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List-o Urban Adventures/Treasure Hunts/Pub Crawls

Urban Adventure Teams in Other Cities

Team Vignette - Austin, SF & Albany (or thereabouts)

Zack Attack Racing - Boston

The Nads - Denver

Diamond Girl - Phoenix

Yellow Tie Racing - Portland

Windy Kitchen - Chicago, now LA

Urban Adventures/Scavenger Hunts Currently Running in Philly

XPlore Adventure Race

  • founded 2013
  • teams of 2 or more
  • usually 3-5 miles of running/walking + mass transit
  • most locations require you to photograph your team with clue in view
  • some are video challenges
  • some locations have added challenges (find a mystery person, etc.)
  • first team back with 12 of 13 wins!
  • offers grand prize, based on points collected by entering multiple cities

Race & Seek

  • founded 2013
  • teams of 2 or more
  • usually 5+ miles of running/walking + mass transit
  • most locations require you to photograph your team with clue in view
  • some are video, Twitter or other social media challenges
  • race in two segments - complete part 1 and get part 2
  • have extra clues, if you can't find one of the main ones
  • first team back with all clues wins!
  • has championship

Urban Dare

  • around since 2006
  • teams of 2
  • usually 5-7 miles of running/walking + mass transit
  • most locations require you to photograph your team with clue in view
  • some locations have dares (jigsaw puzzles, darts, three-legged race, etc.)
  • have bonus clues for time off
  • first team back with everything wins!
  • has Super Dare championship

QUASH

  • around since 2008 (now only in Philly)
  • Fundraiser for Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association
  • teams of any size
  • usually 3-5 miles of running/walking + mass transit + TAXIS!
  • most locations require you to write down the answer to a clue
  • some locations have challenges (three-legged race, finding objects in rooms, etc.)
  • different locations are worth different points
  • two-hour time limit
  • team with the most points wins!

CitySolve Urban Race

  • around since 2008
  • teams of 2
  • usually 5-7 miles of running/walking + mass transit
  • most locations require you to photograph your team with clue in view
  • some locations have challenges (buy something for associated charity, sing song, etc)
  • have bonus clues for time off
  • first team back with everything wins!
  • has national championship

Great Urban Race

  • around since 2008
  • teams of 2
  • usually 5-7 miles of running/walking + mass transit
  • most locations require you to photograph your team with clue in view
  • some locations have challenges (solve logic puzzles, dancing, pouring beer, etc.)
  • have bonus clues for time off
  • first team back with everything wins!
  • has national championship

PhilAmazing Race

  • around since 2010 (only in Philly)
  • teams of any size (recommended 2-4)
  • usually 5-7 miles of running/walking + mass transit
  • most locations require you to photograph your team with clue in view
  • some locations have challenges (bowling, putting, etc.)
  • have bonus clues for time off
  • team with the most points wins!
  • Currently running one Philly race each year

Scavenger Dash

  • in Philly since 2011
  • teams of any size (recommended 2-4)
  • usually 5-7 miles of running/walking + mass transit
  • most locations require you to photograph your team with clue in view
  • some locations have challenges (bowling, putting, etc.)
  • team with the most points wins!

Urban Bike Adventure

  • in Philly since 2012
  • teams of 2-3
  • on bikes!
  • looks it also involves off-bike challenges

Watson Adventures

  • run different hunts in Philly, as well as other cities
  • teams of whatever
  • walking event
  • use same course for same-named event (have about 12 different hunts in the area) every time, so only do each once

Philly: The Game

  • cell phone scavenger hunt
  • play whenever you want!
  • three areas, or zones: Old City, Center City & Italian Market/South St.

Ravenchase

  • around since at least 2007
  • teams of any size
  • usually walking with minimal distance between clues
  • most locations require you to solve very tricky puzzles, which may take a while
  • may have bonus & special clues
  • first team to finish wins!
  • In Philly sporadically

Kenzinger Challenge

  • ran 2010 - 2012 in Philly
  • non-competitive running trivia event... involving beer
  • Returning in 2013?

