Staycations let couples explore a city’s culture

Games have been a large part of my life. Growing up and returning home from college, I could count on Friday or Saturday family game nights.

Even now, returning home for the holidays, it’s one of my favorite events. My husband shares this passion, which has led to the formation of game nights among friends and a steadily growing board game collection.

Unlike my husband and probably most people, it isn’t necessarily the competitive nature of the game that draws my attention (although, I admit, winning is always nice). Instead, it’s the narrative, the story behind it.

It makes sense that my favorite classic board game is Clue: the whodunit that allows players to practice becoming their own versions of Sherlock Holmes. Because games have such an essential part in our lives, this Valentine’s Day, my present to my husband was something called a “Big City Hunt.” Essentially, it’s a cross between an urban scavenger hunt and a historic tour, driven by your smart phone. You decide the date and time and simply arrive.

Arriving at the “starting location” – usually somewhere in the center of downtown – you receive your first clue. Following the directions, you’ll arrive at the first location to answer the question and receive the next clue.

Interspersed between clues, your “tour guide” gives you some insight into the historic past of the city and the buildings and places surrounding you.

It’s also a great idea to get your 10,000 steps in – it’s a walking tour that takes about two hours. And that’s where the competition comes in – you want to finish your hunt in the allotted time and score as many points as possible to beat previous Big City Hunt teams.

We had no idea what to expect: after all, it’s not like this was a city-wide event. We were the only people (that we know of) who had decided to partake in a two-hour scavenger tour, following only the directions on our screen.

But in the end, it was a blast, and an intriguing use of the smartphone.

It isn’t that uncommon to see people glued to their screens even while walking across the street. While you’re tied to your smartphone for the quest, you’re still engaging with the rest of your “team” – you can have anywhere from two to 10 participants – to answer questions, look for clues, and attempt photo challenges. Rather than the smart phone becoming a tool of division, it joins people together.

Despite having lived in St. Louis for five years as a married couple, we really don’t know that much about the history of St. Louis. Perhaps this is the very reason why “staycations” have become a trend among young adults and young families. Rather than taking a road trip or traveling across the country, acting like a tourist in your own city has become a vacation option. How often do we remember the history and culture of the places we see all around us?

Whether you’re transplants to a city or the last time you brushed up on your local history was back in high school, staycations – or urban scavenger hunts – can be great excuses to remember why you love your city and what’s important about it.

Heather Bozant Witcher can be reached at hbozant@clarionherald.org.