Best Places To Entertain Grandparents On A Budget In Sacramento
When grandparents come to town, you want to suggest places they can go where they will be able to take advantage of senior discounts. Transportation may be a problem if the parents work, but in Sacramento, the Light Rail and the bus both give senior discounts. Grandpa and grandma will want to spend as much time as possible with the grandchildren, so here are some of the best fun places with senior discounts that the kids will love too.
California State Parks
Pass Sales Office
1416 9th St., Room 144
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653-8280
www.parks.ca.gov
The Senior Citizen Discount at the state parks gives those 62 and older, with photo identification, a $1 discount on vehicle day use and a $2 discount for family camping in most state parks (some restrictions apply). The local state historic parks include the California State Capitol Park, Governor's Mansion, Leland Stanford Mansion, State Indian Museum, Sutter's Fort and the Old Sacramento State Historic Park. Old Sacramento State Historic Park takes you back to gold rush days with historic buildings that date back to the 1800s. Old Sacramento is a wonderful place to spend the day with the family.
Sacramento Zoo
3930 W. Land Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 264-5888
www,saczoo.org
The Sacramento Zoo is an awe-inspiring place to use the senior discount and spend the day with the grandchldren. Visiting the various mammals, amphibiams, birds, reptiles and fish may wear you out, so take the grandchildren to the Kid's World for arts and crafts. The Zoo has group activity projects of tie-dye, making a bird feeder, zoo olympics, frog life cycle and the "compare hands" activity. The Zoo offers a number of astounding ways for you to become involved with the animals and their care. A great place for children, seniors pay just $7.25 and their grandchildren that are under two are free.
The Aerospace Museum of California
3200 Freedom Park Drive
McClellan, CA 95652
(916) 643-3192
www.aerospaceca.org
Warthog and Dagger are just two of the aircrafts shown at the Aerospace Museum. Rich in aviation history, the museum constantly updates its exhibits with more current space vehicles and military aircraft. Seniors 65 and older are given a discount into the museum grounds for $6, while their grandchildren ages five and under are free. A big discount available to museum visitors is that the museum offers hotel discounts for those that are not staying with family. In addition, any active military with ID are given a free pass.
(credit: thediscovery.org)
The Discovery Space & Science Center
3615 Auburn Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95821
(916) 808-3942
www.thediscovery.org
On January 19, 2013, The Discovery Space and Science Center opened its newest exhibit called "Space Quest." A hands-on exhibit, children are able to play in the 12-foot rocket and dress as astronauts. Children under 12 make paper rockets or other astronaut-themed crafts to take home. Seniors 60 and over pay $5 on weekdays and $7 on weekends and holidays. Children three and under are free.
(credit: sackids.org)
Sacramento Children's Museum
2701 Prospect Park
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 638-7225
www.sackids.org
This museum is designed to cultivate a child's imagination and encourage them to create, laugh, test and tinker with confidence. All exhibits meet California state curriculum criteria standards and are accessible for those with hearing, visual, social, developmental, emotional and physical challenges. Seniors 60 and over, as well as the military, pay $6 for admission. Closed on Mondays, the calendar for this museum is packed. Frequent features are yoga, art class, music and dance, as well as sing-a-longs.
Related: Guide To The Sacramento Children's Museum
Deb Ling is a freelance writer covering all things Sacramento. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.