Neighborhood Scavenger Hunts in New York City

Historical, Hysterical, and Weather-Proof Adventures

It’s a palace of the people! It’s an old-fashioned magnificent transit hub, with the whispers of bygone transcontinental trains! It’s packed with history and secrets! It’s filled with a lively market of fresh foods, a dining concourse with culinary delights, and hallways of unusual stores! It’s a gathering place, a maze of wonders, and a fantastic place for a scavenger hunt. No wonder it’s our most popular scavenger hunt location in America.

We have a variety of hunts at Grand Central to suit any group seeking team-building in NYC, any gathering of friends looking for unusual fun, even weekend hunts for the general public. Click on a link to get the full low-down:

• The Secrets of Grand Central Scavenger Hunt, our famous whirlwind tour
• The Escape Grand Central Scavenger Hunt, in which you see highlights of the terminal while solving puzzles to save your life
• The Murder in Grand Central Scavenger Hunt challenges you to play detective, tracking clues to solve a mystery
• The Munch Around Grand Central Scavenger Hunt, featuring the sweet and savory delights of the diverse, outstanding food stands in the terminal
• The Grand Central Scramble Scavenger Hunt for Kids, a game that kids and adults can play together

Head over to the Grand Central page to learn more. If you would like a private hunt for 12 people or less, consider the Small Group option. For larger groups, contact us below—and prepare to find more fun in Grand Central!

What delighted clients are saying

A 5-star review on Google: “It was great fun. Employees really enjoyed the scavenger hunt and we got some great pictures too! Thanks, Watson Adventures, for this event.”

Another 5-star review on Google: “We had a hunt last week for the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry which was absolutely fantastic. The participants of the event absolutely loved it and had so much fun. The staff members from Watson Adventures, Mia and Michael, were absolutely delightful and made everyone feel at ease. I recommend this company 100% and without any hesitation.”

“We all had such a great time last night. We’re looking forward to participating in many more Watson Adventures. I’m going to encourage my firm to add this to their list of fun activities, too.” —post-game feedback from a university

See the schedule below for weekend games for the public, or contact us to learn more about Grand Central team-building scavenger hunts—and find more fun in New York City!

A daffy dash through the Meatpacking District

What’s old is new again—and incredibly trendy—in the Meatpacking District and along the High Line, the former elevated railway that has been transformed into a beautiful park with great views of the neighborhood and the Hudson River. As your team works together to answer entertaining questions with tricky twists, you’ll be immersed in the area’s chic sights, buzzing sounds, rough-and-tumble textures, savory tastes, and enticing aromas.

On this scavenger hunt in NYC you might discover…

• Cutting-edge art, soft green gardens, and rusting rails on the High Line
• Glitzy new restaurants, bistros, hotels, and designer stores, where celebs are often seen
• Chelsea Market—a former Nabisco factory and the birthplace of the Oreo—now a gourmet mecca where you won’t be able to resist indulging in a delicious treat
• A hotel that took in survivors from the Titanic
• Locations featured in movies and TV shows
• The site where Alexander Hamilton died after being shot by Vice President Aaron Burr during a duel

And those are just some of the highlights. No prior knowledge of the area is necessary to play—or even to win. You just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and great teamwork.

What people are saying about the High Line scavenger hunt

A 5-star review on Google: “We had a blast. Perfect work event on a summer afternoon. Enjoyed the tour of the area, the pace of the scavenger hunt – fun and competitive, but allowed us to be a little leisurely.”

A 5-star review on Yelp: “We had such a great time—we did it again! I had just joined a new company, moved to New York City, and was in charge of our All Company Meeting. Given only 6 weeks to schedule everything, we chose their Greenwich Village Scavenger Hunt. The 90 minutes flew by, but the impact has continued forward. Teams of five provided the perfect opportunity to build camaraderie and the feeling of being one united team, which is critical to us as 2/3 of our employees are remote and located across the Country. Fast forward 6 months and our second All Company Meeting. This time around, we chose The High Line & Meatpacking District….Friendly competition ensued and fun was had by all. We were delighted the hunts include historical to contemporary references and can be customized to meet your team’s preferences. The only remaining intriguing decision: which Watson Adventure Scavenger Hunt next!”