The Great Race

  • ran at least 2012 in Philly
  • looks similar to other urban adventure races
  • Believe it uses QR codes too
  • RIP?

Gorilla Challenge

  • teams of 2-many
  • 3-5 miles of running/walking + mass transit
  • usual combination of photo clues (find the correct location or strike a pose with someone) and challenges
  • may involve getting vinegar shot into your mouth(!)
  • first team back with everything wins!
  • special prizes if you wear a gorilla suit
  • RIP?

Annual Kiwanis Scavenger Spooktacular

  • takes place just before Halloween
  • run by University City Kiwanis
  • benefit for Cradles to Crayons
  • looks like all walking & traditional scavenger hunt (but ya never know!)
  • RIP?

Cash Hunt

  • maybe, just maybe coming to Philly
  • more for team building, but they have public hunts in Boston so let's hope!

Pub Crawl Fundraisers Currently Running in Philly

Crawl for Cancer

  • fundraiser pub crawl
  • non-competitive

Events Not Running in Philly

Dash

  • closest city is New York
  • very difficult puzzles, with expert finishing times at 2-3 hours and less experienced at 5-8 hours(!)
  • teams of 2-6
  • walking contest

Post Hunt

  • free puzzle hunt
  • in DC, usually first Sunday in June
  • first prize is $2,000!

Tropic Hunt

  • free puzzle hunt
  • in Miami, usually sometime in April
  • first prize is $2,000!

Come Out & Play Festival

  • not a race, but multiple outdoor large scale games!
  • started in NYC, now in SF & beyond
  • week+ of all sorts of games - looks like a lot of fun!

Urban Challenge - RIP?

  • first urban adventure
  • last full race year was 2004
  • has/d $50,000 national championship

Spark Scavenger Hunt

  • annual hunt in San Diego
  • fundraiser for teams of 2-5

It's A Mystery

  • Solve a mystery while running around
  • get your Clue on!
  • only in Denver

Run For Your Lives

  • it's a, er, ZOMBIE INFESTED 5K OBSTACLE COURSE RACE AND SCAVENGER HUNT!
  • down in Maryland in the fall
  • good luck living!

Central Park Treasure Hunt

  • in, of course, Central Park in NYC
  • a do-it-yourself map-based treasure hunt
  • uses orienteering map for navigation
  • non-competitive

Oyster Racing Series

  • closest city is Pittsburgh
  • "Oyster Urban Adventure Race" - 15-30 mile course, foot & bike, teams of 3-6
  • "Oyster Shooter Race" - 5 mile mystery course for individuals
  • "Oyster Off Road Race" - 10-20 mile course, foot & bike, teams of 2-4

Most Amazing Race

  • only in Minneapolis-St. Paul!
  • fund-racer for the Salvation Army
  • sounds similar to Urban Dare, CitySolve & Great Urban Race

CityScape Adventures

  • closest city is Atlanta
  • sounds similar to Urban Dare, CitySolve & Great Urban Race

Puzzle Pursuit

  • only in Legoland, CA!
  • two levels of difficulties in puzzles, including ones you put together
  • teams of 2-4
  • walking contest

Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt

  • only in San Francisco, around the Chinese New Year
  • four levels of difficulties from easy to super hard
  • teams of 4-9
  • walking contest

Twilight Town Trek

  • closest city so far is Indianapolis
  • sounds similar to Urban Dare, CitySolve & Great Urban Race... but at night

Rocket Race

  • only in San Diego!
  • on foot and in cars(!)
  • uses your skills of puzzle solving, navigation, and science fiction trivia
  • teams of 2-4
  • have done several other very intriguing sounding hunts

Race/LA

  • only in LA!
  • sounds similar to Urban Dare, CitySolve & Great Urban Race

City Adventure

  • only in SD!
  • sounds similar to Urban Dare, CitySolve & Great Urban Race

Dash 2 Dare

  • only in Portland, OR
  • Oriented adventure, trivia challenge & photo scavenger hunt

Drink & Hunt

  • four cities, including New York
  • competitive, web-enhanced event played in teams