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10 New Holiday Self Guided Walking Tour Ideas for BIAs
The holiday season is a massive opportunity for small towns and BIAs, but the pressure to drive foot traffic is real. The solution isn't a bigger budget—it's a smart, self guided walking tour that leverages your existing charm. We’ve collected 10 fresh, engaging ideas—from 'Elf Hunts' to 'Ugly Sweater Showcases'—to help you launch a rewarding, low-staffing campaign that gets people shopping local and exploring your main street this winter.

Andrew Applebaum
4 days ago5 min read


Seasonal Tourism Marketing That Works: 7 Real Ideas from Towns Like Yours
Ever feel the pressure of the changing seasons, wondering how to keep your town buzzing year-round, not just during peak times? As a small-town tourism marketer or a BIA communications manager, you know that visitors often have specific interests tied to the time of year. But translating that into concrete, engaging tourism marketing strategies that actually work can be a real head-scratcher, especially with limited time and resources.

Andrew Applebaum
Oct 314 min read


How a Walking Tour App Can Turn Local Wanderers into Lifelong Fans
Ever feel like your visitors are just skimming the surface of your destination, missing out on the real heart of the community? Or worse, that your local residents aren't truly engaging with the unique stories and businesses right in their own backyard? It's a common challenge for DMOs and BIAs: how do you foster deeper connections and create a lasting impression with limited resources? Often, they're looking for an immersive travel experience that's just not easy to find on

Andrew Applebaum
Oct 274 min read


Think Museum Audio Guides Are Boring? Let’s Bust That Myth (and Prove It’s Wrong)
Picture this: You’re standing in a quiet museum, perhaps a bit overwhelmed. You see a sign for an audio guide, and instantly, a dusty, old-fashioned device with crackly sound comes to mind, right? Maybe you even picture a monotone voice droning on, making you feel more bored than enlightened. (It’s a common image, and honestly, a few old guides probably earned it!)

Andrew Applebaum
Oct 244 min read


Behind the Magic: How One Festival Created a Living Digital Experience with Driftscape
As an event coordinator or festival planner, you pour your heart into creating unforgettable moments. You dream of every attendee feeling truly immersed, discovering new artists, and staying connected long after the last curtain call. But how do you extend that magic beyond the physical event space, especially when your audience is on the go and hungry for more? (It’s a real challenge, making an ephemeral event leave a lasting digital footprint!)

Andrew Applebaum
Oct 224 min read


How to Record an Audio Tour on Your Phone: A Step-by-Step Guide for Budget-Conscious Tourism Teams
Don't let a small budget stop you from creating an incredible audio tour! This how-to guide shows budget-conscious tourism teams how to use a smartphone to record high-quality audio content and launch a self-guided experience. With a simple script and the right audio tour app, you can bring your destination’s stories to life and enhance visitor engagement without spending a fortune.

Andrew Applebaum
Oct 135 min read


What If a Digital Passport Could Help DMOs Increase Visitor Engagement in Under 30 Minutes?
DMOs can now launch a custom digital tour guide in minutes using Driftscape’s free trial. Just enter your top places — our AI fills in the photos, hours, and descriptions automatically. Map mode, directions, and even AR included. It’s fast, shareable, and built to show what your destination could look like with smart tourism tools.

Andrew Applebaum
Oct 103 min read


How to Launch a Heritage Walk That Locals & Visitors Love
Is your town's history hiding on dusty plaques? Learn how a modern heritage walk app can transform historical sites into a dynamic, self-guided adventure for locals and visitors. This guide provides a 5-step checklist for creating a compelling heritage walk, from unearthing stories to gamifying the experience for greater engagement.

Andrew Applebaum
Oct 64 min read


Why a Museum App Isn’t Just for Exhibits: 6 Ways to Extend Visitor Engagement Outdoors This Fall
Don’t let visitor engagement end at your museum's doors! Learn how to use a museum tour app to create self-guided, outdoor experiences that connect your institution to the community. From seasonal scavenger hunts to historical walking tours, discover six creative ways to leverage the autumn season and keep visitors engaged with your stories long after they've left your exhibits. It's a simple, powerful way to extend your reach and show that the best stories are found right ou

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 244 min read


How to Build a Self-Guided Cycling Tour With an Audio Guide App
It's a crisp autumn day, and visitors want to get out and explore, but a staffed event is too much work. Learn how an audio guide app can help you create a low-cost, high-impact self-guided cycling tour. This guide shows you how to capture stories with your phone, map your route, and promote the tour to make it an unforgettable seasonal adventure.