“Our team had such a blast and could not get over the incredible scavenger hunt and questions and all the details. We got to explore new places of NYC, while also being competitive, which was great. Kudos to you and your team. I will be recommending this to everyone. Such a great experience!”—Carly Henderson, Boston Consulting Group

Another 5-star review on Google: “We’ve hosted multiple company scavenger hunts across multiple offices and all feedback from attendees was great! Watson Adventures was super accommodating to our groups and super friendly—not only are you learning new things about the city that you would have never known otherwise, you are having fun while doing so! We will definitely be using them again in the future!”

Click on the button below to join a weekend hunt for the general public, or contact us to learn more about a private High Line scavenger hunt for your group—and find more fun in NYC!

Grand Central as you’ve never seen it, on an NYC scavenger hunt!

Discover the fascinating history, cool places, and surprising sights in the terminal. Highlights include mysterious markings in the constellation ceiling, the last survivor of the Biltmore Hotel, the gourmet extravaganza of the Grand Central Market, the architectural wonder of the Whispering Gallery, the dazzling art deco lobby of the Chrysler Building, surprising historic photos in the Graybar Building, the bustling food court, hidden art, and more.

No previous knowledge of Grand Central is necessary to succeed: you just need a sharp mind and comfortable shoes.

Interact more: the Mixed Alliances Edition

If you’re seeking a team-building activity with increased interactions between participants, try the Mixed Alliances Edition, in which each team must meet and collaborate with three other teams as the game unfolds. Available on private group hunts only. Learn more.

What people are saying about the Grand Central scavenger hunt

A 5-star review on Google: “Fun experience! very detailed on instructions and clues were fun and “doable.” Great ending with medals as recognition.”

Another 5-star review on Google: “We had a group of 20 work colleagues do the Grand Central Station scavenger hunt and we had a blast! We broke off into 3 teams and had a great competition! I am from NY, I work in the city and have been in GCS countless times and learned things I never knew! GCS is full of history! I highly recommend this tour and working with Watson was breeze!!”

A 5-star review on Yelp: “We were in NYC for a planning week, and Watson Adventures was recommended as a fun activity to get everyone out and moving and working in teams. It was great! We learned a lot about Grand Central, saw parts of the train station I had never thought about when catching a train, talked to all sorts of people asking what they knew about the clues (which was really funny), and Eryn [the Watson hunt host] was super. I would highly recommend Watson for a fun way to share parts of the city and look forward to doing another of their scavenger hunts.”

Another 5-star review on Yelp: “We wanted to plan a fun family activity for our parents’ 50th anniversary. After much research we booked Watson Adventures for a scavenger hunt in Grand Central Station. From start, booking the experience with Tara, to the absolute end—announcing the winner—each detail was taken care of by WA. Amazing doesn’t begin to describe our experience. It was a blast!!! Josh, our Watson Adventures leader, was awesome!!…Each question was more interesting and challenging than the next. We saw parts of Grand Central that showed us the rich history of this unique location. There were lots of laughs and learning and fun! Our whole group want to schedule another hunt on our next family trip! Watson Adventures is an extraordinary experience that I wholeheartedly recommend!!”

You can purchase tickets to weekend games for the public. Or contact us to learn how you can book a private Secrets of Grand Central Scavenger Hunt for your group—and find more team-building fun in NYC!

Recommended by the New York Times, Time Out New York, and New York magazine!

On our most popular outdoor team-building adventure, you and your team will go on a whirlwind tour of the best of Greenwich Village—the historic places, famous people, movie locations, nooks and crannies, and much more.

Your team might search for…

• The homes and haunts of Mark Twain, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Richard Wright, Willa Cather, Saul Bellow, Caleb Carr, Henry James, and Louisa May Alcott
• A former poet laureate’s house that blew up when it harbored a terrorist bomb factory
• TV locations, including the Friends apartment building as well as the block that posed as Paris on the Sex and the City finale
• A former courthouse that was the scene of a sensational trial that was the basis for Ragtime
• Locations used in such movies as When Harry Met Sally…, Spider-Man 2, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Big Daddy, Serpico, Barefoot in the Park, The Hours, and many more
• The narrowest house in the Village (if not the city), next to the oldest house
• A former speakeasy with a secret entrance

No knowledge of the area is necessary to play or even to win. You just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and good teamwork.

