Problem: You want to entertain your guests, but you don't have time. (That, or you just can't handle the local marina's "Sharks!" attraction one more time.)

Solution: Point them in the right direction. First, provide street, bus, and subway maps so they'll know how to get around. For activity ideas, start with the entertainment or About Town section of the local paper, says Stacy DeBroff, coauthor of Mom Central: The Ultimate Family Organizer (Kodansha America, $22, www.amazon.com). Guests can check out play, movie, or concert listings, as well as those for other local events. (See Online Entertainment Resources for Visitors for more ideas.)

Also, offer guests local magazines for inspiration, plus other magazines and books, so they'll have something to flip through before bedtime. With paperbacks you finished years ago, write "Please take me home" on them, says DeBroff. "Guests start reading and may want to finish them."