Additional Senior Deal Discoveries

By Tiffany Peng

In our November issue, we detailed senior savings exclusive to Northern Virginia Magazine readers with proof of age. Continue below to check out where to score additional deals on dining, entertainment, travel and education for the 55-and-older crowd.

SHOPPING
On the first Tuesday of every month, seniors aged 55 and older who shop Senior Day at Belk department stores receive a 15-percent discount off their entire purchase. And every Tuesday, the same set gets a 10-percent discount at Ross stores (check for participating locations).

Other retailers don’t require shopping on a particular day. Examples: Goodwill gives seniors aged 55 and up a 20-percent discount on their entire purchase, excluding new items, daily. And, similarly, some Banana Republic locations offer a 10-percent discount to seniors aged 65 and older every day.

DINING
Some of the deals we discovered include the following: Arby’s (10 percent off for ages 55-plus), Burger King (10 percent off for ages 55-plus), Dairy Queen (10 percent off for ages 55-plus), Taco Bell (10 percent off for ages 65-plus), and McDonald’s (64 cents for coffee, iced tea or soft drinks for ages 55-plus). Again, due to a modern age of franchising, these discounts can vary depending on the location, so it’s best to call ahead of time to find out if a particular location is a participating one or not.

For those who prefer to sit and stay a while, Bob Evans restaurants offer seniors aged 55 and older a special senior menu that includes lower prices and smaller portions. Other chains that offer a special senior menu include Denny’s (for seniors 55-plus), IHOP (for seniors 55-plus) and Friendly’s (for seniors 60-plus).

Additionally, Old Country Buffett allows seniors aged 60 years or older to purchase a Senior Club Card for just $1, which grants seniors discounts on every adult buffet meal they purchase for one year. For those who do not wish to purchase the Senior Club Card at Old Country Buffet, every weekday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., seniors 60 years or older receive a discounted adult buffet meal for only $5.99. Still more dining deals: AARP cardholders receive 20 percent off at Boston Market, and seniors aged 65 and older save 10 percent at Pizza Hut.

ENTERTAINMENT
Nearly all area movie theaters offer some form of a discounted movie ticket for seniors, including local, independently owned theaters. For instance, Cinema Arts Theatre in Fairfax offers Wednesday Senior Day, where seniors ages 60-plus can watch $4 movies.

If you enjoy catching live acts on the cheap, check out Wolf Trap. The performing arts park offers a senior citizen discount of 50 percent for in-house tickets for those adults ages 65-plus starting a half hour prior to performances (subject to availability).

Of course, it’s always good to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, too, and seniors 62-plus can purchase for a small price the America the Beautiful Senior Pass, which provides access to all U.S. National Parks and a 50-percent discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees on facilities and services such as camping and swimming. Go to http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm for more information.

The Virginia Department of Recreation and Conservation offers a variety of discounted senior citizen passes for admission to Virginia state parks as well as for parking, boat launching and amenities, which include camping, park merchandise, equipment rental and shelter/amphitheater rentals. Additional information is available here: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/.

TRAVEL
If you happen to live in the City of Alexandria and are at least 60 years old, you may want to pay attention to this. The City of Alexandria Department of the Aging offers seniors who live in Alexandria taxi services for only $2 to visit grocery stores and pharmacies within the Alexandria city borders. They will also take seniors to medical facilities in a radius of five miles outside of the city (excluding Lorton, Woodbridge, D.C. and MD) for only $2.50. Call 703-836-1840 the DAY BEFORE to make a reservation or to apply. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed on weekends and holidays).

Elsewhere, the Seniors-On-The-Go! taxi program is available through the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. Seniors who are at least 65 years old and meet certain income criteria can participate in this program, which includes taxi coupon booklets that are worth $33, but only cost $20. If you apply and are eligible, you may purchase up to $528 worth of booklets a year with an actual cost of only $320 per year. (Residents of the City of Alexandria and the City of Falls Church are not eligible).

EDUCATION
Thinking about taking some classes but don’t want the headache of homework and exams? The Osher Lifetime Learning Institute (OLLI) at George Mason University offers daytime classes, lectures and special events led by qualified OLLI members and teachers from George Mason University. Classes meet for 90 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays for four terms—a total of 26 weeks per year—at locations in Fairfax, Reston and Sterling. OLLI members are entitled to a George Mason photo ID card and with it can enjoy many campus privileges. Aside from class, OLLI also offers various social and volunteer activities.

The annual fee is $350 for membership at all three sites and $150 for a Loudoun-only membership. There is also an introductory rate of $150 for one term.

(November 2009)

Tags: deals, dining, discount, Education, Entertainment, savings, seniors, shopping, Travel