Watson Adventures: New York Public Scavenger Hunt Schedule: NYC

CHOOSE YOUR CITY: BOSTON • CHICAGO • LOS ANGELES • NEW YORK
PHILADELPHIA • SAN FRANCISCO • WASHINGTON, D.C.

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NEW YORK AREA PUBLIC SCAVENGER HUNTS

See your world with new eyes on a scavenger hunt. Teams of up to six people will tackle tricky, humorous questions about the objects and places discovered. Don’t have a team? We’ll help you find kindred spirits at the start of the hunt. No knowledge of any hunt location is required—you just need a sharp mind and a good pair of shoes. More than 150,000 hunters served since 1999. See the rave reviews.

Advance purchase is required for all hunts. To purchase tickets, go to the Calendar or Descriptions of the Hunts, or call our ticketing service, OvationTix at 866-811-4111 (Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Please note that there is a $1 surcharge for phone orders.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE HUNTS

GREATEST HITS: MOST POPULAR HUNTS & LOCATIONS

Central Park
• The Secrets of Central Park Scavenger Hunt
• The Secrets of Central Park Family Scavenger Hunt

Chinatown & Little Italy
• The Gangsters’ New York Scavenger Hunt
• The Munch Around Chinatown Scavenger Hunt

Grand Central Terminal
• The Grand Central Scramble Family Scavenger Hunt
• The Secrets of Grand Central Scavenger Hunt

Greenwich Village
• The Ghosts of Greenwich Village Scavenger Hunt, for Adults
• The Ghosts of Greenwich Village Family Scavenger Hunt
• The Munch Around the Village Scavenger Hunt
• The Secrets of Greenwich Village Scavenger Hunt

Metropolitan Museum of Art
• New! The Art of Darkness Scavenger Hunt
• The Met Madness Scavenger Hunt
• The Murder at the Met Scavenger Hunt
• The Naked at the Met Scavenger Hunt
• New! The Whodunit Family Scavenger Hunt
• The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt

Museum of Natural History
• The Fright at the Museum Family Scavenger Hunt
• The Murder at the Museum of Natural History Scavenger Hunt
• The Museum of Natural Hysteria Scavenger Hunt
• The Museum of Natural Hysteria Family Scavenger Hunt

FROM THE REPERTORY

Bronx Zoo
• The Animal Magnetism Scavenger Hunt
• The Wild Wildlife Scavenger Family Scavenger Hunt

Brooklyn
• The Naked Brooklyn Scavenger Hunt at the Brooklyn Museum
• The Skyline Scavenger Hunt in Brooklyn Heights

The Cloisters
• The Cloisters Capers Scavenger Hunt

East Village
• The Secrets of the East Village Scavenger Hunt

High Line & Meatpacking District
• The High Line at Sunset Scavenger Hunt

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
• New! The All Hands on Deck Scavenger Hunt

Madame Tussauds’ Wax Museum
• The Wax Attacks Scavenger Hunt

Midtown Manhattan
• Grand Central Terminal
• The Haunted Times Square Scavenger Hunt, for Adults
• The Ho-Ho-Holiday Midtown Family Scavenger Hunt
• The Midtown Holiday Movie Locations Scavenger Hunt

New-York Historical Society
• The New York History Mysteries Scavenger Hunt

SoHo
• The SoHo Chocolatey Scavenger Hunt

Wall Street & Battery Park
• The Lost New York Scavenger Hunt
• The Revolutionary New York Scavenger Hunt

New Jersey
• The Hidden Hoboken Scavenger Hunt
• The Princeton Prowl Scavenger Hunt
For additional locations for private hunts, see New Jersey Hunt Locations.

See locations in Connecticut available for private hunts

GREATEST HITS: MOST POPULAR HUNTS & LOCATIONS

CENTRAL PARK

The Secrets of Central Park Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times, Time Out New York and Newsday
See the best of the park and discover places you might never otherwise visit. Highlights include a bird sanctuary (find out why birds won’t go near it), the Carousel (featured in Catcher in the Rye), the Dairy (yes, kids could once get fresh milk there from farms outside the city), Strawberry Fields (almost named for Bing Crosby!), the Sheep Meadow (and, nearby, the former nightspot for the sheep, now Tavern on the Green), the Mall (intended to be the only straight path in the park), Bethesda Fountain and the Lake (made from a swamp). Along the way, you’ll uncover hidden messages, secret symbols, writing in the sky, movie and TV locations, hidden history and Balto the wonder dog. Advance purchase required.

