Neighborhood Scavenger Hunts in Los Angeles

Movie madness—and so much more

The L.A. neighborhood with perhaps the best comeback story is your playground on this popular team-building activity. Tricky clues and humorous questions lead teams on a fast-paced tour of locations featured in such films as Speed, Independence Day, Pretty Woman, Ghostbusters, L.A. Confidential, Vertigo, Raging Bull, Wedding Crashers, Phone Booth, L.A. Story, Seven, Ed Wood, Barton Fink, Beverly Hills Cop, and even New York, New York. But you don’t need to have seen any of the movies to get the right answers and even win.

Along the way, you’ll also discover hidden history, movie palaces and other grand landmarks, sleek street art, cool views, and offbeat, oddball sights.

Highlights of the scavenger hunt include…

• A little-known slice of Europe
• An urban oasis with stunning views
• Strange figures outside a legendary movie palace
• The famed neon signs and colorful vendors of Grand Central Market
• The stunning, sci-fi-inspired Bradbury Building
• And more!

Hollywood’s favorite back lot is definitely ready for its close-up. Are you? Find out why this has been our most popular downtown hunt since 2007!

What are players saying about the downtown movie locations scavenger hunt?

A 5-star review on Yelp: “Fun, fun, fun and super fun!!! We had a blast. We had no idea what to expect but we were looking for a fun team building event and this was it! The questions were fun and challenging. Got an opportunity to see quite a few sights from downtown that we literally pass up everyday. We had fun working together and also competing against our co-workers. Charlie was our [hunt host] and he had the best personality and from the beginning he had us excited and ready. Thank you so much Watson Adventures. It’s always great when my boss has expectations of an event and you, as the person putting it together, knocks it out of the park! Thanks for making me look like a super star!”

Another 5-star Yelp review: “Love love LOVE Watson Adventures! Whether you’re a tourist or LA native, it’s an exceptional way to discover different places in Los Angeles. I’ve done the Harry Potter hunt at the Getty, which was a blast and also great for kids. I also did the downtown Los Angeles movie hunt. The closest thing I’ve ever done to The Amazing Race. So much fun and such cool trivia to learn about the destinations you discover in downtown LA. Never thought I’d see LA in such a unique perspective. Very well organized and fun group of people at Watson Adventures. Hope to do more in the future. Keep up the great work!”

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

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.!

Put the hunt in The Huntington

Don’t call it a library. Call it an eye-popping mansion filled with wonders! Call it a treasure house of amazing art! Call it a botanical garden of spectacular specimens—or a conservatory of exotic micro-climates, with a rain forest and a cloud forest!

Railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington spared no expense in creating his personal Eden, and we’ve created a hunt that reveals all of the quirks and secrets of his former mansion and grounds. On this team-building tour of the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, you’ll tackle tricky, amusing questions to discover the most amazing items in the collection, from art masterpieces (hello, Blue Boy and Pinkie!) to nature’s marvels (no thanks, orchid that mimics a fly’s hairy abdomen!).

You don’t need to be an art historian or a botanist to do well on this hunt. Just keep your eyes peeled, work with your team, and make sure to wear some comfy shoes.

The Huntington is a great location for any kind of group outing, from corporate team-building events to birthday parties and other celebrations. You’ll be amazed and delighted at the results when your group collaborates and pulls together.

A special Murder at the Huntington Edition is also available.

Contact us to learn more about our hunts at the Huntington Art Museum—and find more fun in Pasadena!

The movie magic you’ve been missing

Culver City has been the center of movie and television production since the 1920s, and a lot of that history is hidden in plain sight. Your team will follow a trail of tricky clues and answer humorous questions about the surprising places and things you discover.

Along the way, you might spot…

• A spiral trail that salutes Oz’s Yellow Brick Road
• The hotel where many a Munchkin bedded down for the night
• A hot spot that will transport you to Gone with the Wind
• Zoetropes around town that you’ll give a spin to see a “movie”
• A road trip with Lucy and Ricky Ricardo
• A quirky work of art that marks the site of a former movie-studio commissary

And those are just a few of the highlights associated with the golden age of the movie business. This game is available anytime as a great corporate team-building program or a fun activity for a social group.

