A scavenger hunt is an interactive game where participants complete challenges by following cryptic clues and solving puzzles. The goal is to find specific objects and locations, or complete a list of tasks within a time limit.
If you’re looking for exciting team-building activities to engage your employees, a scavenger hunt is an amazing pick to encourage healthy competition, critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership.
Even more importantly, as teams work together, strategizing, and thinking on their feet, organic opportunities for genuine connections follow.
Washington, DC, is an ideal playground for a thrilling hunt. With its rich history, iconic landmarks, and vibrant neighborhoods, you’ll have no shortage of sites to explore, challenges to solve, and gems to uncover.
Today, we’re sharing 15 unique corporate scavenger hunt ideas in Washington, DC, to strengthen your team’s relationship.
Corporate Scavenger Hunts in Washington, DC
With a corporate scavenger hunt, you and your group will have the perfect excuse to immerse yourself in the city’s colorful 200-year heritage.
A hunt in The District guides the players across cobblestone streets, ancient artefacts, architectural wonders, and hidden corners. Invite your employees to search for clues, answer riddles, and snap inventive photos along historic streets and renowned monuments.
Transform your company outing into a memorable adventure with these fun and unique corporate scavenger hunt company ideas in the US capital:
1. Georgetown Adventure Hunt
As the city’s oldest neighborhood, it’s only fitting that we start with picturesque Georgetown, where some of DC’s top shops, delectable restaurants, and fancy hotels cross.
Scenic waterfront, cobblestone streets, and historic 18th-century houses set the town apart. Your team can wander along the C&O Canal’s towpath, as silvery leaves sway over massive maple tree trunks.
Find and step inside the Old Stone House, which stood unchanged even before the city’s founding in 1790. Promenade around the Georgetown University campus and its evergreen quads, while deciphering riddles and completing challenges.
Tasks can include participants locating iconic Georgetown landmarks and capturing clever snaps as evidence.
Eclectic public art, colorful murals, art galleries, and hidden courtyards litter old Georgetown, so you won’t worry about running out of inspiration for the hunt. Bike trails extend miles alongside the Potomac.
Conclude your adventure with a relaxing day in The Washington Harbour, where you can watch boats and feed ducks. Boutique shops, fragrant bakeries, and inviting cafes make a wonderful backdrop.
2. Penn Quarter Portrait Hunt
Penn Quarter is a lively blend of urban charm, culture, and history.
Culture vultures and food lovers will definitely love walking down Penn Quarter’s winding lanes. Fascinating museums, Shakespearean theaters, and eateries by celebrity chefs keep each other’s company here.
Keep your employees on their toes as they weave through bustling streets, searching for puzzle clues tucked in the National Portrait Gallery, Capital One Arena, and Ford’s Theatre.
For instance, you can ask the scavengers to identify a famous portrait based on hints scattered around known landmarks. The team that gets to the right exhibit the quickest wins.
Better yet, arrange intellectually stimulating hunts where players must interpret public art installations to move forward.
Some of the most iconic pieces hanging on the National Portrait Gallery’s walls include “Landsowne,” George Washington’s image by Gilbert Stuart, and “Cracked Plate,” a portrait of Lincoln by Alexander Gardner.
Ford’s Theatre, where Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, is a must-visit for scavengers with a passion for American history.
3. National Mall Food Hunt
Don’t miss out on The District’s phenomenal cuisine! Instead of a traditional item hunt, why not set up a hunt combining tasks to sample DC’s most memorable meals?
The National Mall isn’t only a treasure trove of monuments, but also a hidden gem for gourmands.
Lead the group on a taste hunt around town, hopping between flavor-packed cafes and award-winning local restaurants.
A quick walk slightly southeast from the White House should bring you to one of DC’s most sought-after saloons, Old Ebbitt Grill. It’s also one of the oldest buildings in the area and was frequented by presidents and locals.
When you head there, be sure to ask for the Orca Platter.
Art and Soul is another fantastic spot to grab a satisfying bite and is famous for its spicy collards. And, a slight on-foot detour from the mall, just outside the National Mall’s grassy lanes, is Penn Quarter and Chinatown.
For the food scavenger hunt, you can challenge your team to:
- Use clues to guide the scavengers to a certain eatery or cafe
- Solve a riddle about the origins of the food or establishment
- Taste test various flavors around the National Mall
- Snap a creative photo with signature dishes from local restaurants
- Visit and collect small tokens of evidence from the vendors
Setting a time constraint should keep the hunt interesting. Win or lose, you get to sample specialty DC food and have fun while doing it!
4. Admire Street Art With a Thrilling Mural Hunt
While not as enormous as Philadelphia, which is considered the USA’s mural capital, DC’s street art scene is still impressively vibrant.
With the right eye for craftwork, you’ll easily find hundreds of these fascinating mash-ups of colors plastered on walls and secret corners.