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 224 min read


How to Boost Tourism This Halloween: 20 Self-Guided & Spooky Ideas
Looking to attract more visitors this Halloween? This guide shows how to boost tourism this spooky season by using a self-guided tour app. Get 20 creative ideas for spooky tours and scavenger hunts that engage both locals and visitors, while also supporting local businesses and generating valuable buzz.

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 194 min read


How to Create a Haunted Walking Tour With Spooky Audio (No Tour Guide Needed)
Looking to create a spooky Halloween experience? This guide shows how a walking tour audio app is the perfect low-cost solution for a self-guided haunted tour. Learn how to transform your community's spooky folklore into an engaging, self-guided adventure that drives visitor engagement and provides valuable data.

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 174 min read


How to Create a Fall Farm Tour with an Interactive Tour Guide App
It's a huge opportunity for local farms and businesses this fall, but how do you make it all feel like one cohesive event? Learn how an interactive tour guide app can connect farms, local shops, and visitors into a seamless, self-guided tour that boosts foot traffic and celebrates the best of the season.

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 153 min read


Fall Strategies for Helping Visitors Shop Local and Stay Longer
The busy summer season is over, but fall is a huge opportunity to keep the momentum going. A local culture app helps you create engaging campaigns that inspire visitors to explore your entire town, supporting local businesses and extending their stay. Learn how to launch a themed tour with gamification and rewards to drive foot traffic and track your success.

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 123 min read


How to Boost Fall Tourism: 20 Self-Guided Tours, Hunts & Ideas That Work
Looking to attract more visitors this Halloween? This guide shows how to boost tourism this spooky season by using a self-guided tour app. Get 20 creative ideas for spooky tours and scavenger hunts that engage both locals and visitors, while also supporting local businesses and generating valuable buzz.

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 104 min read


Create a Fall Heritage Walk: A Self-Guided Tour to Explore History, Foliage, and Local Shops
Fall is the perfect time for a heritage walk! Learn how a digital app for heritage sites can help you create a seasonal self-guided tour that drives visitor engagement and supports local businesses. This guide covers everything from mapping your route to adding scavenger hunt elements and using a mobile tour platform to bring history to life.

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 84 min read


Back-to-School, Back to Exploring: How Travel Guide Apps Can Inspire Local Fall Adventures
The post-summer lull is a perfect time to inspire local exploration! Learn how a customizable interactive travel guide app can create engaging, self-guided tours that motivate residents and visitors to support local businesses. This guide helps you create themed adventures, gamify the experience with rewards, and promote the story to boost engagement.

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 23 min read


You Don’t Need Fancy Tools—Just a Vision. Here’s How to Create a Tour They’ll Love
Ever felt like creating an amazing self-guided tour means you need a massive budget and a dedicated tech team? As a tourism pro, I know the drill: tight resources, endless tasks, and the pressure to engage visitors effectively. It often feels like you need some secret wizardry to bring your local stories to life, especially when you're managing a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), a Business Improvement Area (BIA), or a cultural attraction. (Spoiler alert: You absolute

Andrew Applebaum
Aug 256 min read


Expand Your Reach: Driftscape Now Speaks Spanish
Spanish auto-translation is now live in Driftscape. 100% of your English content—tours, POIs, listings, captions—can be viewed in Spanish (and French) by default, no extra uploads or cost. Visitors can switch a single item to Spanish (or French) or set the whole app language. Powered by Google Translate, with full control to edit phrasing in the CMS. Reach more travelers and boost engagement without changing your workflow.

Andrew Applebaum
Aug 212 min read


You Don’t Need a Tech Team to Build a Tour That Locals Love and Tourists Share
Ever felt that surge of pride when someone truly "gets" your town? As a BIA manager, chamber director, or tourism coordinator, you know the unique stories, hidden gems, and vibrant businesses that make your community special. But how do you share that magic beyond official guides and brochures, especially when resources are tight and a dedicated tech team feels like a pipe dream? (Believe me, I hear you!) It's all about delivering an amazing immersive travel experience.

Andrew Applebaum
Aug 75 min read
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