The Secrets of Central Park Family Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York and the New York Times
Kids and adults work together to explore the park below 72nd Street. To score points, you’ll have to find Stuart Little, stick your tongue out at a rude animal, learn the motto of a hidden eagle, decipher a secret code by the pond seen in Home Alone 2, spot Cupid at the Carousel, unscramble a message in the sky, and find a witch turned to stone. For ages 7 and up. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and vice versa. Advance purchase required.

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CHINATOWN & LITTLE ITALY

The Gangsters’ New York Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York, the New York Times and the New York Post
Discover the bygone haunts and battlegrounds of gangs and gangsters in Little Italy and Chinatown. You’ll also discover cafes, bakeries, teahouses, stores, markets, historic buildings, TV and movie locations and more. Along the way, you’ll discover the answers to such questions as: What word got rubbed out where Joey Gallo ordered clams and got slugs? What place associated with Lucky Luciano and Jimmy Hoffa has traded mobsters for lobsters? What beasts stand guard where Don Corleone got shot? And at the Bloody Angle, what can you do with a “fun goon”?

The Munch Around Chinatown Scavenger Hunt
Treat your taste buds to an exotic adventure in a culinary wonderland. Discover the most unusual and enticing restaurants, cafes, markets and even food carts in Chinatown and neighboring Little Italy. You’ll not only answer our usual array of tricky questions, you’ll also be challenged to acquire and taste such foods as dumplings, roti canai (Malaysian fried bread), popcorn chicken, mini cakes hot off the grill, bubble teas, “Zen butter” ice cream, pizza, cannoli cupcakes, egg custards, banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), rice balls, “stone chocolate” and “yummy bread.” Be sure to bring one digital camera per team. The price does not include food purchases, because we want you to have a wide range of options to suit your taste, your budget and your diet. We’ll point you toward our favorites, but the ultimate choice is between you and your tummy. (You’ll probably spend less than $10.) Advance purchase required.

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GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL

The Grand Central Scramble Family Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by GoCityKids.com, New York Magazine, the New York Times,
Time Out New York Kids, New York Family Magazine, MommyPoppins.com and Private Clubs Magazine
Kids and adults work together to uncover the secrets of this amazing train station. To win, you’ll have to go nuts in the Whispering Gallery, learn a secret about the stars, find TV celebs in the food court, stand on fish under an upside-down tree in the Grand Central Market, learn the arrival time of a “ghost” train and think like Willy Wonka in the Transit Museum Gallery. For ages 7 and up. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and vice versa. Advance purchase required.

The Secrets of Grand Central Scavenger Hunt
Discover little-known passageways, the latest exhibit at the Transit Museum Gallery, the gourmet foods of the Grand Central Market, the stunning Art Deco lobby of the Chrysler Building, the fate of the famed Biltmore Hotel clock, a hidden waiting room, the eclectic food court, mysterious marks on the main hall’s constellation ceiling, the secret symbol of the Vanderbilts, the uncanny Whispering Gallery and more. The hunt is all indoors, so no need to worry about the weather. Advance purchase required.

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GREENWICH VILLAGE

The Ghosts of Greenwich Village Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York, the New York Times, the New York Post, Newsday, the Daily News, About.com, NewYorkology, NY1 and Going.com
Armed with a flashlight, you’ll visit ghost-plagued buildings and secret cemeteries while learning the stories of the restless souls you might disturb. Starring the spirits of Mark Twain, Aaron Burr, Edgar Allen Poe, Washington Irving, Thomas Paine, artist John LaFarge, The Shadow, Clement Clarke Moore, Mayor Jimmy Walker, Lee Chumley, Patrolman Schwartz, a few skeletons and various other apparitions, sudden chills, rustlings and knockings. Advance purchase required.

The Ghosts of Greenwich Village Family Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York Kids, the New York Times, the Daily News, About.com and Private Clubs Magazine
Kids and adults work together to uncover the stories of creepy places and the ghosts that have haunted them. Starring secret cemeteries, looming skeletons, the haunted homes of Edgar Allen Poe and Mark Twain, bats on a building, Dickensian door knockers, Harry Potter’s nemesis and a gorilla in a window. Not recommended for children under the age of 7. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and vice versa—teams with only adults are not permitted on this hunt. Advance purchase required.

