It’s been a busy summer at Secret City Scavenger Hunts!
Since late June, we’ve hosted 26 scavenger hunts across 12 different New York City locations for an incredible mix of companies, schools, fellowship programs, families, and private groups. Every week has brought new teams, new stories, and new opportunities to introduce people to some of our favorite places in New York City.
When we started Secret City, the goal was simple: create experiences that encourage people to explore, collaborate, and discover the city in a way they never would on their own. This summer has been a perfect reminder of why we love what we do.
Some Incredible Groups This Summer
We’ve had the privilege of welcoming an amazing collection of organizations this summer. Our corporate and organizational clients have included Meta, Prudential, Colgate-Palmolive, Healthfirst, Fortress, Munich Re, Mayer Brown, Consensys, CHEQ Technologies, Jackson Lewis, Learneo, Google Creative Fellowship, Daiichi Sankyo, Uphold, Mixpanel, and many others.
We’ve also hosted groups from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Ramaz School, Urban Scholars at City College, and numerous private groups celebrating birthdays, family gatherings, and special occasions.
One of the things we love most about Secret City is the diversity of the people who participate in our hunts. On any given day, we might be hosting a Fortune 500 company’s team-building event, helping students uncover hidden details in Central Park, or watching a group of friends compete for bragging rights while exploring Greenwich Village.
The groups may be different, but the outcome is usually the same: people laughing, working together, and seeing New York City through fresh eyes.
New York City Is the Perfect Playground
Over the past month alone, our scavenger hunts have taken participants through:
- Grand Central Terminal
- Central Park
- Lower Manhattan
- Midtown Manhattan
- Greenwich Village
- Rockefeller Center
- Williamsburg
- Brooklyn Heights
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Chelsea Market
- The Meatpacking District
- The American Museum of Natural History
There are very few cities in the world that offer the variety and history that New York City does. One day you can be deciphering clues beneath Grand Central’s famous celestial ceiling, and the next you can be uncovering hidden details inside one of the world’s greatest museums or exploring the historic streets of Lower Manhattan.
Every neighborhood has its own personality. Williamsburg offers incredible street art and local history. Brooklyn Heights combines stunning architecture with one of the best views in the city. Central Park never ceases to surprise people with the number of hidden landmarks tucked away within its 843 acres. Even lifelong New Yorkers regularly tell us they’ve discovered places they’ve walked past hundreds of times without ever noticing.
That’s one of the things that makes our scavenger hunts so special. We aren’t just creating puzzles—we’re creating opportunities for people to experience New York City in a more meaningful and memorable way.
No Two Hunts Are Ever the Same
People are often surprised when we tell them that no two Secret City scavenger hunts are exactly alike.
Of course, the clues and challenges may be the same for groups doing a particular hunt, but the experience is completely shaped by the people participating in it. Some teams become intensely competitive and sprint through the city in pursuit of victory. Others take their time, soaking in the history and enjoying the journey.
We’ve watched coworkers who barely knew one another become fast friends by the end of an event. We’ve seen students become fascinated by New York’s history. We’ve hosted kids who can somehow solve puzzles faster than their parents. And we’ve seen private groups turn a simple afternoon outing into one of the highlights of their trip to New York City.
Whether we’re hosting twenty executives from a global corporation or a family looking for a unique way to spend an afternoon together, every hunt develops its own personality.
That’s what keeps this work interesting after all these years.
Thank You!
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has chosen Secret City Scavenger Hunts this summer. Thank you for trusting us with your team-building events, company outings, school programs, celebrations, and adventures.
The enthusiasm, curiosity, and competitive spirit of our participants are what make these experiences so rewarding to host.
Summer isn’t over yet, and we’re looking forward to welcoming many more groups in the weeks ahead.
As Seen in Japan
One fun surprise this summer came from halfway around the world.
We were recently featured by Japan Kart, a Tokyo-based tourism company, in an article highlighting recommended things to do in New York City. It’s always exciting to see Secret City Scavenger Hunts recognized beyond our own backyard and included among experiences recommended to international visitors exploring the city.
You can read the article here:
We’re looking forward to seeing what the rest of the summer has in store and can’t wait to welcome our next group to the streets, parks, museums, and hidden corners of New York City.
