Bandwango in the Wild: How We’re Using Our Own Passes to Explore, Sip, and Save

At Bandwango, we spend a lot of time talking about economic impact, marketing ROI, and DMO strategy – but for us, there’s so much more to it. We aren’t just the people building these passes. We’re the people using them too.

When the weekend hits or we’re traveling for work, our Slack channels aren't just filled with feature requests; they’re filled with photos of half-eaten tacos, empty wine glasses, and "Look who I found at the visitor center!" selfies.

Whether we’re checking into a waterfall trail on a Sunday morning or taking advantage of a good discount at a favorite restaurant, here’s a look at the Bandwango team “in the wild.” Because if we aren’t obsessed with exploring our partners' destinations, how can we expect anyone else to be?

‍

Where We’ve Been Checking In

Our Customer Success Onboarding Manager, Megan Smith, loves to explore – and she’s got a knack for finding great experiences wherever she goes. On a weekend trip to Columbia, South Carolina, she checked in along the Sally Salamander Trail. While driving through Pennsylvania, she made sure to stop for a sweet treat on the Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trail. And during a trip through West Virginia, she spent time chasing waterfalls and checking in at multiple stops on the West Virginia Waterfall Trail.

She’s also discovered a few great beer spots along the way, including the Cheers! Trail in Henderson County, North Carolina and the Space Coast Beer Trail along Florida’s Space Coast. 

Megan’s done quite a bit of traveling to find great places, but she supports local, too. As a Raleigh resident, she’s completed both the Raleigh Mural Trail and the Raleigh Beer Trail – and has the Beer Trail t-shirt to prove it.

‍Jason Tarr, our Customer Success and Events Director, makes the most of his work trips by getting out and exploring beyond the conference center. While attending the Colorado Governor's Conference in 2025, he accepted Visit Colorado Springs' challenge to “arrive early and stay late” through their Colorado GovCon Attendees Pass. He explored Garden of the Gods and even caught the Manitou Springs Coffin Races, along with several other local experiences. He also used the Pikes Peak Region Attractions Digital Coupons Pass to visit “America’s Mountain,” Pikes Peak.

But he doesn’t limit his pass adventures to conferences. On a trip to attend the Iowa–Oregon football game, Jason used the Cities of the Big 10 Itinerary to find great things to do in the Iowa City and Coralville area before and after the big game.

And during a visit to Bakersfield, California to accept an award on his father’s behalf, he used the Bakersfield Selfie Trail to rediscover his dad’s hometown – the same place his parents first met in high school!

‍‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍‍

Our very own CEO, Mo Parikh, used the Visit Oceanside O’Side Sips Pass while in town for the One West Tourism Alliance MarTech Summit. He checked in at Vigilante Coffee Company, which was the perfect open-air spot to get some work done before the conference. In addition to a GPS check-in, Mo redeemed 10% off a bag of freshly roasted decaf beans and grabbed a cold brew pick-me-up before heading to the Summit.

In his words, “I love finding these hidden gems. I wouldn’t have known about this place if it wasn’t for the O’Side Sips Pass.”

‍

Maclaine Kuehn, Bandwango’s Director of Marketing and a Utah local, has put the Salt Lake Explorer Pass to good use. She’s checked off every attraction on the pass, snagging discounted admission to some of Salt Lake’s most popular spots.

The 365 Pass has been perfect for year-round exploring, with stops like the Snowbird Tram and Tracy Aviary in the summer, and the Natural History Museum of Utah and Red Butte Garden when the weather cools down. It’s helped her explore places she hadn’t visited before, even as someone who already calls Utah home.

‍

‍

‍Bandwango COO Jenna Spinks made a tasty stop during a just-for-fun weekend trip to Kansas City. Her check-ins on the Kansas City BBQ Experience Pass not only earned her some delicious food, but a fun KC bottle opener prize!

Turns Out… We’re Big Fans

We could keep going on and on, showcasing all of the great spots our team has visited, the prizes we’ve redeemed, and the discounts we’ve racked up along the way. But the moral of the story is, we love our partners, we love exploring new cities, and of course, we really love a good discount on a local beer.

We don’t just work for Bandwango because it’s our job; it’s because we believe that every destination has a story worth telling and a local business worth supporting. So, if you see someone at a local business checking in on their phone, snapping pictures of great food, or repping a pass t-shirt... say hi. It might just be one of us!

‍

Are you out in the wild using a Bandwango pass? Tag us in your photos! We love seeing our partners' communities through your lens.

‍