 Our policy is “always say yes.” When a company wanted to host a virtual event in the spring of 2020, we said yes, and now virtual scavenger hunts are a huge part of our business. When a mom asked if we could come up with something special for her son’s birthday, we said yes, and gave him a unique experience and a great celebration. Create and deliver a Halloween treasure hunt inside the Rough Riders Ballpark? Yes! Design a custom virtual baby shower for a mom-to-be in Los Angeles? Yes! One of the reasons we always say yes is that it always leads to great things. New relationships, new business, and new products! We may build something brand new for a client, but once they’re done, we get to offer it (sometimes in a slightly modified form) to you! The latest example of how saying yes led to something cool is our hunt at the Boardwalk at Granite Park. For a while now, the Boardwalk has been a fantastic destination for dining, nightlife, and enjoying the views, and we’d often reasoned that it might make a great spot for a hunt. But until we were contacted by the good folks at Woodlake Outdoor, we hadn’t gotten around to creating it. Woodlake Outdoor had scheduled a team meeting at the Hilton Granite Park, and they wanted an activity to entertain their group after they’d finished with business but before they met for dinner at nearby Blue Mesa. They reached out to us to see if we’d be able to offer a hunt in the neighborhood. You can guess what our response was. To be fair, before we said “yes,” we said “probably!” because we’re careful to build our hunts in areas that are right for them, and we wanted to confirm that the Boardwalk could offer such an experience. We took a quick tour of the area, noticing the many unique signs, murals, and other surprising features of the landscape that would make for challenging and unique clues in the hunt. Convinced that we could deliver a product of our usual high quality, we finally said “yes, of course!” Woodlake Outdoor wanted an experience that reflected their culture and business, and because they’re a landscaping company, we needed to find a theme that would fit their goals, work with a puzzle as well as the geography, and still have that DFW Scavenger Hunt twist. After all, we’ve made hunts about an art heist, cowpokes, and explorers in forbidden realms. How to create a similar experience for landscapers? We were delighted when we hit upon our answer. Who better to inspire us than the most famous landscapers and architects of all time, the three little pigs? Thus the Landscaping and Architecture firm of Panchetta, Machaca and Boudin was established, and they were hiring! The puzzle that the gang at Woodlake Outdoor tackled challenged them to act as consultants for Panchetta, Machaca and Boudin, in hopes of discovering some information about a mysterious new client. Along the way, the puzzle made reference to many other denizens of the Fairytale Kingdom, from Humpty Dumpty to Goldilocks, from Rapunzel to Little Miss Muffet.  Meanwhile, we designed the game to look like materials from a fancy firm. We designed a classy logo for the pigs, chose a font that recalled blueprints and landscape plans, and filled the puzzle with language that the group would recognize. We worked with the client to incorporate questions that were very specific to their field, challenging them to identify varieties of rock and species of tree. And we tested, too. We put together a group of testers and treated them to a complimentary hunt (and drinks at Chip’s afterwards) in exchange for their feedback. To our delight, they enjoyed the hunt thoroughly, while also helping us spot a few questions that were too tricky, and a few others that were just too easy.  At the request (and with the help) of the client, we also provided the entire hunt translated into Spanish, to accommodate several members of the team for which English was not their first language.
On the day of the event, we met the group in their conference room at the Hilton and were able to lead them directly out onto the hunt course. We had just as much fun as they did watching them track down the clues, pose for funny photos, and race each other to finish first. Creating a custom scavenger hunt is a fun prospect for us because the limitations end up kicking our creativity into high gear and end up leading to more interesting products. Not only that, but it leads us to discover cool places and highlight neighborhoods that might have previously not been on our radar. Got a place in Texas where you’d like us to design a custom scavenger hunt? (Got a place NOT in Texas?) Want to try our hunt in Granite Park? Get in touch… we’d love to say yes!
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We're so excited about our latest partnership, a collaboration with Pedal With a Twist, a super cool Dallas business that creates fun experiences on wheels. Together with them, we've created the Great Dallas Race, a hunt on bikes that will have folks racing through town to complete challenges and solve puzzles.
