Before I go to a city,  I always look to see if they have some kind of On/Off bus tour.   This is a great way to get an introduction to a new city!    I like to take the whole loop and listen to the guide and see all of the sites.   Then I pick the spots that are most interesting to me.  I try to eat somewhere that is typical for the city and try to do at least one tacky tourist activity at each new city that I visit.    When was the last time you were a tourist in your own city?   I encourage you to adventure in your own city or town and see it as if you were a tourist.