What players are saying about the Culver City scavenger hunt

“Thank you for creating a great team building event for [our group]. The [Watson Adventures] staff members that ran the event were fantastic, so please pass along our thanks to Joshua, Gina and Shelagh. I have gotten such positive feedback from our team. They had a great time. I’ve also received several internal inquiries as to who did the event, etc. I think other groups are interested in doing something similar, and I am happy to recommend your company.” —the organizer of an outing for a movie studio

Ready to get in the game? Contact us to learn more about the Culver City scavenger hunt—and find more fun in L.A.!

The most fascinating, multifaceted part of Los Angeles…

…is right downtown. From bygone movie palaces to modern towers of glass and steel, the city streets offer an exciting mix of places and experiences, with surprising secrets and startling art along the way. You’ll find out firsthand why downtown is rapidly gentrifying and attracting a new breed of urbanite.

This is our classic game of fun questions about cool places that’s great for all groups. Similar to the Downtown L.A. Movie Locations Scavenger Hunt—but with less movie mania—this team-building game challenges you to answer clever questions about hidden history in and around classic buildings. Corporate groups based in downtown L.A. have particularly enjoyed this tour that shows people what they’ve missed just a few blocks from their office.

You don’t need any previous knowledge to triumph—you just need good teamwork and comfortable shoes!

A Kids Edition is available, in with they team up with adults put their wits together to explore the neighborhood and answer tricky questions appropriate for ages 7 and up.

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

Revealed: The most fun and fascinating secrets in Hollywood!

The perfect mixture of classic, campy, and kitsch, this hunt takes you through the historic heart of the movie industry—centering on Hollywood Boulevard near Highland Avenue. On teams, you’ll be challenged to answer fun questions that reveal the hidden history and secret sights of such places as the Chinese, Egyptian, and El Capitan theaters, the Roosevelt Hotel (scene of the first Academy Awards ceremony), and of course the Walk of Fame, among other legendary locations.

You’ll also encounter Snow White at a coffee shop, Robin Hood, a shocking Guinness Record holder, an over-laundered John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, Austin Powers, Marilyn Monroe, Bugs Bunny, Jimmy Kimmel, and more.

This scavenger hunt is a popular team-building activity with all kinds of groups, from out-of-towners wanting to see the legendary sights to locals who want to rediscover a classic neighborhood and find out what they’ve been missing.

What are players saying about the Hollywood scavenger hunt?

A 5-star review on Yelp: “This was such a fun unique activity to do! We did a scavenger hunt through Hollywood and we had a blast! I’ve been in LA for ten years and I always avoided the Walk of Fame, thinking it was too crowded with nothing to do. There was so much history and fascinating things I’ve never seen before. It was such an amazing experience, and our hunt host Lita was excellent! We had so much fun with her! Lita was very knowledgeable and so fun! I would definitely do this again!”

“We just went on the Hooray for Hollywood hunt yesterday and we had a blast!! We were celebrating our friend Melissa’s birthday, and what a way to do it. Our hunt host Charlie was so awesome! I found you on the internet and glad I did and our group had the best time.”

Contact us to learn more about the Hooray for Hollywood Scavenger Hunt—and find more fun in Los Angeles!

Discover the key to the “Crown City”

On this team-building jaunt through Old Pasadena’s beautiful and historic Mediterranean-style downtown, you’ll visit City Hall, the Paseo Colorado outdoor mall, Castle Green, and other notable locales while searching for answers to tricky and humorous questions.

Surprising highlights include a scalp crawling with names, a giant dragonfly, time travel outside the Pacific Asia Museum, a “fu dogs” gender test, eyes in a fountain, a view of the Rose Bowl, a former home of the Emmy Awards, the site of Throop U., a giant taking a knee…and that’s just for starters.

