From a tourists eyes... in Washington... (coupons, hotel, restaurants)

[Harbor-ator]

... In your opinion as a tourist, coming to Washington state... what do you look for in a city or town when you first arrive? Are visitors centers helpful or do you just wing it? What kind of shops do you look for? Restaurants? Sites? Museums?



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[Sandy Nelson]

Visitors Centers are very helpful if there are plenty of directional signs for them and parking nearby. I like to pick up maps and brochures and dining guides to see what there is to do in the area.

[Harbor-ator]

Originally Posted by Sandy Nelson

Visitors Centers are very helpful if there are plenty of directional signs for them and parking nearby. I like to pick up maps and brochures and dining guides to see what there is to do in the area.

Thanks for your input Sandy, what kind of shops and restaurants do you look for in those brochures?

[Chava61]

I like to contact the visitors bureau of the place that I am going to before arriving there and having maps & brochures sent to me in advance. This way I know what things of interest are there so I can plan my trip. It is quite easy using the internet to contact local/government visitors bureau (in advance of a trip) who will usually sent you for free maps & brochures.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by Harbor-ator

... In your opinion as a tourist... what do you look for in a city or town when you first arrive? Are visitors centers helpful or do you just wing it? What kind of shops do you look for? Restaurants? Sites? Museums?

My pet peeve are visitor centers that are open Monday-Friday 8-4. Much of the tourism is one the weekends when they are closed.

Some of the visitor centers are phenomenal. The visitor center on I-10 as you head from Texas to Louisiana is really great staffed with people who can answer any questions and who are very willing to take the time to see LOCAL attractions.

[Sandy Nelson]

Harbor-ator,

I look for brochure that offer coupons or discounts. The brochures should also have a map and directions to the various businesses. I also agree with the previous poster, that it's important that visitors centers are staffed on weekends.

[palepeople]

I usually do my major research in advance of arrival - but brochures with maps & coupons are always nice and I'm a big fan of good signage & well marked parking

[Harbor-ator]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

My pet peeve are visitor centers that are open Monday-Friday 8-4. Much of the tourism is one the weekends when they are closed.

Some of the visitor centers are phenomenal. The visitor center on I-10 as you head from Texas to Louisiana is really great staffed with people who can answer any questions and who are very willing to take the time to see LOCAL attractions.

Oh yes, that would irritate me too! DUh right?!? hehe

[Harbor-ator]

No one said what kinds of shops or restaurants they like to see. Do you like small mom and pop type places or big flashy type places? Bars? Wine tasting venues? Parks?

[moonshadow]

Originally Posted by palepeople

I usually do my major research in advance of arrival - but brochures with maps & coupons are always nice and I'm a big fan of good signage & well marked parking

That would be me too!

From a tourist perspective my biggest resource is the internet and I researched Washington pretty thoroughly and had planned a good deal of what I wanted to see before I arrived.

After I arrived I utilized the brochure stands in hotel lobbies, asked questions of hotel clerks, other tourist operators and people around me.

In terms of restaurants we had some places already scoped before we arrived, were guided by word of mouth for some others AND happily stumbled across a few randomly whilst we were adventuring.