That's amazing you guys got through that game so quick with no outside help. They did sell hint books that started off blank with a marker to uncover the hint. I got one for most games I played. As a rule I'd get stuck on some part for more than an hour, come back a day later, and still be stuck, then I'd uncover a hint. Generally using it a half dozen times to get through a game.

https://www.sierragamers.com/hint-books/

Fun fact - Sierra made more $$ on hint books for the first LSL than the game itself due to piracy issues.