If you’re hosting an event at the Pasadena Convention Center or looking to entertain any group visiting the area, this scavenger hunt is a great way to explore the surrounding history-packed town, get people connected, and have a blast.

Your team could tackle such questions as…

• Where might a past pioneer go to make a deal with the little old lady from Pasadena?
• What was the earliest year that one of the city’s finest, in Shakespeare’s words, came to a (bad) end by (bad) aim?
• If you lined up at the Civic Center for tickets, why might you get a cold reception?

Don’t worry if those questions seem perplexing: we’ve left out the clues that will guide you to the places where the answers can be found—with a bit of teamwork, of course.

What happy hunters are saying

“Thank you for such a great scavenger hunt. The team loved it. It was very unique and fun. Everyone had a blast, and we have some awesome pictures to remember it by!” –Jeffrey Ku, Director of Product, Automatic Data Processing

A Pasadena Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt and a Pasadena Pursuit Kids Edition, are also available.

Contact us to learn more—and find more fun in Pasadena!

Fun games with humorous twists!

If you’re looking for a good, old-fashioned scavenger hunt, we have one—with very unusual challenges that will exercise your brain and tickle your funny bone. Your tasks may involve strange uses for food, new lyrics for old songs, people in any kind of uniform, strangers wearing valuable words, secrets about local landmarks, and more. If you’ve been on scavenger hunts where you’ve had to collect boring things like clothespins and obscure CDs, you’re in for a surprise and a treat.

Teams fan out to tackle such challenges as…

Take unusual team photos

Get creative and keep your eyes open as you explore your area and try to meet the requirements of diverse “photo op” challenges. Everyone has to get into the picture (except the person holding the camera, of course). We’ve designed them to allow room for creativity while also delivering dramatic visuals (not just shots of people standing around, smiling and pointing). You might be asked to demonstrate a group member’s superhuman powers. Or treat a staircase as if it’s a carnival ride. Or photobomb another team.

Participants use their smartphone cameras and our browser-based app. You’ll get to see the other players’ pictures and download them afterward.

Find or create unusual items

As in a classic scavenger hunt, you’ll have to locate or create unusual items. But in our version, you might encounter these tricky tests: Can you create and name an amazing new food by combining two unlikely foods? How about an appropriate trophy for the hunt winners? Three items that rhyme? Something improved by being broken? You’ll be surprised by the results that come from great teamwork.

Crack a code to decipher a mystery message

Your hunt materials will include a bizarrely coded message. What the heck does it say? To crack the code, you’ll need to solve crafty, fun puzzles, involving a trivia questions, pop music, and a “pigpen cipher.” Can you piece together the key that unlocks the mystery message?

Locate the Hunt Host for a surprise bonus challenge

At a designated spot in the hunt area, the Host will be waiting for you, ready to spring a tricky, humorous visual puzzle for you to ponder. It could involve unusual celebrity pairings…or musical snippets…or international maps…or strangely altered art.

Go on a scavenger hunt anywhere, with versions and themes to suit your group

Go Deluxe: Let us tailor the hunt to your needs. Tell us what you want to highlight and we’ll weave it into the game. Perhaps someone you want to celebrate? A theme or slogan for a new campaign? Hidden talents in your group? Talk to us! We like a challenge.

Care to take a bite out of crime? Check out the Murder Mystery Mayhem Scavenger Hunt.

The hunts are available in International Editions, for hunters whose first language is not English. They are also available in Spanish, as well as in other select languages.

A Grab ’n’ Go Scavenger Hunt for Kids challenges youngsters and adults to work together to tackle challenges appropriate for ages 7 and up. It’s the perfect activity for birthday parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, family reunions, school field trips, summer-camp outings—you name it.

For a snack-tastic adventure, the Grab ’n’ Go Food Edition features food-themed Collect & Create and Photo Challenges.

And young Harry Potter fans will be cheating if they use their wands and other magical powers on the Wizards & Witches Scavenger Hunt, for ages 7 and up.

