Older folks in Michigan will be pleased to know that there are numerous exciting offers and deals available to make all of the things you love more affordable. From the local music museums, to adult education opportunities, to ski resort deals, here are the 10 best senior discount offers in Michigan!
Part of the Motown Museum in Detroit, visitors can check out the history of Motown Records, one of the biggest forces in American music in the 1960s. Its impact is felt even today, and those who remember Motown songs from their youth will be able to check out the museum of same at a discount. Those 62 and older can get in for a hefty 33 percent discount, getting in for $10 instead of the usual $15 on Tuesday through Sunday rates.
Want a great overview of Michigan's history in one building? Hit its capital, Lansing, to check out the Michigan History Museum, considered to be the “flagship” installation of the entire Michigan History Museum System. With everything from a three-story topographical map to a series of costumed interpreters, it's one of the more interesting museum's Michigan's got in play. While normal admission is $6, those aged 65 and up get in for just $4, which is another 33 percent discount.
Tanger Outlets, a multi-state outlet mall operation with locations in Howell and Byron Center, has a great package for seniors thanks to a connection with AARP. AARP members need only present their card at any Tanger Outlets Shopper Services location to get a free coupon book offering roughly $1,000 in savings at the Tanger Outlets stores. This includes stores from Woven Pear to Bedford Fair and a host of options between these rhyming bookends, so for those who want a lot of little discounts all in one place, this is a terrific choice.
It's one thing to get a discount at a restaurant—there are plenty of those out there—but Royal Oak has something more specific yet more extensive in mind. Royal Oak offers the Senior Tuesday program. Those 55 and older who get a registration card with the city get access to 20 percent discounts before 6 p.m. on any Tuesday, at 13 different restaurants. Whether it's burgers at Bastone, brunch at Pronto!, or seafood at Lily's Seafood, Royal Oak offers tons of options.
For seniors who are members of Blue Cross Blue Shield or Blue Care Network Medicare Advantage, you'll have access to one doozy of a discount: SilverSneakers. The SilverSneakers program offers up unlimited access to over 14,000 gyms nationwide, as well as various fitness classes at both parks and rec centers. You'll effectively have a nationwide gym membership with most of the perks and bennies accordingly.
The state of Michigan has an exciting discount for senior hunters and fishermen. While a Michigan resident pays $26 for an annual all-species fishing license, for seniors that drops to just $11. A hunting/fishing combination license goes from $76 for residents—$266 for non-residents—to just $43 for seniors.
Travel is a big part of seniors' lives, to one extent or another, and for those who hop an Amtrak train, there's a hefty discount waiting. Those 62 or over can get in on a 15 percent discount for most trains, and when leaving Michigan to head for Canada—and a weekend trip to Canada isn't out of line in Michigan—a 10 percent discount is waiting. It takes no small amount of time to get from one side of Michigan to another, and Amtrak can offer some help here.
Mt. Zion, part of the Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, offers 20 acres of skiable area, complete with rope tow and chair lifts. It's got a cross-country trail, and three levels of difficulty in the skiing trails ranging from “easiest” to “most difficult.” While it's probably not anyone's first idea when it comes to a ski resort, for seniors it's got one great feature to it. Those who ski Mt. Zion who are 62 or older can do so at no charge, making it one of the biggest discounts around.
Houghton's Michigan Technological University has a terrific offer for those 60 and up: the college will waive tuition and all related fees for up to two courses held on campus every semester. So, no matter what you've got an interest in, if you can find it in their course catalogs, you take it for free. Despite the name, it's not just for technology, the university has courses in cultural anthropology, art appreciation, beginning acting and a host of others.
Home of inexpensive diner food all over, Denny's has a special thanks to the folks at AARP. Those with their relevant cards can get 15 percent off everything, all day, every day. From burgers to pancakes, seasonal specials and beyond, there's no shortage of options here. Throw in online ordering and delivery from at least some locations and you'll have the complete package, all with hefty discounting thanks to AARP.