Any time I visit a city during my travels, one of the hardest things I have to decide is which sites I should see and which ones I should skip. Though this is often due to a lack of time in any one place, the other major hurdle I have with city exploration is how expensive it can be to squeeze in several museums, exhibits or galleries into a few days.
Enter the Go City Card, an awesome way to see a lot of things for a relatively low cost, given how many things these cards cover. They are available for purchase through Smart Destinations, which offers these cards and a variety of other passes to explore several notable sites for one low price in one– or multi-day increments.
For example, check out all of the Los Angeles attraction deals you’ll find with the L.A. card, and the Go Card Chicago covers museums, lake cruises, aquariums, planetariums and more. If you can fit it into the time allotment you’ve bought, you can visit the attraction at no additional cost beyond what you’ve paid for your Go City Card.
I’ve never used a Go City Card myself, so I can’t vouch for how well they work and if they’re cost effective (though they seem fairly straight forward if used wisely), but the folks at Smart Destinations have offered to give one of the readers of Kaleidoscopic Wandering two three-day Go City Cards to the destination of their choice (valued at about $100.00-$180.00 each, depending on the city chosen). The cities offered are:
Blue Ridge, North Carolina
Boston, Massachusetts
Chicago, Illinois
Los Angeles, California
Miami, Florida
Oahu, Hawaii
Orlando, Florida
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California
Seattle, Washington
Toronto, Ontario
To win these two three-day Go City Cards: Simply leave a comment letting me know which of the above cities you would most like to explore with one of these cards. I will use Random.org to choose a winner on Friday, June 17, and that winner will receive two Go City Cards to the city they’ve chosen. The cards expire approximately one year after the winner is drawn, but once the three-day cards are actually activated, they must be used over the course of the following three days. The way I figure it is that you can use these cards during your summer vacation; over Thanksgiving, Christmas or Spring Break of next year; during a long weekend; to immerse yourself in somewhere new or explore your own hometown if you live in one of these destinations.
My own personal rule is this: My husband can’t enter this contest, but family, friends and readers worldwide are welcome to enter.
If you win, I’d love to know if you enjoyed your Go City Card experience once you’ve had a chance to use them!
Good luck!
UPDATE: We just drew a winner for this contest, and Random.org drew number 11. Our winner for the two three-day Go City passes is Abby! Thanks to everyone for participating!
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Christina
I’ve never heard of the Go City Card but it sounds fantastic.
I would love to use them to explore:
Toronto and Seattle
Thanks for the heads up on this.
May 30, 2011 at 5:50 am
Kia
Ooooh, these look like a super fantastic idea! Contemplating a Seattle visit now!
May 30, 2011 at 7:02 am
Leigh
I always do the same old things in Seattle. A Go City Card for Seattle would send me in some new directions. I love the fact the contest is open to people on a worldwide basis. I’ll mention it in my Fabulous Friday post.
May 30, 2011 at 8:24 am
Jenna Vandenberg
Tough choice, but I’m going with Boston. That way I can squeeze in a ball game between Go City stops. Thanks for the contest!
May 30, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Alouise
These cards sound like a great idea. I’d love to go back to Seattle and explore that city again. I’ve also always wanted to go to San Fransisco.
May 30, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Rebecca Stinson
I’d love to visit and explore all the cities, but if I had to choose I’d use the Go City cards for Boston or San Francisco.
May 31, 2011 at 7:24 am
Scott - Quirky Travel Guy
Great idea for a contest! I’d like to enter and pick Miami. I’m going there in the fall for the first time and can’t wait to see what the city has to offer.
May 31, 2011 at 10:16 am
Stephanie Vobornik
I have used the cards on my trip to San Diego a few years ago. I loved it and would recommend it to others. They are a great value and simple to use. I would explore Chicago if I won the cards. Although it is so close to home for me I’ve never taken the chance to explore and that would give me a great opportunity for a long weekend get away!
May 31, 2011 at 11:20 am
Carol
I would love a selection of things to do while visiting Seattle, San Francisco, or Oahu!!
May 31, 2011 at 11:51 am
Pamela Wolfe
Tough decision, but I’d choose San Diego, California.
Thanks!!!
May 31, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Abby
Great contest, JoAnna!! I’d have to choose LA because it’s the closest city, so I know I’d actually use it. And also because I left LA under some testy circumstances — this would be my chance to fall in love with it all over again!
