Scavenger Hunts in Santa Monica

  • public
  • private
  • adults
  • outdoor

The Santa Monica Pier Pressure Scavenger Hunt

Pier to Promenade, here’s Santa Monica’s best adventure!

The legendary Santa Monica Pier and the lively Third Street Promenade are the twin anchors of a hunt that reveals history, movie locations, fun stores, and, of course, great views of the beach and beyond. You and your team will follow a trail of clues and answer fun, funny questions that uncover the secrets and quirks of the area.

Highlights of this Santa Monica scavenger hunt include…

  • A surprising message in Palisades Park
  • A massive storm that nearly eliminated the pier
  • The 1916 carousel featured in The Sting
  • A shoot-out in a not-OK corral and hungry Big Bertha, both in the arcade
  • A still-standing 19th-century tavern
  • The secrets of the Camera Obscura

No knowledge of Santa Monica and its quirks is necessary for you to play—and even to win. You just need sharp eyes, comfortable shoes, and great teamwork skills.

What players are saying about the Santa Monica Scavenger Hunt

5-star review on Google: “I’ve now used Watson in two cities, Chicago and Santa Monica, and have to say that both experiences have been top notch! My team loved it, the staff were friendly, and it was a very well run experience. I highly recommend them.”

“I wanted to thank you for all of your help. You are awesome and provide excellent customer service! Our hunt host, Joshua Bott, was awesome too! We had a large, rowdy group of 25 and Joshua was able to answer everyone’s questions and take control of the situation so people would pay attention to him. What can I say? Everyone was excited! I would definitely recommend you and Watson Adventures to all of my family and friends. Thanks again for a great experience and a wonderful time.”

Contact us to learn more about our Santa Monica scavenger hunts—and find more fun in L.A.!


  • private
  • kids
  • outdoor

The Santa Monica Scramble Scavenger Hunt for Kids

An adventure from Palisades Park to the Pier!

Kids and adults team up for a game that reveals the best of Santa Monica. You’ll explore the famous pier, Palisades Park, and the nearby streets, in search of answers to tricky questions. If you’ve been to Santa Monica, you won’t believe what interesting and unusual sights and details you’ve missed.

And if you’re never been there, boy, are you in for a treat! Take spectacular views of the beach and the ocean, add a carnival on a pier, top it all with sunshine and palm trees…and then turn that all into points that help your team win the game!

Along the way, you might…

  • Search for a waterfall inside the landmark carousel.
  • Visit the Old West in the Playland Arcade.
  • Find a surprising sailor at the end of the pier.
  • Learn the secrets of the Camera Obscura building in Palisades Park.
  • Consult the mysterious Zoltar for ancient wisdom.

But wait, there’s more! Along your journey, your team will be challenged to take unusual photos of your team. Each photo must meet specific requirements, involving locations or objects or creative thinking. You’ll see and share all of the teams’ photos at the end.

This game is recommended for ages 7 and up. At least one adult must accompany each team. This is a great activity for school groups, with laughter and discovery as the bond that unites teams and the entire group.

Contact us to learn more about this Santa Monica scavenger hunt for kids—and find more fun in L.A.!


  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • outdoor

The Murder Mystery Mayhem Scavenger Hunt

Beware: there’s a killer in your midst

Someone playing this game with you is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde. His or her good side knows nothing about the evil side—and the evil side has challenged you to prevent your own murder. Everyone in your group has been poisoned, and the clock is ticking down on your time left to live. To reveal the killer’s identity, you’ll have to complete a series of photo challenges, solve interlocking puzzles, decipher coded text messages, and more. If you succeed, you get the antidote. If you fail…well, you know.

If you love escape-room games, you’ll love this murder mystery scavenger hunt. But even better, you won’t be locked in a room for an hour: this game can be played almost anywhere. 

An in-person murder mystery for any location!

We have a variety of versions, depending on where you want to play. Such as…

  • A city, town, or neighborhood
  • A science or history museum
  • A zoo or aquarium
  • An office building
  • A school or campus

A murder mystery scavenger hunt perfect for team building

Here’s a game that will help you solve the mystery of how to entertain a diverse group of people while boosting morale and teamwork. It’s perfect for any private party or a corporate team-building outing of any size. Our clients who have enjoyed this game include T-Mobile, TD Bank, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Michigan in Washington, and others too numerous to mention.

What delighted clients are saying

“Everyone had a great time at the hunt! We are all still talking about it.” —an electrical engineer whose group played the game at the Houston Zoo

“A HUGE THANK YOU. Everyone had a BLAST and your hosts were FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for another great event!!” —an office coordinator in Los Angeles

“We had an amazing time and will be in touch for the next hunt we’d like to do in the near future! Tokia [the hunt host] was amazing, and we’d love to work with her again!!!” —an organizer for a group in Washington, DC

The hunt’s afoot! Contact us to learn more—and find more team-building fun anywhere!


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