For groups that want a private scavenger hunt, an International Edition is available, tailored for participants whose first language isn’t English.

What people are saying about the Greenwich Village scavenger hunt

A 5-star review on Google: “Watson Adventures was a BLAST! Our team of ~30 had so much fun competing throughout Greenwich Village. Our host Correy was so fun and engaging—we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Looking forward to booking another hunt!”

Lost New York—found on this FiDi Scavenger hunt!

You’ll discover surprising, amusing traces and places of the Wall Street area—featuring the narrow, winding streets laid out by the Dutch, 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 the eye-popping interiors of the canyons of finance to Battery Park’s sweeping views of New York Harbor. You’ll even encounter Hollywood in spots used as locations for such movies as Ghostbusters, Men in Black, Working Girl, National Treasure, and The Day After Tomorrow.

Search the Financial District for answers to questions about…

• The War of 1812–era fort that gave Battery Park its name
• Fraunces Tavern, where George Washington bid his troops farewell
• Strange figures outside the Stock Exchange
• The Custom House, a stunning landmark featured in Ghostbusters and Friends
• Federal Hall, an 1835 Greek temple to commerce, fitted with bank vaults and built on the site where Washington became president
• Trinity Church and its age-old graveyard, starring permanent resident Alexander Hamilton
• Scars gouged in marble by a 1920 anarchist bombing of J.P. Morgan’s offices and Federal Hall
• And many more sites you’ve never heard of but won’t forget

No previous knowledge of downtown NYC is required: you just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and good teamwork. Find out why this is one of our staff’s favorite scavenger hunts!

Along the way you’ll also crank up your creativity to complete team photo challenges. Some are in specific places. Others require specific poses. All of them provide laughs at the end of the hunt.

An International Edition is available for groups that include people whose first language is not English. If you’re looking for some whodunit fun, consider The Murder on Wall Street Scavenger Hunt. School groups and families can check out The Secrets of Wall Street Scavenger Hunt for Kids.

Looking for team-building activities in NYC?

Look no further. Since this lower Manhattan scavenger hunt made its debut in the year 2000 for one of the world’s largest financial firms, literally hundreds of companies have enjoyed it, such as American Express, Facebook, Citi, Credit Suisse, and Allianz, to name just a few.

What people are saying about the Wall Street scavenger hunt

A 5-star review on Google: “I scheduled the Wall Street scavenger hunt for a team outing. It was perfect. We had a number of people from out of town who were thrilled to explore NYC. Our jaded NYCers were thoroughly enlightened. Our host was funny and personable. The app was easy to use. The questions were challenging and diverse. We had an amazing time and most of the group want to do more scavenger hunts!”

“It was a lot of fun. Well organized, a great way to explore Manhattan. My staff loved it!”—the leader of a corporate group

Contact us to learn more about The Secrets of Wall Street Scavenger Hunt—and find more fun in FiDi!

Follow in Alexander Hamilton’s footsteps…

…through the streets of Lower Manhattan, from Wall Street to Battery Park, to discover the places where the feisty Founding Father worked, played, debated, fought, and planned his fatal duel. Whether you’re a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical, or the Ron Chernow book that inspired it, or just curious about the Founding Fathers and early New York City, you’ll love this scavenger hunt.

No knowledge of Alexander Hamilton or the Wall Street area is necessary! You just need sharp eyes and comfy shoes to follow a trail of clues to discover fascinating historical places and answer tricky, fun questions about what you find. 

Highlights on this FiDi scavenger hunt include…

• Hamilton’s grave
• Federal Hall, where Washington was inaugurated, Hamilton dodged rocks thrown by an angry crowd, and Hamilton and Burr worked together to defend a man accused of murder
• A bank founded by Aaron Burr in a sneaky deal that duped Hamilton
• Fraunces Tavern, where Hamilton worked as Secretary of the Treasury and where Washington bid farewell to his troops
• The site of Hamilton’s home on Wall Street
• Pearl Street, part of the route of Hamilton’s funeral procession
• Hanover Square, the location of the publisher of The Federalist, written mostly by Hamilton and James Madison
• The site of a fort where, in 1775, Hamilton joined a group that stole cannons from the British

Plus, you’ll touch a fence that bears the scars of a patriotic mob, walk through a former hanging ground and slave market, gaze at singe marks from the great fire of 1776, visit the real grave of a fictional character, decipher a Freemason’s cryptic last message, and more.

