Staying Fit
Choosing destinations that feature military-related sites amongst civilian attractions can add depth and enjoyment to any getaway.
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Here are five vacation options that combine great sightseeing, military interest and veterans discounts to offer you the best of all worlds. Pack your suitcase!
Our Nation’s Capital — Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C., tops the list of vacations tailor-made for veterans because it’s simply a powerhouse of enjoyment for visitors. A range of museums and sites are free to all, including the National Museum of American History, the National Gallery of Art, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Zoo, and the U.S. Botanic Garden, among many others.
The local museums are joined by a stunning array of sites that will interest military-minded visitors, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery. There are also numerous civil war battlefields within an hour-and-a-half drive, including Manassas, Antietam, and Gettysburg.
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The Big Apple — New York City
Summer is a good time for a New York visit because a large number of the city’s museums are free to military families all summer under the Blue Star Museums program. You get free access to some of the museum world’s heavy hitters: the American Museum Of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, along with many others.
Other NYC attractions provide freebies and discounts to veterans, including free entry to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, a 30 percent discount to shows at Carnegie Hall, and half-price tickets at the New York Aquarium. And there are many other activities to help make your New York vacation one to remember, including Broadway plays, fine dining, a trip to the Statue of Liberty, or a walk in Central Park.
California Dreamin’ — San Diego
A central reason to visit San Diego is the famous SeaWorld, which provides veterans and up to three dependents free admission once each year through the Waves of Honor program. But this sunny SoCal locale has far more to offer. A number of the city’s museums are among those free to military families all summer under the Blue Star Museums program, including the San Diego Museum Of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the New Children’s Museum.