The Munch Around the Village Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York, Newsday, the New York Times and NFT (Not for Tourists)
At last, a hunt for people who literally hunger for adventure. Discover the gourmet delights of Greenwich Village while collecting treats and answers along the way. Starring some of the best pizza, kebab, cheese, cannolis, paratha, gelato and peanut butter you’ve ever had. Be sure to bring one digital camera per team. The price does not include food purchases, because we want you to have a wide range of options to suit your taste, your budget and your diet. We’ll point you toward our favorites, but the ultimate choice is between you and your tummy. (You’ll probably spend less than $10.) Advance purchase required.

The Secrets of Greenwich Village Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York
Become reacquainted (or acquainted) with one of the city’s most fascinating neighborhoods on one of our most popular hunts. You’ll search twisty streets packed with history, including the hangouts of rockers, writers, poets and painters, from cafes and clubs near NYU to quiet West Village coves with some of the city’s oldest houses. Highlights include the homes of Mark Twain, O. Henry, Thomas Paine, Detroit Tiger Hank Greenberg and TV’s Friends gang; the city’s narrowest house; the club where Jimi Hendrix was “discovered”; the site of a Weather Underground bomb factory; and a gorilla in our midst. Advance purchase required. No hunts currently scheduled. Sign up for the hunt newsletter to keep posted!

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METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

New!The Art of Darkness Scavenger Hunt
Get into the spirit of Friday the 13th by exploring the creepy side of art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Artists definitely have a dark side, and you’ll discover it at your peril while searching for skulls and skeletons, hideous monsters, severed heads, horrifying devices, mortifying martyrs, cold-blooded killers, freaky beasts, and other assorted ghouls in the galleries.

The Met Madness Scavenger Hunt
Here’s our original, classic hunt, the one that started it all back in 1993. On this unforgettable tour of the best of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you’ll discover some of the most startling and humorous works in galleries you never knew existed. Highlights include the Egyptian Temple of Dendur, a tranquil Chinese garden, ancient animal mummies, a saint’s tooth, an incontinent Cupid and a medieval Mick Jagger. No knowledge of art is required, but you’ll finish the hunt eager to return.

The Murder at the Met Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times, Time Out New York, New York Magazine, New York Post, Newsday, AM New York, Going.com and About.com
Fans of murder mysteries and The Da Vinci Code will enjoy this scavenger hunt throughout the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A murdered curator has left behind a cryptic trail of clues connected with secrets in works of art. As your team gathers answers about the art, you begin to piece together a sordid tale about greed, lust, pride, revenge and treachery, all revolving around the museum’s planned multi-million dollar purchase of a rare painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The murder victim knew too much—and now it’s your turn to learn what he knew and discover what drove one of four suspects to commit murder. To find out, you’ll have to crack a secret code left in the victim’s appointment calendar. Can you figure out who dunnit? The darkened and less crowded galleries in the evening make a setting perfect for...murder. (Cue sinister laugh.) Warning: This is our most challenging hunt. We strongly recommend hunting with a team of three or more. If you sign up with fewer than three people, we suggest pairing up with others at the start of the hunt to form a larger team. Advance purchase required. Which Met hunt is right for you?

The Naked at the Met Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times, Time Out New York, Daily Candy,
Metromix, Village Voice, Going.com and The Star-Ledger
Search for nudity in art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You’ll scrutinize paintings, sculptures, period rooms, sultry sirens, a literally bronzed Adonis, a medieval codpiece, an incontinent Cupid and a randy reveler who’ll make you exclaim, “I never sausage behavior!” No previous experience with art, or nudity, is required. If you’ve done our Murder at the Met Hunt, prepare yourself for something completely different—a lighthearted romp featuring new questions, new exhibits and lots of humor. Advance purchase required. Which Met hunt is right for you?