It’s a great, fast-paced tour of the Wall Street area. Even if you don’t give a farthing for the Founding Fathers, you’ll be surprised and delighted by this hunt. And if you’ve seen the hit Broadway musical, you’ll be forgiven for spontaneously rapping as you recognize touchstones in Hamilton’s lyrics.

Kids Edition: Do have a school group of kids who’d enjoy discovering history in a new way? Check out Hamilton: The Scavenger Hunt for Kids.

What people are saying about the Hamilton scavenger hunt

A 5-star review on Google: “We’ve hosted multiple company scavenger hunts across multiple offices and all feedback from attendees was great! Watson Adventures was super accommodating to our groups and super friendly—not only are you learning new things about the city that you would have never known otherwise, you are having fun while doing so! We will definitely be using them again in the future!”

Contact us to learn more about the Hamilton scavenger hunt—and find more fun in FiDi!

Solve the puzzles to escape with your lives

…on a New York City scavenger hunt in the spectacular Oculus and the World Financial Center’s Brookfield Place. Your team has been poisoned by an evil genius, and the only way to find the antidote is to play his puzzle-filled game. 

Each puzzle, riddle, and brain-teaser will lead you to spots within the Oculus, where your group will answer tricky, humorous questions about what you discover in these great spaces. Along the way, you might find a ceramic zoo behind bars, huge murals of faraway shores, exotic edibles at Eataly, spectacular views of the Hudson, and more.

Completed in 2016, the Oculus is a dramatic, all-white space like something out of a sci-fi movie. An underground hallway connects with Brookfield Place, where a palm court and intriguing places to shop and eat await. Another passage connects with the dramatic Fulton Center, a hub for more stores. These venues provide lively, weatherproof places for an indoor adventure downtown.

No knowledge of the Oculus or the area is necessary to play or to win. You just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and great teamwork.

Contact us to learn more about the Oculus scavenger hunts—and find more team-building fun in downtown NYC!

The heart of Manhattan will get yours pumping

Perhaps no street in the city has as colorful and fascinating a history as 42nd Street. You’ll see the best of it, from majestic Grand Central to exuberant Times Square. To triumph, your team will have to collaborate to find the scene of the famous Algonquin Round Table, decipher clues in the eye-popping 42nd Street Library, and find a dinosaur and a time capsule in Times Square.

Other highlights include a horse race in Bryant Park, dueling Founding Fathers, locations where famous films were shot, a path paved with quirky authors’ quotes, and the site of a missing missile.

You choose the segment you most want to explore and the time you have for the game. We’ll do the rest.

What delighted clients say about this midtown game

“Thank you for providing us with such a fun team building experience yesterday. The team had SO much fun and I could see we really appreciated the tour of Midtown. The picture challenges were great and really got everyone pumped! Andy [the hunt host] was very enthusiastic and helpful, a great experience overall! Many thanks to you all!” —Puja Doal, Grafana

Contact us to learn more about our scavenger hunts in midtown Manhattan—and find more fun in NYC!

Hunt where presidents roamed and artists ambled

Every day is a festival day in Union Square and its surrounding streets. On market days the north and west sides of the park fill with vendors offering delicious foods straight from farms. The paths in the park are filled with people relaxing and a pageant of pedestrians. A statue of Lincoln holds down the north end, just blocks away from Gramercy Park, where a sculptor of Hamlet honors the brother of Lincoln’s assassin! On Broadway grand buildings were once department stores along the Ladies’ Mile, while young Teddy Roosevelt grew up around the corner on 20th St.

You’ll uncover the hidden history of this neighborhood and many personalities as your team searches for answers to tricky questions and poses for photo challenges. For this Union Square scavenger hunt, no prior knowledge is necessary—just sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and a love of adventure.

