landing State Park. This park – the most visited in all of Virginia – offers free educational programs monthly, including animal tracking, fishing in the surf and hiking.
• Virginia Beach has many celebrations, festivals, and cultural events all year long. There’s the Festa Italiana, the annual Latin Festival, a Craft Beer Festival, and so much more. Almost all are free to visit and most are either on the oceanfront or very near it.
• A visit to Virginia Beach isn’t truly complete without a visit to not one but two farmers markets. One, the Farmers Market, is open all year, while the other, the Old Beach Farmers Market, is open from mid-May through later September.
• The Virginia Beach Museum of Contemporary Art charges just $5 admission for seniors.
• The Old Coast Guard Station is just $4 for adults (so inexpensive there’s no need for a senior discount).
• The Virginia Beach Amusement Park doesn’t charge admission; it charges by the ticket (from $0.70 to $1.00 per ticket and each ride needs about four tickets). So if you’d rather just enjoy the ambiance and not try any rides, you’re free to do so!
• Walk to the top of the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse. A visit to the lighthouse and an exploration of it (all the way to the top) is just $6.
If you’re a senior, don’t be afraid to ask about discounts. Many establishments provide senior discounts as a matter of course; you needn’t be a member of AARP.
