Scavenger Hunts for Kids & School Field Trips in The San Francisco Bay Area

The Exploratorium Pandemonium Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • indoor

Put on your lab coat…

…for an investigation into mechanical marvels, human phenomena, wonders of light and sound, man-made tornadoes, dancing robots, secrets of the natural world, and stunning facts—and views—of the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island. On teams, you’ll explore this science-based museum by following a trail of clues in search of answers to fun and funny questions.

On this San Francisco scavenger hunt you might find…

  • A toilet you can drink from…if you dare
  • Something on the Golden Gate Bridge that’s a huge drag, man
  • A Weaver’s toothpick masterpiece
  • A kind of “salad” that give surfers a beautiful curl
  • A Mr. Freeze who’d pester the Penguin

Don’t worry if your name isn’t Einstein: no special knowledge of the museum or science is required to have fun—or even to win. All you need is a sharp mind, and comfy shoes don’t hurt either.

In the Kids Edition, available for ages 7 and up, children and adults join forces to solve our tricky questions. It’s an enjoyable, educational activity for school field trips, camp or youth-group outings, and birthday parties.

Contact us to learn more about our scavenger hunts at the Exploratorium—and find more team-building fun in San Francisco!


The North Beach & Chinatown Chase Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • outdoor

Explore the historic heart of San Francisco…

…and the immigrant culture that has made it thrive when you embark on a fun, funny scavenger hunt that’s like a walking tour spiked with caffeine. You’ll follow a trail of clues and answer tricky, entertaining questions about what you find, from the hidden time capsule in Washington Square to the “school of rock” in Portsmouth Square.

In Jackson Square, you’ll uncover the history of the city’s oldest and handsomest buildings, survivors of the 1906 earthquake. In Chinatown, you might think you’ve left America as you hunt for answers among stores, herb shops, temples, hidden alleys, and even a fortune-cookie factory.

And in the North Beach section, you’ll find Francis Ford Coppola’s headquarters, the legendary City Lights Bookstore, and cafés and bakeries that will make you feel like you’re in Italy.

Other highlights on this San Francisco scavenger hunt include…

  • Columbus Avenue, the main street that connects Chinatown and North Beach and features legendary restaurants and cafes
  • The Comstock Saloon, a historic Barbary Coast saloon in a building that has been home to a variety of bars since 1907
  • The former Chinese American Telephone Exchange Building, a historic building in the style of classic Chinese architecture
  • Portsmouth Square, the first park in San Francisco, originally known as Plaza de Yerba Buena; it includes a monument to the city’s first public school, which stood nearby
  • Waverly Place, home of many Chinese family associations or tongs
  • Ross Alley, formerly a scene for gambling and other illegal activities but now famous as the home of the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory (grab a free sample!)
  • City Lights Bookstore, since 1953 a mecca for writers—particularly the Beat poets
  • Jack Kerouac Alley, decorated with quotes from, and named for, writer Jack Kerouac (author of the classic On the Road)
  • Caffe Trieste, a hangout for Beat writers, and supposedly where Francis Ford Coppola wrote parts of The Godfather

Along the way, you might tackle such questions as…

  • “Go fly a kite!” you could tell a man in Washington Square Park. Near him, find a stash for time travelers. How many more years will you have to live to meet them? Answer: Near a statue of Ben Franklin (famed kite flyer) there’s an inscription about a time capsule. The original one was opened in 1979. Do the math…
  • On Columbus Ave., where lightning always strikes, what is being hatched? Answer: Ideas, according to a sign at the landmark Sentinel Building, headquarters for director Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope production company. There are stylized lightning bolts in the pavement outside.

This group game is a great option for everything from corporate team building and alumni outings to birthday parties and social-group gatherings.

A Kids Edition, in which kids and adults collaborate and explore together, is also available, suitable for ages 7 and up. (The sample questions above are from the adult edition, of course.)

Contact us to learn more about our Chinatown and North Beach scavenger hunts—and find more team-building fun in San Francisco!