Highlights include

• Presidential locations linked to Washington, Lincoln, and Kennedy, as well as two men who lost the presidency.
• A building that was home to Andy Warhol’s famed Factory—where he was shot by a crazed hanger-on
  
• James Cagney’s Gramercy Park home and other regal residences facing exclusive Gramercy Park
  
• A hotel where Humphrey Bogart married and Kate Hudson was Almost Famous 
• An old-time tavern where O. Henry penned famous stories

You might tackle such questions as…

• Face 14th St. and find the hand that seems to belong to someone swallowed up in an explosion. You can also see the same hand nearby. Who does it belong to? Answer: The hand sticking out of the artwork on the south side of the street is a copy of the hand of George Washington on a horse across the street.
• Across from Gramercy Park, the National Arts Club occupies the former mansion of Samuel J. Tilden, who in 1876 became the first presidential candidate to win the popular vote but lose the election. A popular movie location, it appears in The Age of Innocence and Manhattan Murder Mystery. But what writer gets top billing outside the National Arts Club? Answer: Shakespeare appears at the top left of a relief with the heads of famous writers on the facade of the club.

Contact us to learn more—and find more fun on NYC team-building games in and near Union Square!

See the best of the Columbia University campus

…and the nearby Morningside Heights neighborhood on a humor-filled scavenger hunt. On teams, you’ll follow a trail of clues and answer clever, funny questions about the famous places, secret sights, and hidden history you find. It’s the fast-paced, fun campus tour you always wished you’d gone on.

Highlights include…

• Columbia University’s bucolic campus, with its unusual statues and classic buildings
• The owl hidden by the steps where the original Ghostbusters dallied
• The site of a desperate Revolutionary War battle
• The home of the Manhattan Project, birthplace of the atomic age
• George Carlin’s childhood home

Big groups welcome!

We can accommodate groups of all sizes; this hunt was originally commissioned by the Columbia Business School for 200 members of its incoming class. The game is also great for alumni get-togethers, birthday parties, and any other event where you want to entertain a diverse group with an activity that’s completely unique and a whole lotta fun.

An International Edition is available for groups that include people whose first language is not English.

The Kids Edition is great for school field trips—it inspires teens with a glimpse of what college life might be like.

What players are saying about the Columbia U. scavenger hunt

“My friends and I had a blast racing around Columbia’s campus during this scavenger hunt. Even though a lot of us went to Columbia as undergrads, we learned new facts about the school and the surrounding neighborhood. The clues made us think but weren’t too difficult to figure out—and the photo challenges added extra fun to the hunt. A fantastic way to celebrate my birthday!”

“Thank you all for the great scavenger hunt! The students loved it!! I personally discovered many hidden gems along the Columbia campus, like the fallen tooth by the Law School. We appreciate you helping us have an amazing Cluster Cup this year, and we hope to work with you again for next year’s Cluster Cup!”

Contact us to learn more about our Columbia University scavenger hunts—and find more fun in NYC!

The best of the Big Apple in three big bites!

If you really want it, we can give you a hunt that hits many Manhattan locations—sort of our Watson Adventures Greatest Hits package. But we don’t recommend that anymore. Since we started offering hunts in 1999, street traffic has gotten worse and the subway has gotten slower, so now we recommend a new approach: pick the three neighborhoods you most want to see, and we’ll combine the best of our scavenger-hunt questions from those places into one great two- or three-hour adventure. Hunters have LOVED this approach!

No previous knowledge of New York is necessary to follow the clues, find amazing places, answer tricky, humorous questions, and even win! This team-building activity has delighted visitors and residents alike—for corporate team building, school field trips, sightseeing with an unusual twist, and social groups whose participants are looking to rediscover Manhattan.

Three hours, three neighborhoods

Choose the three neighborhoods that would most appeal to your group, such as…

• Historic and hoppin’ Greenwich Village and the old New York charm of the West Village
• The pastoral paradise of Central Park, starring Strawberry Fields…forever
• Raucous Times Square, festive Rockefeller Center, and other Midtown landmarks
• Wall Street’s canyons of steel and Battery Park’s harbor vistas
• Exotic Chinatown and rambunctious Little Italy
• Chic SoHo and funky NoLita
• And other neighborhoods and venues

Our questions are filled with historical tidbits that explain what you’re seeing and keep the adventure packed with ooohs and plenty of ahhhhs.