If you're a fan of The Amazing Race, this is the event for you. Inspired by the thrilling reality show that sends contestant around the globe to tackle Road Blocks and Detours, the Great Dallas Race takes players on bikes through Downtown Dallas and Deep Ellum in a quest to discover their city and finish the race first. The challenges are a total surprise, but you can expect to do some dancing, some puzzle solving, and maybe a little eating, too. It's a wild time that's an only-in-Dallas experience! Our first event is coming up soon, and if you're interested, please visit pedalwithatwist.com for more details or to sign up!  It’s been a long, horrible year and a half, and we’re still not entirely out of the woods. But slowly, gradually, a lot of folks are going back to work. And it’s not going to be easy! There’s a lot of discomfort, a lot of unease, and a lot that’s just plain strange. For those folks who don’t adjust well to change, they have to be thinking: “Wait, we finally got used to the new normal, and now we’re switching things up again?” It’s a process! There are several considerations to keep in mind as you welcome your coworkers back to the office, and empathy, patience, and flexibility is going to be key. From our point of view, here are a few things to remember. It’s an Inside Job?Being indoors feels weird! Even for the vaccinated, there’s a level of anxiety that’s still hanging over every indoor activity, and sitting in an office with a bunch of other folks only emphasizes it. That’s why it’s so important to find ways to step outdoors, and allow everyone else to do so too. Providing your people an opportunity to go outside, be in nature, and experience a different environment was always good practice, but now it’s practically essential. Oh Right… PeopleThinking that other people are dangerous and should be avoided used to be called paranoia, but a year and a half ago, it became genuinely true! And we did everything we could to address and respect that fact. But as the danger abates, it’s still a tough notion to shake, especially when so many folks’ behavior did little to preserve our trust in people. But if we’re going to be together again, we need to recognize the discomfort we all about being in a crowd, or even in a small group. Social distancing was hard, but it turns out socializing is pretty hard too! I’m Not Even Supposed to Be HereAnd have no doubt, there are folks on your team who resent being asked to be back at all. Whether they’re not comfortable seeing people again, or just got really used to working in their PJs, this will be a tough transition for a lot of people, and their feelings are entirely valid. Find ways to express your gratitude to everyone on your team, both for the hard work they’ve done in the last year and for the effort it will take to resume working in a traditional setup. And Yet…But as weird as a lot of this is, it’s also great! It may seem like a contradiction — no, it’s definitely a contradiction — but it’s really nice to see people again, isn’t it? Being back in person not only gives us the human contact we desperately craved, it’s also real, tangible sign that the worst of this is coming to an end. We went through a hard, hard year, and we deserve to celebrate! Milestones are valuable, and finding a way to mark the happy occasion is key to acknowledging how hard we all worked to get here. Back on Our Fee Let’s face it, we wore sweatpants for a whole year, but probably didn’t do a whole lot of sweating. And maybe we told ourselves that in quarantine you deserve to eat an entire birthday cake. (Correct, by the way.) But now, maybe it’s time to get a little exercise again. Group exercise is a great way to build camaraderie and challenge one another. Welcome Aboard?In the last year, a whole lot of folks started a new job. And for most of them, they’ve never been in the same room as their new coworkers. And that’s changing. You’ll want to find ways to welcome to the members of the team, to celebrate them, and to show them how you work together. Come to think of it, there are probably a lot of old members of the team who could use a refresher course on who everyone is. There’s never been a more opportune time for some team building — rebuilding, even. Celebrate going back to in person work -- this is a big deal! Working… Together Talk about siloing. Working from home can really make it feel like you’re all by yourself, and It’s been a while since most of us have truly collaborated. Now is a great time to hone your collaboration skills. Shake off the cobwebs and remind yourselves how a team works.