What are people saying about the Anywhere Scavenger Hunts?

“The Grab ’n’ Go Scavenger Hunt was so much fun! All of the teams were engaged and working together. We couldn’t have asked for a better team-building and celebration event.” –Brittney Gallardo, Office Manager/Executive Assistant, Texture by Next Issue Media

A 5-star review on Google: “We hired Watson Adventures to host the Grab ‘n’ Go scavenger hunt for a teambuilding event in our local downtown area. We chose to pay for an on-site host and it was well worth it. Kim, the host, was fantastic, well organized, very helpful with the game app, and added even more fun to the game with opportunities to earn extra points. Our team had a blast!! We thoroughly enjoyed getting out from in front of our computers to spend time together in this fun and creative environment!”

A 5-star review on Yelp: “I planned a surprise custom scavenger hunt for my fiancé’s birthday last year and it was so much fun! Tara was a pleasure to work with and incredibly accommodating with all of my requests. The event host was equally wonderful. We all had a blast. I wish I had more reasons to plan scavenger hunts!”

Another 5-star review on Google: “Watson Adventures was so incredibly fun for our company offsite! Correy was a fantastic host that guided the experience and Tara made planning a customized hunt a breeze. 10/10 recommend!”

Contact us to learn more about the Grab ’n’ Go Scavenger Hunts—and find more fun wherever you are!

’Tis the season for a team-building game

Gather your friends and colleagues for a holly, jolly holiday scavenger hunt in your favorite neighborhood. Your challenge: take creative team photos and collect items that relate to the holiday season. If you’re looking for a different way to kick off your year-end celebrations, you don’t have to ask Santa: just go on this holiday scavenger hunt!

Players use our browser-based app on their phones to check off challenges, take photos, and at the end, share them with other teams. The emphasis is on teamwork and appreciation. By the finish line, even a Scrooge will be acting like it’s Christmas morning.

Your team will tackle holiday-themed challenges…

Take unusual team photos

Get creative and keep your eyes open as you explore your area and try to meet the requirements of diverse “photo op” challenges. Everyone has to get into the picture (except the person holding the camera, of course). You might need to pose while blending in with a holiday window display. Or act as if you are caroling. Or spell a season’s greeting with your bodies. Or re-create a sleigh ride, dashing through the snow.

Find or create unusual items

As in a classic scavenger hunt, you’ll have to locate or create unusual items. But in our version, you might encounter these tricky tests: Can you create and name an amazing new holiday treat by combining two unlikely foods? How about something that could create a “snow storm” for one of your photo challenges? Something you’d put in a colleagues stocking? A holiday gift that is improved by being broken? You’ll be surprised by the results that come from great teamwork.

Crack a code to decipher a mystery message

Your hunt materials will include a strangely coded holiday message. What the heck does it say? To crack the code, you’ll need to solve crafty, fun puzzles, involving a trivia questions and festive holiday season music. Can you piece together the key that unlocks the mystery message?

Locate the Hunt Host for a surprise bonus challenge

At a designated spot in the hunt area, the Host will be waiting for you, ready to spring a tricky, humorous holiday-themed puzzle for you to ponder. It might involve celebrities who have played Santa or the Grinch or Scrooge…

This game can be played in almost any outdoor location. A Kids Edition is also available. Contact us to learn more about this holiday scavenger hunt—and find more fun!

Happy Halloween!

Whether you want festive fun or a chance to show off your costume before you go party, a spooky Halloween scavenger hunt is a mummy-rable—sorry, memorable—adventure for all. You might have to discover weird new uses for food, dig up a skeleton, ward off a vampire, use your bodies to spell “BOO!,” do your best zombie impression, and more.

Teams fan out to tackle such challenges as…

Take unusual team photos

Get your creative juices flowing and your haunted side showing as you come up with clever ways to complete fun “photo op” challenges. Everyone has to get into the picture (except the ghoul holding the camera, of corpse).

