10 Best City Attraction Passes to Explore and Save
Planning a big trip with kids in tow? I'm going to be honest for a sec: Between theme parks, museums, and must-see spots, you and I both know that admission costs add up fast -and I hate watching my vacation budget go down the drain when paying entry for just a family of four! So we're sharing a hot tip: Look for city attraction passes. These magical little finds bundle admission to top destinations for one price, saving you money and time so you can explore at your own pace, without the guilt of overspending.
We've rounded up some of the best to put on your radar below!
What makes attraction passes worth it?
Let’s break it down: Attraction passes are like your all-in-one ticket to explore a destination’s top spots - think museums, theme parks, tours, and more - for one set price. Instead of juggling individual tickets (and long ticket lines), you unlock multiple experiences in one simple purchase, often with built-in discounts or free admission perks. Many passes are flexible, letting you choose between a few consecutive days or even a full year of access, so you can plan around naps, rainy days, or spontaneous adventures. Plus, most are digital, making it easy to manage everything from your phone. In short, attraction passes save money, cut hassle, and open the door to more family fun.
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Here’s a look at some of the best attraction pass options we’ve found all across the country:
1. CityPASS (a CityMom favorite!)
CityPASS offers 3, 4, and 5 attraction passes to some of the largest cities in the U.S., including Philadelphia, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and more. Depending on the city, you will want to pay close attention to how long each pass is valid for (i.e. San Diego passes are valid for nine days from the day you first use the pass) and which individual attractions require reservations. All in all, a CityPASS can get you into amazing attractions like Legoland, Alcatraz, Seaworld, the Seattle Space Needle, the Kennedy Space Center, Walt Disney World, Harvard Museum of Natural History, and plenty of other attractions for entertainment lovers!
theCityMoms co-Founder Jeanine said, "CityPASS was a game changer for our NYC trip. I honestly couldn’t believe how many attractions were included - and having everything bundled into one price saved us a ton compared to buying tickets individually. Loved that the app was easy to use and loved skipping the ticket lines even more."
2. Indy Attraction Pass - Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, Indiana is a metro area with so much to see, and the Indy Attraction Pass will make sure you don’t miss a thing. Your family can choose from a one-day or three-day pass, and you’ll snag up to 50% off the admission price of individual tickets to places like the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, the Indianapolis Zoo, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
3. Explore Detroit Pass - Detroit, MI
While you’re planning your trip to Metro Detroit, make sure to grab Explore Detroit Pass to get discounted admissions to places like Peppa Pig World of Play Michigan, Sea Life Michigan Aquarium, the Detroit Princess Riverboat, and the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan. Overall, the pass offers discounts to two dozen locations and experiences that will give the entire family the best Detroit has to offer.
If you’re a Michigan native, grab your summer Michigan Activity Pass (Map Pass). This special program gives library cardholders access to cultural destinations, parks, campgrounds, and recreation areas in the state at a discounted rate.
4. Go City
Much like CityPASS, Go City gives cardholders up to 50% off major attractions in the nation’s largest cities. Not only can families choose from American cities like Las Vegas, New York, New Orleans, Miami, Oahu, and San Francisco, but they can also venture to the likes of Sydney, London, Madrid, Prague, and even Paris.
One of the can’t-miss options is the New York Pass, where you can get discounts on New York attractions like the Top of the Rock Observatory, the Empire State Building, Museum of Art and Design, the 9/11 Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, and more (Basically everything you'd want to see while exploring NYC).
Other must-see attractions across the country include the Paul Revere Museum, Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, Legoland, and Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark.
5. Klook Pass - Los Angeles, CA
Visiting Los Angeles can be overwhelming, to put it mildly. If you aren’t a California native, navigating the freeways alone can be terrifying (I’ve lived here my entire life and still use Google Maps to get around town!). The Klook Pass for Los Angeles takes the guesswork out of what you need to prioritize in terms of sightseeing. For one price, you get over 25% in savings and get access to the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood sign walking tours, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific, and more!
Klook Passes come in 2, 3, 4, and 5 attraction options, with options to add on premium experiences like Disneyland and Universal Studios.
More attraction passes we recommend looking into for your next city trip:
6. Balboa Park Explorer Pass
If your family is big on museums and you’re planning a trip to So. Cal, you’ll want to get a Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Each pass grants access to 16 museums and is valid for seven consecutive days, beginning with the day of first use. Your family will also get the opportunity to see one documentary film at the Fleet Science Center’s IMAX dome theater!
7. Attraction Pass GR
Headed to Grand Rapids? The Attraction Pass GR will get you into the best the city has to offer! Choose either a one or three-day pass and then decide which six museums you want to hit up. You’ll also get to visit a comedy club and have the option to purchase discount tickets to four other attractions like Michigan’s only professional ballet company, the longest-running professional opera in Michigan, and a laser tag arena.
8. Niagara Parks Adventure Pass Plus
While Niagara Falls isn’t officially a Wonder of the World, it’s still pretty darn cool. If you have an upcoming trip, be sure to grab the Niagara Parks Adventure Pass Plus, and you’ll get to visit some of the most amazing attractions in the world. Not only will you get to see White Water Walk, Butterfly Conservatory, Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Parks Power Station and Tunnel, Old Fort Erie, Whirlpool Aero Car, and more, but you will also get three-day access to WEGO and the Falls Incline Railway. The Niagara Falls pass also includes discounts throughout Niagara Parks’ eateries and gift shops.
9. Clifton Hill Fun Pass (NY)
There’s visiting Niagara Falls for the beauty, and then there’s visiting it with the kids, and that’s where the Clifton Hill Fun Pass comes in. Grabbing this pass guarantees the best price on all six of the Niagara Falls promenade’s attractions, which include the Zombie Attack, Ghostblasters Dark Ride, choice of either Carnival Chaos or the Toy Store 4D Ride, and a choice of Dinosaur Adventure Golf or Wizard's Golf. Each attraction is fun for both parents and kids and is a fresh new way to experience this natural wonder.
10. GetOutPass
The GetOutPass is great not just for family travels but for staycations too! Available in 31 states, these fun passes are a great way to embrace all that your local community has to offer. Parents can choose from activities like bowling, zoos, water parks, escape rooms, classes for computer coding and martial arts, indoor playgrounds, and more.
Have you used an attraction or City Pass during your travels? Which one did you pick? Message us @thecitymoms and let us know!