A team building scavenger hunt is a great way to get outdoors, build trust in each other both as coworkers and people, and welcome to the members of your team in a spirit of gratitude. Having some silly fun is a way to celebrate our resilience while acknowledging the struggles we faced. Consider a scavenger hunt for your team as you face ways to address the many issues of getting back to in person work. We’ve seen enough of each other’s bookshelves and bedroom walls. Let’s find the joy in actually seeing each other. Or if you prefer, start by finding the opposite of terror, then move on to joy when you’re ready.  Trinity Groves is a unique neighborhood in Dallas, a funky, fun area full of restaurants, art, and glorious sights of the skyline. There's so much to discover here, and you know we like discovering things, so we built a scavenger hunt in Trinity Groves! In the shadow of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, maybe our favorite Big D landmark, we've created a thrilling game that will take you on a wild search for clues. If you're looking for something to do in Trinity Groves, a scavenger hunt is a great way to explore the neighborhood while challenging your brain. If you're planning team building or a birthday party, it's a great fit. Our hunt will take you through the area, past restaurants like Saint Rocco's, K's House, Steam Theory, and Amberjax. There's also Avo Eater, Babb Brothers BBQ, and Holy Crust. You'll head up to the bridge and take in a breathtaking view, and down to the town where you'll see remarkable art. Marvel at the magnificent murals, explore the exciting exhibitions, and find some fantastic fun! Our hunts aren't just "bring back a pinecone and a paperclip." When you're on a scavenger hunt with us, you're searching the area for sights, clues, and the answers to tricky riddles. It's a unique challenge for the brain and a tour of your city at the same time. We've hosted hunts in the Dallas Arts District, Frisco, Plano, and Grapevine, and now we're delighted to welcome folks to our newest adventure, full of all new puzzles, games, and riddles. Looking at those great nearby bridges, the Margaret Hunt Hill and the Ronald Kirk, we realized that, if we may wax a bit poetic, that bridges are about coming together. And now that coming together is something we can actually do again, we were inspired to build a scavenger hunt all about it. When you play with us, you do so as a team, and you learn just what it is your team can do. Perfect for team building in Trinity Groves, the hunts emphasize diversity and collaboration, presenting a variety of puzzles that give everyone a chance to shine. Corporate events are a breeze when you let us handle all the planning, hosting, and execution. And everything takes place entirely outdoors, so it's a safe, fresh air experience that gets you up and gets you moving. Planning a group activity in East Dallas means finding things that the whole gang will enjoy, and we specialize in doing just that. We love to build custom scavenger hunts, too, and the flexibility of a neighborhood like Trinity Groves means we're able to craft an adventure that's perfect for you and your group, whether it's for team building, a birthday party, or just a fun thing to do. One of our favorite things about hosting scavenger hunts in Trinity Groves is celebrating a victory afterwards, and the area presents plenty of options to do so, from the many restaurants with outdoor seating to the brand new beer garden that provides plenty of room and refreshment. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, if you ask us. We'd love for you to come check out our latest scavenger hunt, and if you're living, working, or visiting Trinity Groves, we think you'll find it a great way to shake off the quarantine cobwebs and add a little adventure to your life. We'll see you under the bridge! In celebration, here's a quick puzzle about bridges. In each example, find the word that can BRIDGE the gap between the two words by forming a compound word or phrase on either side. For example, if you saw TACO _____ TOWER you'd put BELL. COMPACT _____ JOCKEY RUBBER _____ COLLECTOR BALD _____ SCOUT PAPER _____ LOSS EIGHTH _____ PAD WALL _____ SMARTS BROADWAY _____ CHAIRS Answers below, following a gallery of Trinity Groves Murals.      COMPACT DISC JOCKEY
RUBBER STAMP COLLECTOR BALD EAGLE SCOUT PAPER WEIGHT LOSS EIGHTH NOTE PAD WALL STREET SMARTS BROADWAY MUSICAL CHAIRS  We've been inside for a looooong time. But now we're headed back outside to offer in-person hunts again. In celebration, here's a quick puzzle. Rearrange the letters of OUTSIDE to spell a word that describes what it's been like to be inside for so long. The answer is below!  Keep scrolling...  A few more scrolls....
The answer is... TEDIOUS  Here's something we never expected... we host baby showers now. Remote baby showers, full of games and puzzles and unique ways to celebrate mothers and babies. Just because we're quarantining doesn't mean we can't have a party. And before you swap out staring at one monitor for another one, let us show you a good time!