They’re designed to give you room to have fun while also delivering dramatic visuals (not just shots of people standing around like a bunch of stiffs). You might have to do the Monster Mash in a crowded place. Or rise from the dead in a funny way. Or pretend to go trick-or-treating.

Participants use their own smartphone cameras and send the images to our photo-sharing site. You’ll get to see the other players’ pictures and download them afterward.

Find or create unusual items

You’ll also have to procure or concoct unusual items, often with a tricky twist. Can you find or draw a creature that represents your team spirit? How about a food menu featuring blood and bone? A haunting Halloween mask? Something inflatable with a terrifying message written on it? You’ll be shocked—and occasionally horrified—by the results that come from devilishly good teamwork.

Crack a code to decipher a mystery message

Your hunt materials will include a bizarrely coded message. What the H-E Double Hockey Sticks does it say? To crack the creepy code, you’ll need to solve crafty, fun puzzles, possibly involving a few twisted trivia questions, an intriguing message from beyond the grave, a musical phone call, and other surprises. Can you piece together the key that unlocks the mystery message?

Locate the Hunt Host for a bone-tingling bonus challenge

At a dead-signated spot in the hunt area, the Host will be waiting to treat you to a tricky, icky visual puzzle. It’s a monstrous good time, and you’ll want to do your best if you hope to stay alive…to win the game, that is!

And show what makes your state so great…

…on a scavenger hunt that sends teams complete challenges that give you a chance to flaunt your hometown pride. You’ll go in search of unusual objects, take inventive team photos, decode a mystery message, and meet the Hunt Host for a surprise challenge.

How is the game tailored to your favorite city and state? Consider some examples:

If you’re from New York City, you might need to locate an actual big apple, or know the best subway route to get from Yankee Stadium to Citifield.

If you’re from Texas, the Lone Star Showdown might challenge you to come up with one of the six flags that have flown over the state, or get a photo with a Longhorn signing “Hook ’em Horns” or with an Aggie signing “Gig ’em.”

Celebrate Milwaukee and the great state of Wisconsin on games that send you in search of such local delights as frozen custard, cheese curds, brats, and booyah stew. Or dramatize the phrase “Fear the deer!”

If you have a case of Minnesota Mania, we might prescribe that you collect some cough drops or lozenges, in honor of Minnesota homeboy Bob Dylan.

In Wilmington, Delaware, you can help a stranger in honor of Joan of Arcadia (the TV series in which Wilmington poses as the fictional Arcadia), or collect a used Amtrak ticket in a salute to hometown hero and rail enthusiast Joe Biden.

In Atlanta, brace yourself for a photo in which you seem to be “gone with the wind” (you know why), or strike a pose with one of the more than a thousand works of street art. Or find a takeout menu with the word peach on it. Peachy!

Or are you visiting the Magnificent Mile in Chicago? Get in the spirit of the Windy City by taking a Team Photo as if you’re being blown away by a gust, or get historical by remembering the Great Fire and finding something toasted (not yourself, please).

In Washington, DC, you can “filibuster” another team for points, or get caught by a “spy camera” with just your heads showing. Or present a stranger with DC’s official flower, an American Beauty red rose.

What people are saying about the Celebrate Your City Scavenger Hunts

A 5-star review on Google: “Our team of 100 had a wonderfully fun time and the coordination with Watson Adventures was super smooth and easy. Laura L. was a wonderful event consultant…she was exceptionally knowledgeable and answered every question I had when planning our team’s Grab n Go option from our hotel conference in San Francisco, which for any event planner is a gold standard….[Watson Adventues] was highly recommend to me by colleagues and now I know why, if you need a fun team building event you will not be disappointed by Watson Adventures!”

“Everyone, even the cynics who weren’t planning on having fun, really enjoyed themselves. We were having so much fun that a complete stranger tried to join our group photo at the finish line!” —a director of sales

Let us know what city or state you love, and we’ll provide a madcap team-building scavenger hunt for your group!