The CityPass people have been around for several years now in the USA, with an admirable money-saving system for seven US cities, offering discounts and...passes. For example, the CityPass for New York costs $38 and will get you into seven of the Big Apple's most famous attractions. Full price admission to all would be a whopping $85. Almost as important as the extra cash not spent is the fact that you won't have to wait in line at each place to buy tickets. Flash your pass and waltz right in--saving you both time and money.
In New York City, you get admission to the following: Empire State Building Observatory, the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum (on an aircraft carrier anchored on the Hudson), The Museum of Modern Art (temporarily relocated to Long Island City in Queens during renovation of its Midtown Manhattan site), the Guggenheim Museum, the American Museum of Natural History (with its famous Rose Center for Earth & Space), the Whitney Museum of American Art and a Circle Line Harbor Cruise. A YouthPass for ages 12 to 17 is also sold, a $68.50 value for $31. Being honest, the firm says you can also buy a CityPass for children ages 3 to 11, "but the cost is not a savings, though you will again avoid waiting in line."
Other CityPass/sites include:
Boston--John F. Kennedy Library & Museum, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium and Skywalk Observatory at Prudential Center.
Chicago--The Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science & Industry, Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum, Shedd Aquarium and the Hancock Observatory.
Hollywood--Universal Studios, Starline Movie Star's Home Tour, Entertainment Museum, American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, Museum of Television & Radio, Petersen Automotive Museum, Autry Museum of Western Heritage.
Philadelphia--Academy of Natural Sciences, Franklin Institute Science Museum, Independence Seaport Museum, Trolley Tour, Zoo.
San Francisco--7-day Unlimited Cable Car & Muni Public Transportation Pass, California Academy of Sciences & Steinhart Aquarium, Exploratorium, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise, Museum of Modern Art.
Seattle--Space Needle, Museum of Flight, Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, Pacific Science Center, Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo.
For American CityPasses, go online to www.citypass.com. You can also purchase your passes in person once you are in your destination at a variety of locations. For a complete list of on-the-ground purchasing points, go to www.citypass.com/where/index.html.