This last year, being locked indoors, trapped in a small space, only getting food delivered… it’s given us a new perspective on what it’s like in the womb. So when a mom-to-be reached out about hosting her baby shower, we were delighted to deliver! The great thing about building a new remote event is that we get to share it with others. So if you're someone who's trying to plan a virtual baby shower, we can help. Staying safe and staying apart is essential, especially for an expectant mom, but just because we're distant doesn't mean we can't be social. Besides, one thing we've realized this year is that virtual events opens up the guest list to folks all over the place, people who might not otherwise have been able to attend. So if you're considering an international baby shower, we can help with that too. One thing we've always been proud of is that our events are always hosted, by a real live person, and we handle everything. Just tell us what sort of party you're looking for, and when the time comes, click on that Zoom link. We take care of all the other labor. Our hosts are fun, funny, and happy to help out when a question turns out to be a stumper. You might say we give you a little push. (Just breathe!) We create a real comedy game show experience, a genuine show for all involved, but we always keep the focus on mom and baby. And we love to create custom remote events, so we're happy to collaborate on content, design, and any other elements. We'll ask for your help answering a few questions about the guest of honor, so that you'll be sure your party makes them feel great! Our designers make sure the games match your theme, and we'll even toss in a few inside jokes. (Inside-the-womb jokes, that is). So what can you expect from a virtual baby shower? Oh baby, we're glad you asked. We've got games inspired by baby celebrities, games about songs with "baby" in the title, games featuring baby products -- even price guessing games! We even threw in a few baby-themed scavenger hunts to keep it interesting, and to keep folks on their toes -- literally! We can host groups up to 100, and the bundle of joy gets in for free. We know it's tough to be so far apart, and we're doing our best to make it easier. If you're interested in booking a remote baby shower (or any other virtual event), get in touch and we'll start incubating some ideas. Throwing a virtual baby shower is entirely possible, and we're happy to celebrate with you.  One of the best things about our business is the chance to help people who work together work together. It’s always been important to us to create experiences that entertain, but also build relationships. That’s especially true when we’re hosting groups for team building and team bonding. We want to give people a chance to shine in front of their coworkers, and to let people show off skills they might not have even known they had.
Playing games is fun way to sharpen your skills, and those who are consistently seeking to improve themselves are some of our favorite people. That’s why we were honored to be a guest on a recent episode of the podcast “You’ll Think of Something,” a show with the goal of discussing concepts and tools around creativity and productivity. After all, we’re puzzlers, and isn’t “You’ll think of something” central to the notion of solving puzzles?” The hosts of the show are Kara, a producer-turned-professor, and Ally, a talent professional, and they bring so much experience and understanding to their discussions. They invited our founder Brandon to the show to discuss how DFW Scavenger Hunt pivoted from in-person hunts in Dallas to remote options. It was a lively conversation, full of frank discussions on the challenges of running a small business, pandemic or otherwise, and I’m hopeful it offers lessons, or at least encouragement, to anyone else facing similar challenges. Take a listen to the episode — and the rest of their episodes! — for some discussion, some inspiration, and a whole lot of knowledge.  How do you throw a holiday party when everyone is literally home for the holidays? How can you maintain team morale when the odds of getting together are remote? Is there such a thing as a virtual holiday party? If you're hunting for the answers to these questions, allow us to be your solution. See, we love the holidays. And back in our corporate days, we went to a bunch of really fun holiday parties. Karaoke. Dance parties. Raffles, yankee swaps and white elephants. We even got to pet a reindeer once! And of course, we've hosted quite a few holiday scavenger hunts through Dallas, in search of nutcrackers, candy canes, and lights all aglow. But, y'know, this year! We weren't about to sit back and let the holidays go by without celebrating, and we knew many others would be in the same situation. It's why we built our remote holiday scavenger hunt, and we're certain it's the perfect solution to keep your spirits bright (and see how bright you are, too!).  We build games and experiences for groups that want to celebrate together, even when they're far apart. A remote office Christmas party is possible, and we bring all the fun of the holidays to puzzles and riddles inspired by the season.