Noma, a neighborhood located north of Washington Avenue, is particularly popular for its urban canvas of diverse graffiti and murals by several local artists.
51st State murals is a project by the MuralsDC Project and the city mayor. Visually advocating for DC’s identity, vibrantly bold street art was spread across the wards, with several standout pieces in wards 7 and 8.
Check out Bloomingdale, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, and MetroBar for more breathtaking pieces of street art in DC.
For the mural scavenger hunt, you can write visual cues that participants can follow. Instead of naming the mural, describe its features and colors, as well as what they symbolize.
Let them hunt for several murals all over town, capturing fun moments with a camera as checkpoints along the way.
5. Explore America’s Storied Heritage in Arlington
Just directly across the Potomac, Arlington is famous for its breathtaking waterfront views and sweeping angles of DC.
Home to national treasures like the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington’s lovely neighborhoods are more than worthy to be a part of your scavenger hunting ground.
There are numerous must-visit attractions here. Theodore Roosevelt Island is nestled smack in the Potomac, a haven amid the hustle and bustle of urban life.
Gravelly Point is a great spot for a themed picnic event with friends and colleagues. The park sits just outside Reagan National Airport and is brimming with ducks!
Honor our heroes in the Arlington National Cemetery, where JFK and tens of thousands of brave soldiers rest.
Instead of simply finding objects, a trivia-based scavenger hunt is ideal in this historically rich area. Let the players answer historical questions, and correct answers unlock the next checkpoint.
Who knows—you may help your employees see their heritage from a fresh and more appreciative perspective. Complete the challenge with a spin atop the rotating Skydome!\
6. National Harbor Waterfront Scavenger Adventure
National Harbor Waterfront is a promenade of delight with panoramic Potomac River vistas and awe-inspiring public art installations. It’s simply the perfect backdrop for video and photo-centric tasks.
As a scavenger hunt location, your company can search for and take selfies in iconic sites, such as the 180-foot Capital Wheel, which offers a vertigo-inducing vantage point of the surrounding cityscape.
The Awakening by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. would be a fun addition to the trail. Witnessing the famed sculpture of a giant emerging from the sands of DC definitely makes for an unforgettable memory!
Scatter your clues around murals, sculptures, shops, plaques, and signage. Let your party rack their brains as they navigate their way through the bustling boardwalk.
7. Glimpse the Past in Old Town Alexandria
Taking a detour 7 miles south of the capital, Old Town Alexandria is a historic district that preserved most of its past beauty and is an excellent place to host a team building scavenger hunt
Founded in 1749, a few decades older than The District, this magnificent artifact of a town features cobblestone streets, gorgeously preserved architecture, and, as it’s lined beside the Potomac, alluring river scenery.
By day, over 200 boutiques, museums, and restaurants turn the Old Town into a busy buzz of moving bodies, all while water taxis zoom over the water.
Many things here predate the American Revolution, which means there’s no shortage of historical gems to uncover.
Traverse 17th-century rowhouses, observe ancient architectural details, and witness history where it happens. Street art and galleries lie unseen between quiet alleys of the Old Town.
A fun scavenger task could involve popular sites like the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, which inspired J.K. Rowling’s Hogwarts potions. Or the oldest farmer’s market, where vendors have been selling produce every Saturday morning for over 260 years!
Better yet, to add some spice to your company outing, hire a guide to discover the Old Town’s eerie tales and haunted locations.
8. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Hunt
With the right location, a corporate team building scavenger hunt can be just as exciting indoors as outdoors.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum attracts millions of aviation and space enthusiasts from across the globe every year. And there’s a good reason for that.
Right at the front of the museum is a huge kinetic sculpture, Delta Solar, by the Venezuelan artist Alejandro Otero.
Inside the museum is a collection of great technological achievements of humankind, like the 1903 Wright Flyer, the first aircraft to demonstrate sustained flight.
Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit, which he wore during the moon landing in 1969, is also displayed, alongside a moon rock sample. Themed trivia trails and interactive mini challenges fit the bill for museum scavenger hunts. Let your team experience the thrill of aeronautics and space exploration firsthand.
Don’t forget to list the flight simulator as part of your tasks!
9. Bethesda Neighborhood Challenge
Home to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Walter Reed, Bethesda may not look like the best place for a company trip. However, we’re sure you’d be surprised at how much beauty and fun await in this tiny town.
Despite its size and population, Bethesda fully qualifies as a “big city” with its buzzing avenues and lively art, music, and entertainment scene.
Strathmore, one of the Washington region’s major cultural and artistic venues, is a no-brainer checkpoint. Art exhibitions and festivals are a big thing here, and giant performers like Diana Ross and Jeffrey Osborne once graced its stage.
Apart from the festive offerings, tracking down the Bethesda Trolley Trail plaques is a go-to experience in the town.