May 31, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Cam
San Franscico California!
May 31, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Pola
San Fransisco
June 1, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Jade
I’d love the San Fran one! Fun!
June 1, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Becky Gillespie
I would love the one for San Diego. It’s my hometown, but there are many “touristy” things I’ve never experienced.
June 1, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Fiona
What a great idea! I’ve been meaning to accompany my husband on a trip to Toronto for some time.
June 1, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Emily
I would love to win a pair for Seattle! My husband and I plan to go there for the first time at the end of the summer in addition to Vancouver as our delayed honeymoon. We got married in March but weren’t able to take a real honeymoon since he’s in law school. It would be awesome to have the Go City Cards to save us money!
June 1, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Sophie | Sophie's World
I’m not entering the contest, since I’m not going to North America this year. But Blue Ridge, North Carolina… wow, never even heard of it. That’s a major draw in itself. Just googled it and it looks beautiful.
June 2, 2011 at 12:24 am
Kieron
Oahu, Hawaii — it’s the first destination on our RTW in two months time!
June 2, 2011 at 5:38 am
Alison
I would love to use the cards in Seattle!
June 2, 2011 at 8:11 am
Nicole
Cool contest. Will be on the look out for these when I get to North America later this year!
If I had to choose one it would be Chicago, no.. Boston, wait a second Toronto. Yes, certainly Toronto! (For something a bit different!)
June 2, 2011 at 8:22 am
Molly
Chicago would be awesome — I love the planetarium
June 2, 2011 at 10:53 am
Jerry Spierenburg
I am planning on taking my 6 yearold son to Disneyland in October. So it would be great to have a pass to see other places in LA/ San Diego area.
June 2, 2011 at 11:53 am
Steve Coombs
Of the locations listed, I would love to explore the following two most:
Miami, Florida
Toronto, Ontario
(A close 3rd would have been Seattle, Washington)
Thank-you,
Steve
June 2, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Malia Yoshioka
Since I live in Oahu, Hawaii, I’d love the opportunity to have a staycation here and use the Go City Card! But San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston sound fabulous as well. =)
June 2, 2011 at 7:48 pm
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures
Blue Ridge, North Carolina
What a fun contest!
June 3, 2011 at 6:35 am
Deb
I would like to use Toronto Ontario. I need to be tourist in my hometown.
June 3, 2011 at 7:04 am
Jill
Have to go for Toronto. Got to the Botanical Garden once but didn’t stay in town any longer. A beautiful city from the little I saw.
June 3, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Corina
Would love love love this in Toronto or LA !!
June 4, 2011 at 10:54 am
Gray
Sounds very convenient. I’d use the card in San Diego. I’m pretty good at cramming in a lot of sightseeing in a couple of days.
June 5, 2011 at 5:58 am
Tori Tango
I would love to se Seattle! I’ve used one of these passes before and they make things so easy
June 5, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Jordan
I would love to explore Seattle!
June 6, 2011 at 1:30 am
Jeremy
Boston and Seattle! Manifest Destiny for the win!
June 7, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Cheryl Probst
We go to Seattle a lot for my medical appointments. It would be fun to do other things over there.
June 8, 2011 at 11:46 am
suki
Boston or Chicago!
June 8, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Andrei
I’d definitely like to explore Oahu, Hawaii with one of these cards.
June 8, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Tiffany @ Simply Shaka
Wow, this is an awesome contest. I would have to say Chicago would be my pick. I was just there last wk (may be a potential city to move to) and I didnt get to explore enough!
June 8, 2011 at 4:14 pm
michelle
oahu and chicago!
June 9, 2011 at 9:27 am
Diane Schade
Seattle would be great my husband and I will be there
for some fun and business in July
June 12, 2011 at 6:56 pm
Kimberly
I have lived in Chicago for years and unless I have a visitor in town I never seem to splurge on the sights expressly for my own enjoyment. I would love to gain the opportunity to explore my splendid Chicago all day long for three days straight!
June 17, 2011 at 6:17 am
JoAnna
We just drew a winner for this contest, and Random.org drew number 11. Our winner for the two three-day Go City passes is Abby! I’ll be in touch with you soon, Abby, about getting the passes to you. Thanks to everyone for participating!
June 18, 2011 at 7:13 am