Remember Rudolph? Sure you do, he's the most famous reindeer of all. You likely recall, then, that he wasn't allowed to join in any reindeer games. Because of that, it took a long time before Dasher, Dancer, and even Rudolph realized just how brightly he could shine! We try to keep Rudolph in mind when we create our games, and it's why we focus on creating a diverse event that everyone can enjoy. That means offering a wide variety of not just challenges, from word games to trivia, but also of themes, so no matter how you celebrate the season, you're sure to find topics that delight. Where others might get lost in the fog, you just might find your way to shine through! Playing virtual games together is a great way to spread a little cheer this winter, and we hope you'll join us. Thanks to technology, faithful friends really can gather near to us once more, so let's take advantage. When you play our games, you don't just sit staring at a computer screen. It's not just another meeting. Instead, you're active, moving around your home in search of the common and not-so-common items we ask you to retrieve. No need to brave the Black Friday crowds in search of the perfect gift. We'll create a little solo chaos for you as you rummage through cabinets and raid the fridge looking for the answer to the latest puzzle. Oh what fun it is to play! If this sounds like a bright time to you, get in touch to schedule an event for your office, friends, or family. If you're clever enough and fast enough, you'll end up joyful and triumphant! As we prepare for our remote holiday scavenger hunt, here's a quick puzzle! What six-letter word in the title of a well-known Christmas carol is an anagram of a word for a common Christmas decoration? Answer below!  ANSWER: SILENT, as in NIGHT, and TINSEL For more jolly puzzles like this, book a virtual holiday hunt now!  We love Halloween. Love it! As kids, dressing in costumes was an incredible way to get creative, from the time we cut a volleyball in half to make a viking helmet to the time we climbed inside a big purple pillow to become a California Raisin. As young adults, Halloween was a thrill — joining massive parades on Franklin St. in Chapel Hill, then later in West Hollywood, making friends, marveling at amazing costumes, and dancing to Ray Parker, Jr. We worked at places that held huge carnivals and costume contests. Now as parents, our love of Halloween has proven genetic, and we delight as our kids cautiously approach the skeleton decorations on a neighbor’s porch, and request spooky books from the library all year long. Which brings us to this year. It’s the perfect confluence — Halloween is on a Saturday? And there’s a full moon? And… there’s a global pandemic and it’s not safe to go door to door asking our elderly neighbors to share candy with us? Right. Right. Oh and the people who won’t wear masks are the scary ones? Cool, cool. So what to do? Well we love a challenge, and we’ve been given plenty to love this year. We set about building our Home Scavenger H(a)hunt, which combines trivia, word games, and of course scavenger hunting to create a fun, safe, Halloween experience. You stay home, you connect on Zoom, and you play games. Costumes aren’t required, but they’re encouraged. How’d we do it? We’ve played enough home hunts with our happy customers to know what works best, and we took those lessons and combined them with everything we knew about Halloween. We cued up “Monster Mash” (we were working in the lab, after all), and set our braaaainss to thinking about all things Halloween, from tricks to treats. Scary movies, Halloween songs, funny costumes, and more all became fodder for the game. Anagrams got a spooky twist, hidden words snuck into eerie sentences, and photo IDs got even more disguised. We sat back and looked at our creation. “It’s alive!” we screamed. We started testing it, and we’re delighted at the response. We honed it, adding more trivia and jokes, until we were satisfied with the product. We'd created the perfect safe Halloween activity that could be played from home! Then we looked again! This was a great game for adults, but for kids? Not yet. Not because it was too gory or scary, but because the games were a bit too tricky for young’uns. So we built another one. We built more puzzles, we shuffled some stuff in and out. We keep it kinda spooky. So now we have a great remote kids Halloween scavenger hunt for any age. It’d scare the pants off you, if anyone wore pants anymore.
We’re so excited we’ll be able to celebrate Halloween with y’all, and can’t wait to put your brains to the test. If you’d like to book a virtual Halloween Scavenger Hunt for your office, your family, or even your coven, don’t be afraid! |
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