To participate, you must locate 12 identical monuments made of algonite stones, collectively referred to as the Madonna of the Trail, erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution in the 1920s.
Plaque seekers will trace the National Old Trails Road, following August Leimbach’s series of work commemorating the pioneer women who journeyed West.
10. A Quest in Dupont Circle
As a cultural center, Dupont Circle has been a crucial community in the city since the 19th century, and is naturally brimming with attractions and local highlights.
The Phillips Collection is definitely a must-see. It’s the first modern art museum in the US, where you can gaze at the masterpieces of Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Among his most popular works exhibited in the museum is the Luncheon of the Boating Party.
The Dupont Circle Fountain is the heart of the neighborhood, where everyone from all walks of life gathers. An iconic landmark, it’s the perfect playground to kickstart a heart-pumping scav hunt.
Surrounding the fountain are historic homes and secret gardens, which you can use to test the player’s observation, communication, and leadership.
Direct participants to search for commemorative plaques, decode inscriptions, or locate hidden art displays. You can get as creative as you want in Dupont Circle!
11. Smithsonian National Museum of American History
History buffs will undoubtedly enjoy tracing their rich American roots, in all its complexity, in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
A treasure trove of storied artifacts from the past, competitors can discover fascinating exhibits, from the original Star Spangled Banner flag to the top hat of President Lincoln on the night of his assassination.
Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves hang perpetually in its halls, alongside pop culture treasures like legendary musician Prince’s guitar and Kermit the Frog.
There are over 1.7 million prized artifacts inside the museum, including 22,000 linear feet of archival documents chronicling the country’s diverse history.
A story-driven and educational hunt would be phenomenal within the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s 800,000 square-foot space.
Consider arranging trivia-based, observation, or photo-centric tasks to encourage genuine interaction between team members. Just remember to keep museum policies in mind at all times!
12. Arlington Memorial Bridge Escapade
The Arlington Memorial Bridge isn’t just visually striking, but also pivotal to the heritage and geography of Washington, DC.
A product of neoclassical masonry, the hulking structure gracefully stretches 2,160 feet across the Potomac. It’s served as the symbolic entrance for those entering the country’s capital from Virginia since its construction in the 1940s.
Bronze statues sculpted by Leo Friedlander, The Arts of War, stood watch at the Arlington Bridge’s entrance for nearly a century.
Scavenging for architectural details on the bridge can be a fascinating company event. Incorporating tidbits of the structure’s history, material, and symbolism will prompt players to butt heads and talk.
13. Immerse Yourself in Culture at Kennedy Center
If you’re looking for a venue for a culture-focused scavenger event, the Kennedy Center is a must-stop.
Perched alongside the Potomac, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the hub for world-class theater, dance, music, comedy, and opera in The District. It’s where art—both old and new—collide and make wondrous scenes.
Take a tour of the complex’s dramatic exterior, discover stunning art installations and performances, and participate in the buzz at the rooftop terrace.
Prepare creative challenges for your team.
Ask the scavengers to locate sculptures or inscriptions dedicated to iconic performers who once roamed its stages. Photo tasks can involve dramatic recreations of a performance or capturing the center’s reflection on the shimmering Potomac.
There’s a reason the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is called an “artist’s Mecca,” and now you have an opportunity to partake in its magic.
14. Scavenger Hunt Corporate Events at Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is the political heart of the US, where the Capitol Building and the Supreme Court, all key monuments of the country, are gathered. The White House is also merely a few walkable blocks away.
That said, the neighborhood makes a terrific backdrop for an all-out scavenger hunt.
The Library of Congress, with its spectacular gilt murals and Italian Renaissance architecture, is a worthwhile visit here. Step inside the 1897 Thomas Jefferson building, and feel dwarfed by the immense main reading room extending 160 feet overhead.
You can also find the largest collection of Shakespeare’s timeless works at the Folger Shakespeare Library—a goldmine for literature enthusiasts.
At the base of the hill is the U.S. Botanic Garden, the oldest botanic garden in the country, which has been operating since 1820. The conservatory is 28,944 square feet of greenery. Behind the foliage is a prized collection of rare and endangered plants from across the world.
Invite your team to an afternoon of exciting observation and trivia-based scavenger challenges, amidst stately structures and celebrated landmarks representing the US’s proud heritage.
Corporate Scavenger Hunt For Team Building with cityHUNT
A scavenger hunt for team building fosters interaction, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving, all while your team is having a blast.
If you’re considering team building scavenger hunt for work and are eager to turn Washington, DC, into your playground, cityHUNT offers expertly crafted scavenger hunt adventures.
Experience The District’s past and culture with challenges that will walk you through historic streets and storied landmarks. Customize the outdoor scavenger hunt team building, and spark genuine camaraderie within your staff.
Talk to us, and see how we can help strengthen your team today!