You might search for answers to such questions as… 

• At the start of Broadway, visit Bowling Green, the oldest park in the city. The fence is the oldest official landmark—and you can literally touch history when you feel the ragged tops of the fence posts, where crowns were hacked off during a riot in 1776 after the Declaration of Independence was first read in the city. What once made the Green something to sneeze at? Answer: The rent due to England was originally one peppercorn per year, according to a sign.
• In the center of Times Square, face a song-and-dance man and stand over a grate to hear a weird, resonant, haunting hum. This unidentified sound is actually an installation by an artist. What person is named closest to this grate? (He’s the man responsible for bringing lighted billboards here and illuminating the tops of skyscrapers.) Answer: Douglas Leigh is named on a plaque near the strange sound, opposite a statue of George M. Cohan.

Along the way, you’ll also test your creativity with our Team Photo Challenges and meet with our Hunt Host for a surprise bonus challenge.

Hunters can travel between the neighborhoods by subway, cabs, or hired cars. While in transit, your team will tackle 10 intriguing trivia questions, so you’re constantly in the game. You might encounter a question such as: What part of the city do Barbra Streisand, Jackie Robinson, Jimmy Smits, Mary Tyler Moore, Notorious B.I.G., Mel Brooks, and Chris Rock have in common?

Want to add tasty snacks to your quest? Consider the Munch Around Manhattan Scavenger Hunt.

What delighted hunters are saying about the citywide scavenger hunt

“We all had a blast! It was perfect. Everyone was amped up afterwards, talking about all of the clues and how they got from place to place. Your team did a great job managing our group, which isn’t always easy. All in all, it was a great day, and I would definitely do it again.” —Jeff Powers, Director, Supplier Implementation, SPS Commerce

Contact us to learn more about our citywide scavenger hunts—and find more fun in New York City!

Wander Brooklyn’s waterfront streets and parks…

…on a scavenger hunt that reveals the best of the neighborhood Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass—DUMBO, for short. On this team-building scavenger hunt, you’ll search for answers to tricky, humorous questions as you explore the brand-new Brooklyn Bridge Park, under and around the famous bridge and along the shore of the East River. Spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline serve as the backdrop to green lawns and winding paths studded with crazy sculptures and a sparkling carousel. To the east, you’ll chart a course around the dramatic 19th-century buildings from the days when this area was a bustling industrial waterfront.

Your team might search for…

• A spectacularly restored classic carousel
• Historic warehouses and old factories set to creative new uses
• Fun new boutiques and outdoor cafés
• Railroad tracks embedded in cobblestone streets
• Fading ads for old companies painted onto brick facades
• Wild street art in unexpected places
• A history of the waterfront set in bronze beneath your feet
• A surprising tribute to Walt Whitman, who worked at a location on the hunt
• An amazing view you’ll recognize from countless movies
• Signs marking the spot of George Washington’s harrowing escape from British forces
• A great place to stop for ice cream…and much more!

No knowledge of the area or its history is necessary to excel on this hunt. You just need to keep your eyes open, use your wits, and work with your team.

What players are saying about the Dumbo scavenger hunt

A 5-star review on Yelp: “Watson Adventures did an amazing job with a fantastic and engaging team building event for our corporate event in Brooklyn! We reached out very last minute and the team at Watson were able to accommodate us, communication with the team was efficient and support on the day was really great. Everyone remarked about how much fun it was to explore the Brooklyn area via the scavenger hunt. Highly recommend and would use them again for future events! Thank you!”

Contact us to learn more about our Dumbo scavenger hunts—and find more team-building fun in Brooklyn!

Secrets to seek, from Madison Square Park to Gramercy Park

In this unusual game, you and your team will take on a series of fun and funny team-building challenges in and around Madison Square Park, Gramercy Park, and Broadway that highlight the neighborhood’s hidden history and most surprising sights.

Strategy is crucial: which mix of the three kinds of challenges and what route will combine to produce victory? First and foremost, you’ll follow clues to track down fascinating places and find answers to tricky questions about them. You might find points among the carnival of gourmet food shops that is Eataly, or discover movie locations from such movies as Spider-Man, or dig into history outside Theodore Roosevelt’s childhood home  and grand buildings that once made up “the Ladies’ Mile.”