The Secrets of the de Young Museum Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • indoor

Uncover the shocking secrets of masterpieces…

…on a whirlwind tour of the best of the de Young Museum, a stunning jewel in San Francisco’s crown. You’ll search for answers to quirky, funny questions about intriguing objects you’re challenged to find in the collections of American paintings and sculptures, African art, art of the Americas, and more.

Your team might find…

  • An atomic owl
  • A snaggle-fingered pianist
  • A Kongo man who should sue his acupuncturist
  • A cocoa coffin
  • A headhunter’s home furnishings
  • A barbarous barber
  • A clue hidden in the spectacular panorama viewed from the museum’s tower

Those are just a few of the highlights on this revealing romp through the eclectic galleries. But you don’t need to know anything about art to succeed: you just need excellent teamwork and comfortable shoes.

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

You can also help make art accessible, surprising, and new to hunters of every age and stripe with the Kids Edition of this scavenger hunt, geared toward ages 7 and up. Adults and children work together to uncover the amazing aspects of art, making it the perfect choice for school field trips, camp outings, birthday parties, and more.

What clients are saying about the de Young scavenger hunt

“It was awesome! I’ve never done a scavenger hunt with the team (or general) and it was such a good time!” —the leader of a group from a social media company

 

Contact us to learn more about the de Young museum scavenger hunt—and find more fun in San Francisco!


Go For The Golden Gate Park Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • outdoor

A creative romp through the park

Of all the Golden Gate Park activities your team can do, on this one, you’ll complete a series of entertaining challenges on a whirlwind of a scavenger hunt. You’ll take memorable group photos, find or create unusual items, decode a mysterious message, and meet your Hunt Host for a special challenge. Your tasks might involve a sculpture made of food, hints of nature, people in uniform, strangers who root for the home team, local landmarks, and more.

Along the way, you might also…

  • Act out in the Shakespeare Garden
  • Portray intrepid explorers in the Oak Woodlands
  • Enjoy a musical interlude at the Music Concourse
  • Freeze-frame in midair with Stow Lake as a backdrop

And those are just a highlight or two from these Golden Gate Park activities in San Francisco, which will have your friends or colleagues laughing and reminiscing for days. It’s the ideal activity for corporate outings, social-group meetups, and birthday parties. The Kids Edition, suitable for ages 7 and up, provides a great way for youngsters and adults to play together on a school field trip.

Contact us to learn more about these Golden Gate Park activities—and find more fun on San Francisco scavenger hunts!


The Art Attack Scavenger Hunt at the Legion of Honor Museum

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • indoor

Go on an extraordinary team-building adventure across several centuries of art in a palatial setting, at the Legion of Honor Museum. You’ll compete by following clues to discover the strangest, quirkiest, most remarkable masterpieces in the galleries and answering humorous questions about what you find.

Along the way, you might discover…

  • A mouse disguised as a Chinese dish
  • An unusually plucky instrument
  • A plate of bees attacking a bear
  • A stargazing maiden by Bologna (but not the lunch meat)
  • A rude awakening by a blacksmith

Plus, frogmen, a nasty parrot, and much more. But don’t worry—you don’t need to know anything about the art to play or to win. You just need to pay attention to the details and use your wits.

This is the perfect off-site activity for a group looking to have an unusual experience. Even the grumps who don’t like games will get hooked by the great art and amusing questions. Trust us: that’s been true for countless groups since our first hunt here in 2005.

We also offer a version designed for kids and adults to play together. It has earned raves from revelers on school field trips, camp outings, and birthday parties.


