Most hotels have a display set up in the lobby filled with tourist brochures – all of the fun things you can do while you are in town. These brochures are also a great way to plan family fun activities if you are a local resident. They are filled with details about your favorite attractions and sometimes even include special offers or discounts.

In fact, that’s exactly how I heard about the CityPass. I picked up several brochures from a nearby hotel when I had house guests visiting from out of town. We pin-pointed a few places and found it to be the best way to save on top tourist attractions.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when using tourist brochures to plan your family fun activities.

Visit a nearby hotel

If you live or work near a hotel, pick up a few brochures at least a week before your planned outing. Peruse the brochures while in the hotel lobby and only take the ones you know your family would enjoy visiting.

View and swap

Once you’ve selected the brochures, give one (or more) to each family member then swap brochures until each person has had an opportunity to look at all of the attractions.

Prioritize the fun

Decide as a family which attractions are a “must see” and which ones can wait. Make a list of the attractions you plan to visit. List the ones with the highest priority at the top. Consider factors such as season, cost, hours of operations, etc. when making your decision.

Pass it on

Don’t toss your brochures.  They are great items to include in house guest welcome baskets and are also invaluable when planning the family Staycation!