You might tackle such questions as…

• Find a store that sounds like it sells shards from a Hollywood studio. Nearby, what year did some pirates from Penzance arise here? Answer: A sign next to Rosen Paramount Glass reads, “On this site Sir Gilbert Sullivan composed ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ in 1879.” 
• One building facing Madison Square Park suffers from stunted growth. It was supposed to climb 100 stories to become the tallest in the world—but money ran out after the 1929 market crash. The semi-tower’s predecessor across the street was the tallest in the world (1909–13). It too has played a role in movies, including After Hours. After hours, whose chorus chimes? Answer: A chorus from Handel chimes, as noted on a Met Life Building plaque.

You’ll also search for opportunities to tackle Team Photo Challenges, requiring sharp eyes and creative minds. And along the way don’t forget to find the objects you must collect or create. Rounding out the game, you’ll meet up with our Hunt Host for a surprise bonus challenge.

Even if you don’t win (but of course you will, right?), you’ll be surprised at all the cool places you visit and the fun you have with your teammates.

Beware of scare tactics in this eerie adventure!

Armed with only 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 Allan 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.

You’ll learn the haunting stories of…

• The converted stable where the restless spirit of Aaron Burr lurks—or perhaps it’s his daughter Theodosia, who died in a shipwreck
• The hundreds or perhaps thousands of bodies buried beneath a popular park
• The woman tickled by a feather at 3 a.m. in a cursed house
• The artist whose mural fell from a church wall the moment he died elsewhere
• The last known location of Judge Crater, “The Missingest Man in New York”
• A possible former opium den where a mayor kept his mistress and Howdy Doody’s daddy heard banging in the walls
• 19th-century spirits who still trod the stairs of a theater
• The former speakeasy where the original proprietor jinxed the jukebox

But leave the salt, iron, and other ghost preventives at home: to win this game, you just need sharp eyes and good teamwork.  And if you miss out…it might haunt you for the rest of the week! [Cue sinister laughter.]

A 5-star review on Yelp: “These adventures are fun, I’ve done two different ones….Staff is always friendly—one [hunt host] we had during the Greenwich Ghost tour was really entertaining and fun, definitely added to the overall experience. Great group activity with your friends pre/post drinks.”

Book a private hunt for your group anytime, and join us in October for Saturday hunts for the general public—and find more spooky fun in NYC!

Spooky fun for the whole family!

Kids and adults work together to uncover the stories of creepy places and the ghosts that have haunted them. As a team, you’ll follow clues in search of answers to tricky, humorous questions about hidden cemeteries, looming skeletons, the haunted homes of Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain, bats on a building, disturbing door knockers, Harry Potter’s arch-enemy, and plenty of tales that will chill your bones.

Recommended for ages 7 and up. Each team must include at least one adult. 

See Midtown dressed in its holiday best

’Tis the season for your favorite holiday movies—with a twist that only Watson Adventures can provide! On this seasonal hunt, you’ll visit the famous places in Midtown associated with such films as Elf, Home Alone 2, Scrooged, and Miracle on 34th Street. Stops include Grand Central Terminal, window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, and the Rockefeller Center tree.

But you don’t need to have seen the movies to score points and even win—all you need are sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and a warm winter coat.

Discover the great indoors downtown…

…on a scavenger hunt in the spectacular Oculus, near the Freedom Tower, and in the World Financial Center’s Brookfield Place. Your team will be challenged to follow clues and answer tricky, humorous questions about what you discover in these great spaces. Plus, you’ll take creative Team Photos and find or create a variety of unusual items in activities designed to test your teamwork and your resourcefulness.  

Completed in 2016, the Oculus is a dramatic all-white space like something out of a sci-fi movie. An underground hallway connects with Brookfield Place, where a palm court and intriguing places to shop and eat await. Another passage connects with the dramatic Fulton Center, a hub for more stores. These venues provide fascinating, weatherproof places for an indoor adventure downtown.

Highlights include…

• A ceramic zoo behind bars
• Huge murals of exotic harbors
• Rizhsky khleb and other exotic edibles at Eataly
• A giant clock reminding you to brush your teeth
• Spectacular views

No knowledge of the Oculus or the area is necessary to play or to win. You just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and great teamwork.