The Fisherman’s Wharf Weird Wonders Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • outdoor

You may think you know Fisherman’s Wharf…

…but you won’t believe what you’ve been missing when you play this unusual group game that reveals its hidden history and overlooked oddities. On this waterfront adventure, you and your team will follow a trail of clues and answer fun and funny questions about what you find. You’ll uncover secrets about Navy vessels on Pier 45, crab stands on Taylor Street, a  transformed Cannery, and…

You might also discover…

  • Bizarre and amusing coin-operated antique machines at the Musée Méchanique
  • A submarine that’s giving clouds the brush-off
  • The origin of the country’s first Irish coffee
  • A hippie alien hanging out with Beyoncé

Plus, you’ll find a festive riot of food and souvenir stands. You don’t need any special or prior knowledge to triumph—you just need to be on the lookout for surprising details, think out of the box, and collaborate with your teammates.

The game provides a great team-building outing for corporate groups looking for an unusual venue for some bonding. Why get stuck in a room for an hour when you can explore the carnival that is Fisherman’s Wharf?  

If you’re thinking that this would also be the perfect group game for curious kids, you’d be right! We offer a Kids Edition of this hunt that will delight hunters ages 7 and up. It’s ideal for birthday parties, camp and youth-group outings, and more.

Contact us to learn more about the Fisherman’s Wharf scavenger hunt—and find more fun in San Francisco!


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 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!


The Murder Mystery Mayhem at the Zoo Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • teens
  • outdoor

Beware: there’s a killer behind that panda…

Your perfectly delightful team-building outing to the zoo is about to be spoiled: someone in your group is plotting to feed you to the lions, or have you hugged by a cobra, or perhaps sat on by a hippo. Because this person—possibly on your own team—is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde.

This person now challenges you to prevent your own murder. Everyone in your group was fed a deadly venom with your lunch, and the clock is ticking down on your time left to live. To save yourselves and get the antidote, all you have to do is reveal the killer’s identity.

Easy, right? Not so fast: the killer has hidden their identity in a series of puzzles that are part of a scavenger hunt at the zoo. Your team must solve a series of interlocking puzzles, decipher coded messages, and meet the conditions of tricky photo challenges around the zoo.

Along the way, your team might…

  • Play monkey see, monkey do with a monkey.
  • Blend in with an animal known for camouflage.
  • Tackle a trivia quiz about famous murder mysteries.
  • Identify snippets of songs that feature animals.
  • Twist, and maybe shout, with snakes.

If your group loves escape-room games, they’ll love this zoo scavenger hunt. The game will also help you solve the mystery of how to entertain a diverse group of people while boosting morale and teamwork. It’s perfect for a private party or a corporate team-building outing of any size.

A Kids Edition is also available, in which kids age 7 and up work with adults. It’s a great activity for a school field trip, a birthday party, a family reunion, you name it.

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

PLUS check out Watson Adventures on Google to see hundreds of 5-star reviews from delighted clients!

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


The Secrets of the Cantor Arts Center Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • indoor

An adventure for artful team building in the Bay Area

Discover the most arresting, most unusual, and most amusing details in the galleries of the Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center on this fun, funny scavenger hunt. You’ll scrutinize startling sculptures, ponder masterpiece paintings, decide whether Alexander the Great is really that great, choose a powerful Afropick, play a 19th-century “snap” game, tangle with ancient Chinese dragons, master the Old Masters, and much more.

BUT no knowledge of art or the museum is required! You just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, a sense of humor, and good teamwork.

A Kids Edition is also available, in which parents and kids work together to find art and unravel clues.

What hunters are saying about the art museum game

A review posted on Facebook: “Had a great experience with Watson Adventures! We booked a hunt with them of the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University for a team offsite. Great communication from the whole team from initial contact, to the planning process through the end of the hunt. Tara (our Sales Rep) was wonderful and responsive and Eric (our onsite Game Host) was a blast. Appreciated their flexibility to accommodate us inside for a different hunt due to inclement weather. Would definitely recommend Watson Adventures for anyone that is looking to plan something fun and interactive for a group activity!”

Contact us to learn more about the art museum scavenger hunt at Stanford—and find more fun in the South Bay Area!


The Tech Trek Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • indoor

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is a fan!