New! The Whodunit Family Scavenger Hunt
A crazed killer is on the loose at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and it’s up to you to stop him! The killer has created a scavenger hunt that, when completed, reveals his name, the weapon he used and where he hid the body in the museum. He sent the hunt to the police and dared them to try to solve it. The police need your help. You’ll get a list of suspects, weapons and hiding places that are all items in the museum. By following the trail of clues and answering tricky questions, you’ll narrow the list of suspects, weapons and places and provide the police with the evidence they need to catch and convict the killer. Can you figure out whodunnit? No knowledge of the museum or art is necessary. You just need sharp eyes and comfy shoes. This hunt is for ages 10 and up. Each team must include at least one kid and one adult, with a maximum of six per team. We recommend more than two people per team for the best sleuthing.

The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times, Going.com, GoCityKids.com, CBS New York, Time Out New York, Time Out New York Kids and MommyPoppins.com
Follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in search of art that echoes characters, places and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. Be prepared to track down a powerful sorceress, a Snape-like potions master, flying owls and dragons, Hagrid-like giants, centaurs and unicorns like those you’d see in the Forbidden Forest, strange mermaids and sharks that seem straight out of the Triwizard Tournament, fierce knights in armor, and cloaked and masked figures as scary as any Death Eater or Dementor. Wizards and muggles (i.e., people who aren’t Potter experts) can play and enjoy this game. The hunt is not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures, but instead references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. It’s a great way to discover—or rediscover—the Met. This hunt is designed for kids and adults to do together, but all-adult teams will be allowed to compete separately. Kids must be accompanied by adults. For ages 10 and up.

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MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

The Fright at the Museum Family Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times, NewYork.com, City Guide, GoCityKids.com, NY1 and Private Clubs Magazine
If you enjoyed Night at the Museum, you’ll love this adventure, which features exhibits in the Museum of Natural History that inspired scenes in the hit movie. Kids and adults work together to take on Dexter’s capuchin monkey cousin, a not-so-woolly mammoth with tooth trouble, personal items that belonged to Teddy Roosevelt, a dance that Sacagawea would have done, a scary Easter Island statue, an attack by a monster whale, a slice of a giant tree, humongous warring mooses, Aztec and Incan warriors, dangerous dinosaurs and more. Please note that if you would not take your kids to see Night at the Museum, then you should not take them on this hunt. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and vice versa—teams with only adults are not permitted on this hunt. Advance purchase required. If you plan on checking coats or hats, arrive at least 15 minutes early—the coat check lines are staggeringly slow.

The Murder at the Museum of Natural History Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times, Newsday and Time Out New York
Someone, or some thing, has been bumping off museum staffers involved in acquiring a sacred Egyptian relic. Is it the dreaded Curse of Ahtchu? Or is a serial killer on the loose? Your team of sleuths will have to crack a hieroglyphic code and uncover the museum’s secrets to stop the killings. Warning: this is one of our most challenging hunts. We strongly recommend hunting with a team of three or more. If you sign up with fewer than three people, we suggest pairing up with others at the start of the hunt to form a larger team. Advance purchase required. If you plan on checking coats or hats, arrive at least 15 minutes early —the coat check lines are staggeringly slow.

The Museum of Natural Hysteria Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York and the New York Times
Do you dare discover the dark side of the Museum of Natural History? On this hunt you’ll see how nature sees you as a walking target. Mother Nature is red in tooth and claw, and that includes some of the warriors and tribes on display. Highlights include a headhunter’s ax, venomous liquor, killer earthquakes, real shrunken heads, X-rated Aztecs, a skeleton or two, and a dinosaur larger than a T-Rex. This ain’t your elementary school field trip to the museum. This hunt is for adults only. Advance purchase required. Please note: This hunt was previously known as The Museum of Natural Hysteria 2: The Naked and The Damned. If you plan on checking coats or hats, arrive at least 15 minutes early —the coat check lines are staggeringly slow.

The Museum of Natural Hysteria Family Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times, Time Out New York and New York Magazine
Kids and adults work together in the American Museum of Natural History to take on a monster squid, rampaging dinosaurs, a whale with a new bellybutton, a hidden gorilla, a crouching cannibal, and more. Not recommended for children under the age of seven. Kids must be accompanied by adults, and vice versa—teams with only adults are not permitted on this hunt. Advance purchase required. If you plan on checking coats or hats, arrive at least 15 minutes early —the coat check lines are staggeringly slow. No hunts currently scheduled. Sign up for the hunt newsletter to keep posted!

