Your Guide To (Discount) Summer Fun

Save on North Carolina vacations through PERQS, the employee discount program

June 18, 2012 | Marsha A. Green

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Heidi Cope purchased discounted tickets to Biltmore Estate for her family through PERQS, Duke's employee discount program. Photo courtesy of Heidi Cope.

Durham, NC - With two young children, Heidi Cope is eager to take vacations that don't involve long journeys or big spending. Last year, she used PERQS, Duke's staff and faculty discount program, to save on visits to Tweetsie Railroad and Biltmore in the North Carolina mountains.

"I always check PERQS when I'm planning a vacation to see what's being offered," said Cope, a genetic counselor for the Duke Center for Human Genetics. "It's a great way to save."

Tweetsie Railroad

North Carolina Zoo

Carolina RailHawks

Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe

RushHour Karting

Here's a tour of some North Carolina destinations offering discounts to Duke employees:

Biltmore Estate

Completed in 1895, George Vanderbilt's 250-room chateau is regarded as an architectural and historical gem. With Duke's discount, admission price for adults is $42 to $49 (regularly $49 to $54). Children 16 and under are free to September 4.

Last September, Heidi Cope visited Biltmore in Asheville with her husband, Jason, and their children Emma and Easton. "For my daughter, it was like visiting a castle," Cope said.

Tweetsie Railroad

Go on a Wild West adventure at Tweetsie Railroad theme park near Blowing Rock. Admission is $29 for adults and $17 for children ages 3 through 12 when using the Duke discount.

North Carolina Zoo

Get some face-to-face time with animals at the North Carolina Zoo near Asheboro. Discount admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 2 through 12.

Carolina RailHawks

Kick back with professional soccer at a Carolina RailHawks game in Cary. Duke employees receive a 20 percent discount on adult tickets. Children ages 3 through 5 get in for $5.

Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe

Heather Rabalais, administrative assistant in Duke Pathology, uses the PERQS discount to save her family $9.49 per ticket to cool off and splash around at the water park near Greensboro.

RushHour Karting

Get a group of five adults together and save 20 percent per person on indoor, high-speed go-kart races at RushHour Karting in Garner. Each race includes a five-minute practice, six-minute qualifier and 10-minute race.

Durham Performing Arts Center

Don't miss seeing Chicago this summer at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Duke faculty and staff receive a 10 percent discount to select shows.

For a full list of PERQS discounts, visit www.hr.duke.edu/discounts.

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