Find out why Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Amazon, and many other tech companies have turned to Watson Adventures for the ultimate experience in clever, sophisticated museum scavenger hunts. As Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos told the New York Times about Watson Adventures, “I love games of all kinds, and those hunts are pretty intense. They take you into corners of the museum most people never find.”

That’s certainly true of this hunt at the Tech Interactive museum, which combines fascinating science with the latest innovations in museum displays to create one terrific team-building experience. On teams, you’ll explore the nooks and crannies of this Silicon Valley gem by following a trail of clues and answering clever, entertaining questions about what you find.

To win, you might need to…

  • Build a robot to blow up suspicious packages
  • Try brain surgery on a dummy
  • Take an infrared team portrait
  • Consult over an X-ray of a bullet lodged in a throat
  • Use a dragon to measure an earthquake
  • Do some real-time spying on cities around the world
  • Get the puck outta here like a hockey goalie
  • Create a program that reveals Mr. Potato Head’s love of dogs playing poker

Those are just a few of the highlights on this game that’s perfect for corporate outings, student and alumni reunions, birthday parties, and more. Even better: you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to win this hunt—you just need a sharp mind and comfortable shoes.

Editions for kids and adults to do together, and for people whose first language is not English, are also available.

Contact us to learn more about the Tech Interactive scavenger hunt—and find more fun in San Jose!


The Twisted Science Scavenger Hunt at the California Academy of Sciences

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • indoor

Discover strange places and stranger creatures…

…at the California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park’s dramatic science museum—and the only place in town boasting an albino alligator. On teams, you’ll follow a trail of clues through the exhibits and answer fun, funny questions about what you find. Highlights include tastily named frogs, giant tanks brimming over with nearly everything that swims (short of whales), a trip up to the building’s stunning rooftop, and piranhas in a subterranean rain forest, to name a few.

You might tackle such questions as…

  • What red-bellied fish doubles for piranha in movies? Answer: The red-bellied pacu.
  • Talk about convenient: what does one variety of egg do that is almost like saying, “I’m almost done!”? Answer: Emu eggs change color or get darker.
  • Find a plant with a name that sounds like a high-cholesterol way to treat a blemish. What part of the plant enjoys a meal that Campbell’s might call “Mmm Mmm Disgusting”? Answer: Butterwort leaves absorb insects that their enzymes have turned into “a soup.”

Stumped by those? No worries: you don’t need to know anything about science to succeed. You just need excellent teamwork and comfortable shoes.

If you’re looking for an unusual—and unusually enjoyable—activity for corporate retreats, social-group outings, birthday parties, reunions, and more, you’ve found it!

An edition for kids and adults to enjoy together, suitable for ages 7 and up, is also available.

What delighted clients are saying about the science museum scavenger hunt

“The party was wonderful and it would not have been so great without Watson Adventures! Joshua was incredibly helpful and it was so nice to be able to focus on the event and have one less thing to worry about. Everyone had a good time and multiple people have come up to me thanking for such a fun, interactive option at the party.” —the organizer of a party for a major tech company that rented out the museum

Contact us to learn more about our scavenger hunts at the California Academy of Sciences—and find more fun for your group in San Francisco!


The Wild Wildlife Scavenger Hunt at the San Francisco Zoo

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • outdoor

Revealed: amazing animals and their startling secrets

View the zoo anew as you follow a trail of clues and search for curious creatures and amazing facts on this team-building trek. You’ll track down answers to tricky questions that lead your team to uncover the most entertaining and unusual aspects of the animals. 

Discover the answers to such questions as…

  • Can you donate blood to a gorilla?
  • Which penguins raised a badass celebrity?
  • What should you expect when you French kiss an anteater?
  • What can you give a frozen lemur?
  • Would you be happy if your spouse acted like a Great Rhea?
  • How does a giant waxy monkey help an Amazonian get high?
  • On a date, what Californian can literally lose his head and yet still score?

You don’t need to know anything about the zoo or its lions, tigers, and bears to score points—and even to win. You just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and a sense of adventure.

