Great Deals in Burlington

Posted October 26th, 2010

We all know Burlington has a lot to offer and it’s hard to keep up with all the things to do in town. There are also some great deals for older adults that are hidden treasures in a town full of opportunity. We asked several groups that provide programming to share their best deals to help you experience Burlington for less. And because we know we will miss some things, leave a comment below and tell us what you know about free, discounted, or inexpensive opportunities to learn, exercise or see a great show.  

Sssshhhh…the Fletcher Free Library might be the best deal in town offering a wide range of free lectures and workshops. You can learn a foreign language, a new computer program, or attend Vermont Humanities Council lectures with nationally know scholars, journalists and authors. Check out the Book Discussion Group which meets monthly, provides books for free, and offers a 20% discount on four Flynn Center performances linked to book discussions.

Another way to see Flynn shows for less—and not have to drive at night--is to attend a student matinee. Tickets go for $8.50 - $12.50 each and a full listing of matinees is available on the Flynn website. To find out about availability and reserve a ticket call the matinee coordinator at 652-4571.

As a college town, our thirst for knowledge is nearly universal. In an AARP survey, 80 percent of Burlington residents said that having educational opportunities was very or somewhat important to them. No wonder educational opportunities abound in the Queen City. ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center is branching out into adult programming with Café Scientifique, which is free at 6:30 on Thursday evenings. A cash bar and hors d’oeuvres help get you in the mood for thought-provoking presentations on hot topics like pulsars, sequencing the human genome, and creationism in the classroom.

Fletcher Allen Health Care offers free Community Medical School lectures with top faculty experts each semester. This fall’s topics covered everything from heart attacks to obesity prevention. And perhaps the best deal of all is at the University of Vermont where Vermonters age 65 and older can audit courses for free. Find out more by calling Continuing Education at 656-2085.

With winter coming perhaps a place to exercise indoors might be needed. The Greater Burlington YMCA offers a free drop-in senior swim, with wheelchair ramp access if needed, on Friday’s from 2-4 p.m. Additional free or low-cost exercise programs at the Burlington and Winooski sites include the B-Fit Water Exercise Program, Tai Chi, and a Senior Strength, Flexibility and Balance Class.

Walk indoors for free Monday-Friday from 8-10:30 a.m. at the Miller Center, 130 Gosse Court, in the New North End. Staff is available to help if needed and you can set goals and track your progress. Burlington’s Heineberg Senior and Community Center and Champlain Senior Center also both offer a variety of health and fitness programs for little or no cost.

Did we miss something others should know about? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.