Sample Clues

What distinguishes a treasure hunt from a scavenger hunt is the emphasis on clues and puzzles (as opposed to the collecting of objects). And what separates a truly great treasure hunt from a merely adequate one is the quality, variety and sophistication of its clues. At Dr. Clue, we offer a truly amazing range of puzzles, codes and ciphers. We playtest all our clues to make sure they are just the right level of difficulty for our corporate clients - not too hard, but certainly not too easy - and that people with every learning style will find some way to contribute. What makes our clues truly unique is our effort to match the type of clue with the final location. So, for example, if a clue is leading you to a statue of Helen Keller, we might write the clue using Braille. Similarly, if the clue is directing you to the Western Union office, we'd undoubtedly write the clue in Morse Code. Get it? No other treasure hunt company does this, but creating such elegant, integrated clues gives our puzzle designers exquisite pleasure!

Unlocking our sneaky and challenging treasure hunt clues requires a variety of team skills and knowledge: puzzle solving, wordplay expertise, code deciphering, pop-culture trivia, map reading, and much, much more. Teams must manipulate data, think outside the box, and brainstorm like crazy - not only within their own group but also, if necessary, across to other teams.

To learn even more about the "method behind our madness," read the article Getting a Clue with Teambuilding Treasure Hunts.

Below are two representative clues we might use in your next treasure hunt. The first one is a code clue, the second a word/picture puzzle clue. We offer about 100 other types of clues! Clue-solving hint: The first part of each of these two outdoor clues directs you to a particular set of cross-streets. (Not to worry: on a real hunt, we would provide your team with a list of all the street names in the treasure hunt area.) From there, you then need to follow the directions all the way to the mystery location, where you can find the information necessary to answer the final question of the clue: usually a word, a phrase, a date, etc. Good luck!