The Secrets of Old Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt
- Most Popular
- private
- adults
- outdoor
Ever try team-building time travel?
This hunt takes you back to colonial times and the tumult of 1776. On this whirlwind tour your team will uncover the secrets of hallowed historic places—as well as less legendary but quirky and strange sights. You’ll be challenged to answer tricky, amusing questions about what you find.
Don’t worry if you can’t tell Ben Franklin from Ben Affleck: the hunt requires no previous knowledge. You just need to use your wits and work well with your team.
Highlights on the historic Philly scavenger hunt include…
- Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and a vanished art gallery between them
- Carpenter’s Hall, where the Continental Congress first met, and a cat lurks
- The site of Ben Franklin’s home (and its “privy”)
- City Tavern, where the Founders whined and dined
- Dolley Madison’s digs in elegant Society Hill
- Washington Square, with an Unknown Soldier and countless unknown graves
Along the way, you might be challenged to take creative team photos, such as the one below (we think they are spelling the word tree…)
Do people like this hunt? No. They LOVE this hunt. Scroll down to see a small sampling of five-star reviews from our many happy hunters since our first Philly hunt in 2002.
An International Edition is available for groups with participants whose first language isn’t English. They will find easier words, less slang, and we make the Revolutionary period history easy to follow.
The Kids Edition is great for school field trips, with the kids and the adult chaperones teaming up on a game that will have them all having a great time. We’ve delighted more than 50 school groups with just this hunt.
Contact us to learn more about this popular team-building scavenger hunt—and find more fun in Philadelphia!
The Munch Around the Market Scavenger Hunt
- Most Popular
- public
- private
- adults
- indoor
- outdoor
Nibble your way through Reading Terminal Market
…as you tackle tricky questions while sampling the best foods in Reading Terminal Market. Foodies will feast on artisanal chocolates, sinful cheesecakes, Amish baked goods, soft pretzels, cappuccino, cupcakes, roast pork, and more. Plus you’ll also drop into the Convention Center for a look at Reading Terminal’s glory days as a train station.
On teams, you’ll follow fascinating clues to explore the market and find answers to tricky, amusing questions. Plus you’ll also have Snack Attacks, where you’ll have to take creative photos of the team sampling sinful foods.
On this food challenge, you’ll discover…
- Ice cream once made with the help of mules
- Chocolates that might remind you of Gray’s Anatomy, featured on Bizarre Foods
- Philbert, the pig that’s a cash cow, with a telltale tail
- The terminal’s Grand Hall, with a 509-foot-high roof that’s the only remaining single-span iron roof in the world!
We promise, even if you’re on a diet, you’ll still have fun on this scavenger hunt-style food challenge. But if you are looking for a low-cal, food free version of the game, try The Reading Terminal Ramble Scavenger Hunt.
Contact us to learn more about the Munch Around the Market Scavenger Hunt—and find more fun at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia!
The Center of Center City Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- outdoor
Explore the streets near City Hall
…on this whirlwind scavenger hunt. On teams, you’ll follow clues and search for answers to tricky questions about places and secrets you discover. The hunt trail stretches between LOVE Park and Reading Terminal Market, and you’ll venture out into the side streets in search of nooks and crannies and hidden treasures.
On this scavenger hunt, your team might…
- Uncover a cornerstone hidden in the depths of City Hall.
- Eat your (chocolate) heart out in Reading Terminal Market.
- Marvel at the cavernous space of a former train station.
- Wonder about a weird giant head outside the Academy of Arts.
- Learn to love Bacon in LOVE Park.
★★★★★ “Creative, good team cooperation, and great location. Philly is a great city for this game.”—a review by a participant from a software company
The Rittenhouse Ramble Scavenger Hunt
- public
- private
- adults
- kids
- outdoor
Square off in the square!
What are you most looking for in an adventure? A beautiful setting? Check. Hidden history? Check. Unusual art with sneaky details? Check. Lively streets with shops filled with snacks for discerning foodies? Check. This scavenger hunt in and around Rittenhouse Square has all these and more.
Your team will tackle three kinds of challenges: you’ll follow clues to answer tricky, amusing questions about what you find; you’ll seek opportunities to fulfill the quirky requirements of team photo challenges; and you’ll use your best scavenging skills to find unusual items. Along the way, you’ll meet your Hunt Host for a surprise bonus challenge.
No previous knowledge of the neighborhood is necessary. You just need sharp eyes and comfy shoes.
An International Edition is available for groups with participants whose first language is not English. And the Kids Edition is a great activity in which kids (age 7 and up) and adults to work together and have fun together, whether for a school field trip, a birthday, or other special occasions.
What delighted clients are saying
“Watson Adventures is Fantastic! Booked the Rittenhouse Ramble for my 8th grade students as an end of the year adventure! It was fun and interactive! The tour organizers were knowledgeable, nice, and very organized! If you’re looking for a good time, look no further!” —a 5-star review on Google by Cordell Turner of Kings Collegiate Charter School
There’s something for everyone in this game. Contact us to learn more—and find more fun in Philadelphia!
The Murder Mystery Mayhem Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- kids
- outdoor
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, history, or entertainment museum
- A zoo or aquarium
- An office building
- A school or campus
- A botanical garden or park
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.
The hunt’s afoot! Contact us to learn more—and find more team-building fun anywhere!
The Conquer Philadelphia Citywide Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- outdoor
Uncover Center City’s mysteries…
…on a whirlwind tour that hits Philly’s most interesting locations—famous and obscure. Using either limousines or mass transit (including the Philly Phlash in summer), you’ll follow clues from Fairmount Park to Penn’s Landing, including such stops as Independence Hall, Reading Terminal, Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, Old City, and Chinatown. Along the way, you’ll discover movie locations, historic spots, and cool stores as you answer devilishly tricky questions.
You might search for answers to such questions as…
- Behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of the “topless” men has a motto that sounds like an older version of Chumbawamba’s hit song. What is his name? Answer: Nathanael Greene, who holds a hat behind his back and whose motto on his pedestal is “We fight, get beat, rise and fight again,” or as Chumbawamba would sing, “I get knocked down, but I get up again…”
- In Reading Terminal, near the Original Turkey, find “Babe.” What you’d expect to be curly is straight. What does it always point to? Answer: The tail of a bronze pig points to an illustration of clams on the sculpture’s base. Original Turkey is a turkey-sandwich seller nearby.
You can only figure out the answers to these questions when you’re in the right spot, looking at the right thing. You don’t need any previous knowledge to triumph: you just need good teamwork and comfortable shoes.
This citywide scavenger hunt is great for corporate outings, social-group gatherings, birthday parties—you name it.