Phone-Based Scavenger Hunts: an Afternoon of Fun and Learning

Jay Bell

Running for Dad of the Year after getting my kids to combine exercise, learning, and smiles

Portsmouth NH's scavenger hunt led to learning about more of its history, and fun with friends.

​Sometimes we have those cities that are our favorite go-to spots for a weekend away or a day trip. Other times, we venture to a new locale, but might not be clear on the best way to explore.  While most people whip out their iPhones to take their Instagram pictures or to look up places on TripAdvisor, they can also be used creatively to help you learn more about these places. 

​​Several companies offer iPhone-based scavenger hunts now. We’ve tried a few hunts and found two companies that do a good job, both with similar approaches. These hunts last for an hour or two, cover a mile or two, and have roughly twenty clues. Each clue involves a question and you have three shots at a correct answer. Then you get directions to your next clue.
 
The scoring is based on a combination of correct answers and travel time between clues. They rank you against others who recently took the challenge, allowing you to compete virtually. However, you could also break into teams if there were enough of you and you wanted personal as well as virtual competition.

​Part of the appeal of these scavenger hunts is that you can learn more about an area’s history and its attractions than you might typically realize surrounds you. As many times as we’d been to Salem, Massachusetts, we didn’t know about some of the lesser-known historical figures and places beyond the witch trials. 

This hunt in Salem, MA, has much more to it than just looking for witches.

​Portsmouth was an old haunt for some of us, but less so for me, and I learned about more than just the bustling waterfront.

​An additional benefit is that you can pause the game after each challenge. When our hunger was getting the best of us in Salem, we paused the game, had a wonderful lunch at a local restaurant, then resumed playing. The same was true to check out a wonderful little store on Portsmouth’s main strip. This avoids the game from becoming a chore, letting you play at your own pace.
 
Not all cities have these scavenger hunts; these companies have found cities with history, variety, and a fairly self-contained route. However, all of the New England states have at least one place to offer. Some have mini-hunts as well, if you’re looking for a place or hunt that’s more abridged. Since these are national companies, it can be fun for vacations further afield, too: we played during a vacation in Nashville, which really allowed us to learn about an unfamiliar place.

Our hunt in Nashville, TN, helped us learn more about the city, and involved noteworthy stores, in addition to more typical historical sites.

These have also helped engage our whole family. With two teen-aged girls, “family friendly” is sometimes too young of a focus for them. They also have a high bar for entertainment. This lets them take a tour without being bored by the tour guide, creates a game-like approach, and they can lead the charge, with their iPhones being assets, since some clues are best googled. It's also an easy activity for a friend to join.
 
So, the next time you’re thinking about visiting a new city or an old haunt, or looking for something fun to do with friends or family, consider a scavenger hunt. It could just be the highlight of your trip!

Key Details

• Puzzling Adventures 
• CityQuest 
• Costs can be up to $50 per team but you may find discounts on their websites or Groupon, or if your employer offers a discount program such as ticketsatwork.com. For City Quest, choose the “1 person” ticket, meaning that only one person is the team lead. (Choose more if you want to have multiple teams)
• Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather
• Fully charge your phone, as one of them has to be the primary one; if you have a portable charger, it wouldn’t hurt to bring one (although we haven’t had to use one yet)