Along the way, you’ll need to get creative for the Team Photo Challenges, which often require you to interact with the animals—from a distance, of course. (Don’t try to pet the tiger.)

Kids Edition available: Kids can get in on the fun on a version designed for them to enjoy with adults. It makes for a terrific school field trip, camp outing, or birthday party. Recommended for ages 7 and up. 

Contact us to learn more about our San Francisco Zoo scavenger hunts—and find more fun in the Bay Area!


The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • indoor

Step into an enchanted world…

…when you search the Legion of Honor for art that echoes characters, places, and magical objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. Be prepared to track down—and answer tricky, humorous questions about—Dumbledore doppelgangers, bizarre creatures, slithering serpents, swinging swords, men who might remind you of Nearly Headless Nick, trophies that seem straight out of the Triwizard Tournament, and eerie figures as scary as any Death Eater or Dementor.

Wizards and muggles alike can play and enjoy this hunt. It’s not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures; 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 museum.

This hunt is suitable for all ages that have read and are fans of the original Harry Potter books. Kids must be accompanied by an adult.


The Grab ’n’ Go Anywhere Scavenger Hunts

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • outdoor

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!


Birthday Bash Blowout! An Outdoor Birthday Party Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • teens
  • outdoor

Turn your outdoor birthday party into an adventure!

Celebrate someone’s BIG DAY by bringing together friends and family on a fast-paced, fun outdoor birthday scavenger hunt. On teams, you’ll tackle a series of challenges that stretch your creativity, foster connections, and tickle the humerus (that’s the funny bone, right?).

Challenges that honor the Birthday Celebrant

  • Take team photos, many of which pay tribute to the Birthday Celebrant—providing keepsakes to share after the game
  • Find or create objects that test how well you know the Birthday Celebrant
  • Answer trivia and decode a mystery message honoring the Birthday Celebrant
  • Connect with our Hunt Host for a surprise bonus challenge

Our live Hunt Host keeps the game going and everyone laughing and sharing. Depending on your location and your preference, our Hunt Host can conduct the game in person, or can the Host can meet the teams on Zoom at the start and finish of the game, as text the teams during the game.

Players use our custom, browser-based app for all parts of the game.

Customize the outdoor birthday party to suit your celebrant

For an additional fee we can customize the game to the particular interests, enthusiasms, and even humorous dislikes of the Birthday Celebrant. We’ll send you questions about the celebrant and then incorporate them in creative ways into the challenges.

In addition to the version for adults, a Kids Edition is available for ages 12 and up.

What clients are saying about our outdoor birthday party scavenger hunt

“I planned a surprise customs scavenger hunt for my fiancé’s birthday last year, and it was so much fun! Watson Adventures 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!” —a reviewer on Yelp

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Saturday was a huge success. The kids had a blast and Eric, the host, was fun and in total control. I could not have come close to giving [our son] as awesome a birthday without your help. You’re the best party coordinators ever!” —a survey response from a parent

Contact us to learn more—and let us make your birthday celebration one of the most memorable you’ll ever enjoy!


Heroes & Villains Super Powers Grab ‘n’ Go Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • indoor
  • outdoor

Show Off Your Heroic Side

Calling all caped crusaders, mighty mutants, and strange visitors from other planets! Gather your super friends for an imaginative, empowered adventure. Whether you live in a mighty metropolis or a small town, team up for a super hero scavenger hunt—and take on challenges that bring out the superpowers and secret talents in everyone.

Your Super Teams Will Have To…

• Take Unusual Team Photos: Complete hero- and villain-themed photo prompts. Perfect your heroic poses, hold up tall buildings with a single hand, defeat your arch-enemies, and more.

• Collect & Create Interesting Items: As in a traditional scavenger hunt, this game tasks your league of extraordinary players with finding or cobbling together certain things. You might need your own super logo, an object you smashed with your super strength, or a key to the city!

• Decode a Mysterious Message: Is a bald professor recruiting you to join his fancy school? Is a galactic menace coming to devour the earth? You’ll never know unless you crack the code and reveal the message.

