By Maryann Hammers
What does vacation mean to you? Whether you want to hit a few balls or hit the road, schuss down mountaintops or sail the New England coast, we found some fabulous military offers.
Golf in Tucson, Ariz.
The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson offers a $99 golf package for active duty servicemembers. It includes a one-night stay plus 18 holes of golf. (Regular room rates start at $89 and a round of golf normally is priced at $59, so this represents a savings of about $50.) The Lodge at Ventana Canyon is an all-suite, AAA Four Diamond hotel with two championship golf courses, 12 lighted tennis courts, a fitness center, a spa, and a swimming pool. For reservations, call (520) 577-4042 and ask for the “Fore Our Heroes” package.
Explore nature
Active duty servicemembers and dependents of deployed servicemembers get a free annual “America the Beautiful” National Park pass valid at more than 2,000 national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests and grasslands, plus areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.
Not on active duty? Disabled veterans might qualify for a free lifetime pass. And anyone over age 62 can buy a lifetime pass for just $10, with discounts on various amenities (swimming, camping, and boat launches). Find more info here.
Ski for free (or nearly free)
Active duty servicemembers get free lift tickets every day except Saturday and certain holidays throughout the 2014-15 season in Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows . The Lake Tahoe resort in Northern California features 6,000 skiable acres with 42 lift ands and 270 trails. Just show your military ID at the Guest Services and Sales Center. Call (800) 403-0206 for information.
In Washington State, Crystal Mountain Resort , next to Mount Rainier, has half-price ski and snowboard military days Feb. 5, March 6, and April 12. Call (360) 663-2265 for additional discounts on lodging, lessons, rentals, and tickets.
Disabled or special needs military members (active duty and retired) and their families can book ski or snowboard lessons for just $30 a day at the Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, Colo. “We specialize in outdoor adventures for people with disabilities. In the winter, our activities include alpine and Nordic skiing, ice climbing, snow boarding, ski biking and snowshoeing,” says spokesperson Staci Bradbury. “Adaptive sports allows military members with disabilities to build confidence, learn life skills, and spend quality time with their families.” The price includes a full- or half-day lesson, lift ticket, and ski or board rental. (This is regularly priced at $190.) Act fast! The offer is valid through Jan. 31. Call (866) 349-2296 for information or to book a lesson.
Image of Mount Rainier.
Road trip
Silvercar, which promotes itself as the “the world’s first hassle-free car rental company,” offers retired and active duty servicemembers a 50-percent discount on their first rental (and 15 percent off future rentals) through Dec. 31, 2015. Here’s the fun part: You get to drive a fully loaded (with GPS, Wi-Fi, and satellite radio) silver Audi A4 — with no lines, counters, or paperwork. “The entire rental experience, from reservation to return, [is handled] through an easy-to-use mobile app,” says spokesperson Amber Soletti.
Rentals are available in Austin, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Rates vary by date and location, but the average regular weekday rental price is $89/day; weekends run about $59/day (so your price is half that).
To get your 50-percent discount, download the Silvercar app and book your reservation, using promo code THANKS4SERVICE. The promo code for the 15-percent discount is MILITARY15 (use this when you previously booked with Silvercar and already received a 50-percent discount). You can just use one promo code at a time, and will have to show your military ID in person to validate the discount. For information, call (855) 359-2227.
Sail the Maine coast
Active duty servicemembers get a 25-percent discount on a cruise on the Victory Chimes , the largest and only original three-masted passenger schooner in America. Prices for active duty servicemembers and their families range from $488 to $750 a person for a three- to six-day cruise, including meals, activities, and accommodations. (By way of comparison, regular prices range from $650 to $1,000.)
Wonder what you’ll do all day aboard a windjammer? “Start with the smell of wild Maine blueberry muffins baking in a wood-fired oven. Up on deck, passengers enjoy a cup of fresh-brewed coffee as they gaze out at the gentle morning mist,” says Meg Maiden, a representative for the Maine Windjammer Association. “They will see seals, porpoises, and the occasional whale or puffin. Days are spent sailing around the 3,000 spruce-clad islands off Maine’s coast and then anchoring for the evening in a protected cove. In the afternoon, guests are free to row a dinghy, explore an island or quaint New England town, or just relax on deck.”
Sailings take place from June to October. Call (800) 745-5651 to book.
For more vacation adventures, see these previously posted deals: “A Really Big Adventure,” “Ski and Stay in Colorado” (we published this last year, but the deals are ongoing for this season, too), and “Fun in Florida”.