If you're looking for more than brochures and a kiosk, try these possibilities:

1. Interactive Local History Museum
Set up a small museum or interactive exhibits that showcase the town’s history, culture, and notable figures. Include touchscreens with local trivia, virtual tours, and artifacts, allowing visitors to explore the town’s roots in a fun, engaging way.

2. Local Artisan Showcase
Feature a rotating display of local artists, makers, and artisans. Offer items like handmade crafts, artwork, jewelry, or food products that visitors can buy as souvenirs. This gives tourists a taste of the local talent and supports small businesses. It also helps ensure that what's being sold as local, is created by locals.

3. Virtual or Augmented Reality Experiences
Offer VR or AR stations where visitors can experience local landmarks in a new way or virtually step back in time to see what the town looked like in the past. This offers a fun and futuristic addition to a small town or city.

4. Local Food and Drink Tasting Area
Dedicate a section to local food and beverages—whether it’s coffee, craft beer, wine, or regional snacks. Provide samples and maybe even partner with local restaurants or producers to host pop-up tastings or cooking demonstrations. For instance, what's one of the first things most people remember about visiting Florida on a road trip? Free orange juice. In fact, it's such a big hit, in May 2024, the Florida Citrus Commission approved a $225,000 contract with Visit Florida to continue providing free orange juice at three state welcome centers.

5. Visitor “Passport” Program
Create a passport that visitors can collect stamps from local businesses or attractions. When they complete certain milestones (like visiting five local restaurants, museums, or parks), they can earn a prize or a discount at a local store. This encourages exploration and local spending. You could also incorporate this as part of your visitors map or create an electronic version.

6. Community-Driven Calendar of Events
Have a large, easily visible calendar of local events, festivals, and seasonal activities. This could be a touchscreen monitor or a digital display, constantly updating with what’s happening in town. Include things like farmers markets, concerts, or unique community traditions.

7. Hands-On Workshop or Classes
Offer short classes or workshops, like cooking demonstrations, local arts and crafts, or history walks, that let visitors engage with the local culture. You could partner with local businesses or individuals to host these workshops, enhancing the sense of community involvement.

8. Family-Friendly Areas
Create a kid-friendly space with educational games, interactive screens, a photo op, and perhaps a small play area with elements related to the town’s history or nature. A section of the center could be dedicated to families and children, ensuring visitors of all ages feel welcomed.

9. Local Storytelling Corner
Set up a space where local storytellers or historians can give short talks, read local folklore, or narrate personal stories of the town’s past. This could be live or recorded, offering an intimate way to learn about the community’s roots or how something was created in the community (such as the background to the painting of a mural).

10. Photo Opportunities
Design iconic photo opportunities in and around the center, such as mural walls, large sculptures, or scenic views. Offer visitors a chance to snap a picture with an easily recognizable local landmark in the background.

11. “Local Flavor” Gift Shop
Curate a gift shop with locally made products, from gourmet food items (local honey, sauces, jams) to crafts and memorabilia that are unique to the area. Consider adding things like postcards (vintage and current), locally produced art, or books about the region or written by local authors.

12. Outdoor Garden or Nature Walk
If the weather permits, develop an outdoor space with a garden showcasing native plants or a short nature walk with educational signage about local flora and fauna. This could also tie into the town’s natural resources, like parks, rivers, or historical landmarks.

13. Free Wi-Fi and Co-Working Space
Offer comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, and even charging stations for digital nomads and tourists needing a break from sightseeing. This could make your center a great spot for remote workers or travelers to recharge and explore the area at their leisure.

14. Collaborative Social Media Wall
Set up a digital social media wall that highlights photos and posts from visitors who tag the location or use a specific hashtag. This creates a sense of community and excitement around the center and encourages visitors to share their experiences.

15. Taking It Outside the Office
One of the best ways to meet visitors where they are is to do so outside of the office. If your chamber is fortunate enough to have a location in a high-traffic area, you’ll get a lot of walk-in requests but if not, you may have to consider something else.

The MedellinTravel APP (created by the Greater Medellin Convention & Visitors Bureau) is an innovative mobile application designed to enhance the travel experience in Medellin. It serves as a comprehensive guide, offering real-time information on tourist destinations, attractions, events, restaurants, and local activities. Features include a home section, links of interest, discounts, an augmented reality camera, a georeferenced city map, emergency lines, and a podcast-style audio guide, enabling efficient trip planning and exploration.
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If you’re reading this and thinking, “There’s no way we can do this. We don’t have the money,” think again. There may be some local and/or federal funding that you could qualify for. For instance, in Washington County, Oregon, the Strategic Investment Grant Program: Explore Tualatin Valley’s (ETV) is a competitive award that launched this year. It’s offered to organizations/projects that promote cultural and economic growth, while inspiring destination awareness and overnight visitation to the county.

By combining education, entertainment, local culture, and interactive experiences, your visitors center could be more than just a place for information. It could be a true attraction that enriches the visitor’s experience and fosters a deep connection with the area. And tasty nibbles always help.