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FROM THE REPERTORY

BRONX ZOO

The Animal Magnetism Scavenger Hunt
See the best of the zoo as you discover creatures you never suspected were there—or anywhere! Find out why it’s hard to grab a degu, why your neck is like a giraffe’s, what the Good Humor man might deliver to a tiger, and how to look right through a grizzly bear. Starring baboons, bats, rats, reptiles, and many more critters. Bring a digital camera for our crazy team photo challenges (and see if you can get a monkey to smile at you). (We let you get your own admission on this hunt so you can choose the entrance that works best for you and, if you like, arrive early and have lunch at the zoo. But don’t arrive too early and tire yourself out walking around!) Advance purchase required.

The Wild Wildlife Family Scavenger Hunt
See the best of the zoo as you discover creatures you never suspected were there—or anywhere! Find out why it’s hard to grab a degu, why your neck is like a giraffe’s, what the Good Humor man might deliver to a tiger and how to look right through a grizzly bear. Starring baboons, bats, rats, reptiles and many more critters. Bring a digital camera for our crazy Team Photo Challenges (and see if you can get a monkey to smile at you). For ages 7 and up, and kids must be accompanied by an adult (and vice versa). (We let you get your own admission on this hunt so you can choose the entrance that works best for you and, if you like, arrive early and have lunch at the zoo. But don’t arrive too early and tire yourself out walking around!) Advance purchase required.

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BROOKLYN

The Naked Brooklyn Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York, the New York Times, the New York Post, Brooklyn.com, Going.com and the Brooklyn Paper
Go in pursuit of nudes at the amazing Brooklyn Museum, starring Nefertiti, Venus, Rodin, Balzac and molasses. Along the way, you’ll explore Ancient Egypt (and musicians playing an unusual instrument), African fertility objects, voluptuous Hindu goddesses, impish Impressionists and a naked dog whisperer in a Jazz Age den. Advance purchase required.

The Skyline Scavenger Hunt in Brooklyn Heights
For the best views of Manhattan and the harbor, you have to go to Brooklyn Heights. You’ll also see movie locations, famous writers’ homes, baseball landmarks, Underground Railroad stops, a Revolutionary battleground—all in the city’s most beautiful neighborhood. Starring Truman Capote, Cher, Thomas Wolfe, Henry Miller, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Norman Mailer, Jack Nicholson, Jackie Robinson, George Washington, Walt Whitman and the Brooklyn Bridge. Advance purchase required.

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THE CLOISTERS

The Cloisters Capers Scavenger Hunt
Explore the Cloisters and solve mysteries like a latter-day Brother Baskerville, the monk sleuth in The Name of the Rose. Discover gruesome faces hidden in demons, take a ladder to Heaven or fall into the mouth of Hell, learn why dead princes sleep with dogs, find a frog hiding near a famous unicorn, relax in garden retreats and take in breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Palisades. If visiting the Cloisters has been on your bucket list, a hunt is the perfect opportunity to journey through one of upper Manhattan’s most unusual treasures.

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EAST VILLAGE

The Secrets of the East Village Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Time Out New York
Uncover the radical roots of this racy neighborhood as you visit the haunts of Charlie Parker, Washington Irving, Andy Warhol, the Velvet Underground, the Who, Led Zeppelin, Abraham Lincoln, Lenny Bruce, Peter Stuyvesant, Carrie Bradshaw, Iggy Pop, W.H. Auden, Joey Ramone, Madonna and even Leon Trotsky and Dom DeLuise. Along the way, you’ll learn the answers to such questions as: What revolutionary ingredient did Peter Cooper’s wife add to his dessert? What’s left of the Filmore East? What eerie detail at a church foreshadowed the General Slocum disaster? What startling sight stirred the sawdust at McSorley’s in 1970? And what “cubist” wants you to remember the Alamo on Astor Place? Highlights include TV and movie locations, St. Mark’s Church, Tompkins Square Park, Indian restaurant row, hurly-burly St. Mark’s Place, the last remnant of the Fillmore East, the remains of the city’s most aristocratic neighborhoods, the scene of a notorious riot over Macbeth, and a mini Ukraine. Advance purchase required.