• Join the Hunt Host for a Surprise Challenge: Not even a supreme sorcerer or cosmically powered telepath can predict the fun puzzle in store for your avenging heroes.

Contact us to learn more about this awesome super hero scavenger hunt. Your super-powered adventure awaits!


The Murder Mystery Mayhem at the History Museum Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • teens
  • indoor

Uh-oh! A killer lurks among you…

…and they’re about to interrupt an otherwise normal team-building outing to your favorite history museum. Someone in your group—possibly on your own team—is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde, and they’re plotting to make you history.

Fortunately, this game gives you a fighting a chance to prevent your own murder. Everyone in your group has been secretly poisoned, and the clock is ticking down on your time left to live. To save yourselves and get the antidote, all you have to do is complete various fun challenges and reveal the killer’s identity.

The killer has hidden their identity in a scavenger hunt at the history museum. Your team will solve a series of interlocking puzzles, decipher coded messages, and meet the conditions of creative, collaborative photo prompts.

Along the way, your team might…

  • Act your age with age-old artifacts.
  • Put your patriotism on display for all to see.
  • Interrogate sculptures and statues for clues.
  • Gape in wonderment at outdated technology.
  • Tackle a trivia quiz about famous murder mysteries.
  • Identify murderous movies and snippets of killer songs.

If your group loves escape-room games, they’ll love this history museum scavenger hunt. The game will also help you entertain a diverse group of people while boosting morale and teamwork. It’s perfect for a private party or a corporate team-building outing of any size.

A Kids Edition is also available, in which kids age 7 and up work with adults. It’s a great activity for a school field trip, birthday party, and more.

Contact us to learn more about the Murder Mystery Mayhem Scavenger Hunts—and find more fun!


The Wizards & Witches Scavenger Hunt for Kids

  • private
  • kids
  • outdoor

An adventure Harry Potter fans will love

Journey to an enchanted world without ever leaving your hometown, on a scavenger hunt that features a variety of challenges that might remind you of Harry and friends. On teams of six, kids search for objects that young witches and wizards would use at a school such as Hogwarts. They’ll also take Team Photos that let them demonstrate their magic skills or show off the effects of spells.

Though the challenges may call to mind aspects of the Harry Potter books and movies, no knowledge of them is required whatsoever. So if, say, you’re throwing a birthday party for the world’s biggest Potter fan, he or she will be thrilled, while friends who know little or nothing about the boy wizard will still have a blast.

This hunt is recommended for ages 7 and up. The minimum rate is $700 for up to 20 people.

Contact us to learn more about this scavenger hunt for kids who wish they could go to Hogwarts—and find more wizarding fun right in your hometown!


Escape to the Museum Virtual Scavenger Hunt for Kids

  • private
  • kids
  • teens
  • indoor

Explore Museums All over the Country—at Home!

Round up your teammates for an online adventure that challenges you to explore museum websites in search of the craziest, zaniest, secret-and-surprise-stuffed-fulliest (is that a word?) exhibits you’ve ever seen outside of your dreams. You’ll follow tricky clues on different museum websites and answer humorous question about what you uncover.

No knowledge of any particular museum is required: you just need sharp eyes, sharp wits, sharp teammates, and sharp pencils. Wait: sharp pencils not required, because you’ll be reading the clues and answering the questions in our spiffy app, bursting with links and hints and sound effects and other fun stuff.

Virtual scavenger hunt highlights include…

  • Sue the T. rex at the Field Museum in Chicago
  • A tour of the Texas State Aquarium with a sloth
  • A bison stampede at the Milwaukee Public Museum
  • The Space Shuttle Discovery at the Air & Space Museum
  • Vintage arcade games at San Francisco’s Musée Méchanique

The game is suitable for ages 10 and up, and we recommend at least one adult per team. This virtual scavenger hunt is a great way to connect with family, friends or classmates. Contact to learn more about a private game for your group!


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