Hobbies And Interests
In the Park
Hold a scavenger hunt in a nearby park, with clues leading from one feature to another. The first clue could be taped to a disc golf goal, lead to an exercise station along the walking track, which in turn could lead to the underside of a swing. From there, one could be on the restroom door, one at the head of a hiking trail, and one at the park gate or an information kiosk. The final clue should lead to a picnic shelter for a meal and a dance.
City-Wide Hunt
For safety's sake, pair drivers with non-drivers and children or young teens with chaperones. Each group photographs themselves when they reach the point that each clue describes. Groups drop their cameras at a one-hour photo before meeting at the end of the hunt. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, recommends taking photos of landmarks and schools, finding and using mass transit stations, getting a library card and finding items at a mall.
Where and What?
For this hunt, guests have to answer a question that can only be answered at the location, such as the soup of the day at a restaurant, how many brands of toilet paper are on sale at the grocery, the total number of police cars in the city or the names of all the stylists in a hair salon. Assign points for difficulty, advises Reason to Party website owner, Kimberly Wind.
Merchant District
This hunt works best at a historic or renovated outdoor merchant district, such as those found along the riverfront in Pittsburgh, or the Reading Terminal Farmer's Market in Philadelphia. You can also hold a scavenger hunt at indoor malls such as the Galleria in Houston, Mall of the Americas in Miami, or the more famous Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., near Minneapolis-St. Paul, as well as any mall near you. Consult with mall security before planning your hunt to ensure that you and your guests do not disrupt other guests' shopping experience or distract merchants from making sales. Choose stores which feature unusual items, such as international grocers or specialty gift shops, suggests Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Living section feature writer, Christine Burns Rudalevige, and have participants purchase specific ingredients or decorations. Provide hunt participants with enough money to purchase each item on the list. End the hunt at the mall food court, where you use purchased items to decorate or entertain, or at home, where you use them to create a specialty dish. Remember to thank merchants and acknowledge mall security for their indulgence.