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HIGH LINE & MEATPACKING DISTRICT

The High Line at Sunset Scavenger Hunt
Sunset is the most dramatic time to enjoy the views atop New York’s newest, utterly unique park, the High Line, built atop an old elevated railway. This becomes the spine of your quest to explore the Meatpacking District, the trendy “new” neighborhood that has sprung from an area of warehouses and historic buildings. You’ll experience assorted chic sights, buzzing sounds, rough-and-tumble textures, savory tastes and enticing aromas. Aside from a stroll along the High Lines wild-flower gardens amidst old rails, highlights include the gourmet extravaganza that is Chelsea Market (birthplace of the Oreo), glitzy new restaurants boutiques, a hotel that took in survivors from the Titanic, movie locations, the blocks where Herman Melville once worked and Alexander Hamilton died, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s home before they moved to the Dakota. Advance purchase required.

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THE INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

New! The All Hands on Deck Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times
Get a salty taste of adventure on the seven seas without leaving New York on a unique scavenger hunt aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. From the “vulture’s row” above to the mess hall below decks, you’ll clamber through passageways, peer into cockpits and spy other sights most people get to see only by enlisting. You’ll search for answers to tricky and humorous questions while seeing film footage of the Intrepid in action, witnessing a kamikaze experience, focusing on the fo’c’s’le, espying the coolest spy plane, cracking a code in the Combat Information Center, and much more. No previous knowledge of the Intrepid is required—you just need sharp eyes and comfy shoes. Advance purchase required. No hunts currently scheduled. Sign up for the hunt newsletter to keep posted!

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MADAME TUSSAUDS’ WAX MUSEUM

The Wax Attacks Scavenger Hunt
Go on our campiest, most pop-culture-filled hunt as you tackle questions at Madame Tussauds' wax museum. Starring Napoleon, Branjelina, Hillary, Gretsky, Mick Jagger, George Washington, Superman, Beyoncé, and many more. Bring a digital camera for the Team Photo Challenges.

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MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

The Haunted Times Square Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by About.com, NY1, NewYorkology and Going.com
There’s a crisis at WAPS (the Watson Adventures Paranormal Society): our esteemed leader, Dr. R. Isaac (“Izzy”) Paulson has disappeared while investigating ghosts in the Times Square area. We need you to help answer the question: Izzy dead? To find out, you’ll visit places said to be haunted, learn the legends and, we hope, make contact with spirits using EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) and Paulson’s version of a Ouija board. The Great White Way will turn into the Great Fright Way as you uncover the creepy stories connected with theaters, old hotels, vanished buildings and other eerie locales. You’ll find out who’s been haunting such places as the Belasco Theater, Radio City Music Hall, the New Amsterdam Theater, the Harvard Club and the Algonquin Hotel, plus cursed locations where gangsters and other fiends met their fates. Advance purchase required. No hunts currently scheduled. Sign up for the hunt newsletter to keep posted!

New! The Ho-Ho-Holiday Midtown Family Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Going.com
Kids and adults discover the best of midtown’s holiday displays on this seasonal scavenger hunt, including Grand Central Terminal, the model train display in the Transit Museum Annex, window displays along Fifth Avenue, the Rockefeller Center tree and other festive highlights. Kids must be accompanied by adults and vice versa. Advance purchase required.

The Midtown Holiday Movie Locations Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Going.com
See the best of midtown’s holiday displays by visiting places associated with holiday movies, including Home Alone 2, Scrooged, Miracle on 34th Street, and Elf. Stops include Grand Central Terminal, the model train display in the Transit Museum Annex, window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, and the Rockefeller Center tree. By the way, this hunt is for adults. Advance purchase required.

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NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The New York History Mysteries Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by the New York Times
Discover a treasure-trove of New York City–related art and artifacts, all in a museum that recently underwent a three-year renovation. The hunt features fascinating temporary exhibits, as well as the permanent collection in the Luce Center, which is like the city’s attic, containing surprising treasures that include George Washington’s cot, a piece of a statue pulled down during the Revolutionary War, old presidential campaign buttons, Aaron Burr’s death mask, bygone police equipment, antique toys...in sort, something for everyone!