Great for team building in New York City

Since this hunt’s debut in 2017 it has already been a big hit with corporate groups, including such happy hunters as American Express, Deutsche Bank, Sirius, S&P Global Ratings, the NYC Department of Education, and Debevoise & Plimpton, to name just a few. The game is guaranteed to appeal to all kinds of personalities, and it’s weather-proof! Contact us to learn more—and find more fun in downtown NYC!

Explore the roots of Jewish culture in NYC  

See the most fascinating Jewish heritage locations before they disappear! Teams will answer tricky, fascinating questions about the places they discover, from Rivington Street to East Broadway, from Orchard Street to Essex Street.

You’ll see businesses hanging on against the onslaught of trendy cafés. You’ll find barely noticeable signs of Jewish groups on the faces of old buildings. You’ll see an active yeshiva and a synagogue that became a Buddhist temple. Your mouth will water at stores that still serve bialys, bagels, and kosher pickles.

This scavenger hunt is available in two editions: an adult hunt, and a Kids Edition that is designed for kids and adults to do together. Filled with historical tidbits and highlights, the game has been a big hit with student groups from yeshivas and synagogues.

Highlights include…

• The former Forward newspaper headquarters
• The site of the Garden Cafeteria, where the Jewish intelligentsia dined and kibitzed
• Seward Park, site of the daily Chazir Mark, where laborers were hired…or idled
• The birthplace of B’Nai B’rith
• One of America’s most dazzling houses of worship, the Eldridge Street Synagogue
• Essex Market, created to get peddlers and their pushcarts off the streets

What are players saying about the Jewish Lower East Side scavenger hunt?

A 5-star review on Yelp: “We recently did a scavenger hunt of the Lower East Side—what a great way to explore a different part of the city! It was educational and fun for both grown-ups and kids. We learned a lot about the neighborhood, and had fun doing it.”

“Thank you so much for setting up the hunt. The kids had a great time. I thought the questions were a combination of really simple and complicated. It also didn’t hurt that my group won! 🙂 Otherwise, the kids had a great time, got into it and enjoyed walking around and seeing the Lower East Side….At the end of the day, we ask [the students] to talk about something that was a highlight for them that day and many of the kids said the hunt was the highlight.” —a director of education for a student group from a temple

“It was wonderful and we would absolutely recommend it to others and perhaps do it again!” —an organizer of a group from a temple in New Jersey

“Yes, it was great!!” —from a high school for Jewish studies

“Loved it. Thank you for helping us out with a great event.” —from a social group of kids and adults

Contact us to learn more about this group game that celebrates the Jewish Lower East Side—and find more fun in NYC!

Discover New York City’s most charming neighborhood…

…with the most spectacular views of the New York City skyline anywhere. As your team explores the 19th-century streets on this hunt, you’ll discover movie locations, famous writers’ homes, a baseball landmark, Underground Railroad stops, and a Revolutionary battleground, to name a few of the highlights.

You’ll discover places associated with…

• Abraham Lincoln
• Mark Twain
• Baseball path-breaker Jackie Robinson
• George Washington
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s author Truman Capote
• Cher, in Moonstruck
• Authors Thomas Wolfe, Henry Miller, and Norman Mailer
• Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner, in Prizzi’s Honor
• Walt Whitman
• And some very unusual gargoyles

The game climaxes on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, with a breathtaking 180-degree view of the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the harbor. Even Lady Liberty makes a cameo.

When is a sunset not at sunset?

When you say the word. While sunset is, indeed, a great time to do this hunt, you can book it for any other time as well. 

A Kids Edition is also available for school field trips or any other occasion where you want kids and adults to collaborate on a laugh-filled, time-traveling adventure.

Contact us to learn more about this surprising Brooklyn Heights game for teams—and find more fun in NYC!

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 happy clients are saying

“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!”

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

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!

’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!

And show what makes your state so great…

…on special versions of the Grab ’n’ Go Scavenger Hunts featuring activities that give you a chance to flaunt your hometown pride. The fun tasks involve collecting unusual objects, taking creative Team Photos, and meeting the Hunt Host for a surprise challenge.

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. The event hosts Alexis & Eric too were communicative and instructed our teams with great succession and they bought the energy and fun to our team which was fantastic. Overall this [company] 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!