City Scavenger Hunt You Actually Make Yourself

What it's about

One person (or two collaborating) builds a scavenger hunt using real spots around your city—landmarks, odd statues, specific storefronts, hidden murals. Teams of two or three race to find them all with clues sent by text. It's low-cost, surprisingly competitive, and shows everyone something about the city they didn't know.

Why it works

It gets people moving and laughing without requiring athleticism. The competitive element keeps energy high, and the city discovery angle makes it feel like an adventure even in familiar places. Works great for groups where energy levels vary.

What to expect

The person building the hunt needs about an hour of prep—walking or driving the route to confirm spots work. The actual hunt runs 90 minutes to 2 hours. End somewhere with food or drinks so the whole thing has a landing spot. Works best in walkable urban areas; not ideal if your city requires a car for every stop.

How to set it up

1. 01

   One person volunteers to be the hunt-maker and picks 10-15 locations within a walkable zone of your city—mix obvious and obscure spots.

2. 02

   Write clues or riddles for each location and assign point values (harder finds = more points). Add a photo requirement at each stop.

3. 03

   Divide into two or three teams of 2 people and share clues via a group text thread or a free app like Goosechase.

4. 04

   Set a 90-minute timer and a designated finish line (a bar, park, or someone's apartment).

5. 05

   Teams submit photo proof of each location to a shared thread; the hunt-maker tallies points at the end.

6. 06

   Celebrate the winners with a round of drinks and argue about which clues were too hard.

Best seasons