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SOHO

New! The SoHo Chocolatey Scavenger Hunt
The perfect hunt for those adventurers with a sweet tooth! While finding answers to tricky questions, you’ll be visiting a variety of chocolate shops, bakeries and specialty shops throughout SoHo. Treats spotted along the way will include tropical fruit caramels, bacon candy bars, lavender macaroons, spiced hot chocolate, cupcakes and rice pudding in more than 31 flavors. Be sure to bring one digital camera per team. The price does not include food purchases, because we want you to have a wide range of options to suit your taste, your budget and your diet. We’ll point you toward our favorites, but the ultimate choice is between you and your tummy. (You’ll probably spend less than $10 per person, at least if you share with your teammates and pace yourself.)

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WALL STREET & BATTERY PARK

The Lost New York Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by Going.com and The Village Voice
Visit the place where New York began, the southern tip of Manhattan, on a hunt that reveals the hidden and easily overlooked traces and places of the bygone city. You’ll explore such “lost New York” locations as the twisty streets laid out by the Dutch, the location of vanished and transformed forts, places where the Founding Fathers walked and fought, burn marks left by the enormous fire of 1776, and a fence that bears the scars of a revolutionary riot. You’ll enjoy amazing changes in scenery, from eye-popping interiors to the canyons of finance to Battery Park’s sweeping views of New York Harbor. You’ll even encounter Hollywood in places used as locations for such movies as Ghostbusters, Men in Black, Working Girl, National Treasure and The Day After Tomorrow. Come find out why this is one of our staff’s favorite hunts. Advance purchase required.

The Revolutionary New York Scavenger Hunt
Recommended by The New York Times and Time Out New York
Discover downtown sites where the Founding Fathers battled the Brits--and each other. Highlights include Alexander Hamilton’s grave, Federal Hall (where Washington was inaugurated), the street where Jefferson lived (and brokered the deal to move the nation’s capital to Washington, D.C.), Fraunces Tavern (where Washington bid farewell to his officers and where Hamilton worked as Secretary of the Treasury), a place where Washington slept, Bowling Green (with a fence bearing the scars of patriot fervor), a former hanging ground, a bank founded by Aaron Burr, Battery Park, singe marks from the great fire of 1776 and more. It’s a great, fast-paced tour of the Wall Street area. No previous knowledge is required whatsoever. Note: If you’ve participated in The Secrets of Wall Street Scavenger Hunt or The Lost New York Scavenger Hunt, you may recognize some of the questions.

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NEW JERSEY

The Hidden Hoboken Scavenger Hunt
One moment you’ll be on a street of 19th-century homes, the next you’ll be on a bucolic campus with sculptures on green swards, and the moment after that you’ll gasp at a spectacular view of the Hudson and the New York skyline. Highlights include native son Frank Sinatra’s homes and places where he sang; the location of Elysian Fields, where the first baseball game was played; old-time German and Italian restaurants, bars and bakeries; locations from the movie On the Waterfront; plus cobblestone streets and a literal yellow-brick road. Advance purchase required. Offered in spring and fall.

The Princeton Prowl Scavenger Hunt
A whirlwind tour of the best of Princeton, New Jersey, and the delightful Princeton University campus. See for yourself why this is one of our staff’s favorite hunts. The historic town—where George Washington defeated the British—and the stunning campus combine to provide a hunt landscape that is filled with history, outdoor sculptures, dramatic Gothic and ivy-clad buildings, goofy gargoyles, famous Americans and amazing views. Guest stars include Russell Crowe (from locations for A Beautiful Mind), F. Scott Fitzgerald, John F. Kennedy, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Henry Moore, Aaron Burr, Woodrow Wilson, Albert Einstein, William Hurt (from locations for One True Thing), David Duchovny of The X-Files, Meg Ryan (in the movie I.Q.) and an enemy bulldog. We highly recommend making a day of it—there are great places in Princeton to dine before or after the hunt. Advance purchase required. Available in spring and fall.

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GO DELUXE: INFORMATION ABOUT PRIVATE HUNTS

Get up, get out, get on the move and discover how Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts bring people together and forges bonds in surprising ways. And when it’s a private hunt, you have the hunt all to yourself—you get to choose the hunt, the date and the time. Plus you can add custom elements, such as Team Photo Challenges and trivia questions about the participants. But please note that private hunts do cost significantly more: Prices start at $600.

To learn more about private hunts, see Private Hunts, or see possible locations in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut, or Contact Us.

Click here to contact us about Public Hunts
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Recommended as Visitor Friendly by the Guides Association of New York City