Holy crap! Im so pumped i found this listing. Well, this is gonna be a long review but trust me you'll be glad after u read it. First let me say it's hard to rate something that is a completely new concept that really has no benchmark for comparison. This is not like rating a restaurant or bar. This is without a doubt one of the coolest things ive EVER done in my life that my friends and i still talk about years after the fact. Let me paint a picture for you... First, empty your mind of urban races, scavenger hunts and all of that petty child's play that you marginally enjoyed in your youth. Instead, imagine being a character in the movie National Treasure on an adventure that had sent you navigating the streets of Boston, searching underneath bricks, inside dusty library books, and through attics and basements of iconic churches and buildings. Or imagine yourself as Tom Hanks in The Da Vinci Code exploring Paris in an effort to uncover a long concealed secret. And throw in the genius of Count of Monte Cristo's revenge while you're at it. These treasure hunts are more of a mix of history, mystery and story that sweeps you up into some kind of meta-narrative, all the while keeping you entertained with intelligent puzzles, codes, clues, etc. Needless to say, its kind of freaking sweet. On the last and only waxwing event I participated in, I was pitted against other teams in a race to uncover a treasure at the end of a string of 20+ seamlessly integrated clues. The hunt took place on a college campus and sent our team exploring lesser known, hidden parts of the grounds, sometimes having to go into areas that may or may not have been slightly illegal. The hunt took almost 6 full days to complete and had us losing sleep and skipping classes. The hunt included just about every conspiracy-oriented activity i could imagine (and many that I'm not smart enough to imagine) including disciphering invisible ink, discovering fictional Facebook characters, decoding puzzles, finding locks and keyholes, climbing out of windows onto building rooftops, searching through bathroom stalls of old academic halls, locating and finding the code to open lockers, learning about the history of the university, meeting shadowy figures, exploring myths concealed by secret societies and fraternities, finding clues in museum exhibitions, crawling under pews of old chapels, solving rubix cubes, encountering windows that I knew I needed to open but first had to find the stolen knob to open, spelunking through caves and navigating dark underground tunnels. Yes, it is that freaking cool. There were even false clues that sent us on rabbit trails and hidden maps that helped provide a better sense of the overall picture of the hunt (should you be diligent enough to discover the map of course). These guys aren't playing around. To launch the hunt, The first clue I received was a letter written in calligraphy and ink inside an envelope sealed with wax. I can't imagine how long it took to conceive something like this and it was well worth the entry fee. Since I did it I've told dozens of people who were just in awe and so jealous that they never participated in anything like this. Word of the event spread around our campus quickly and then I never heard from them for a couple years. Then my buddy in Chicago told me about this ad he'd seen near his apartment and said it was from the same guys! Freaking amazing. I about pissed myself. I am looking forward to what these guys put out next in a city like Chicago with all the history and hidden enclaves that come with.. And just like I skipped all my classes to spend every waking minute to solve those freaking impossible clues, you can bet I'll be taking a week off work to devote myself to the next mystery. If these guys do it right this could become a yearly event for me and my friends and a reason to travel to and learn the history behind all the great American cities. Crap, I feel like an Apple maniac raving about the IPad. But man, these things are genius and could be the next big thing for thrill-seekers who also have a brain and want some culture infused in their adventures. You'll see what I mean when you experience it. Just be ready to not sleep or eat for that week. Okay I'm done. Just do this. No questions asked. If its even remotely as cool as the last one i did, you won't be sorry. And you'll probably be participating in the beginnings of a brand new industry. read more

Even though I was in College (and should have gone to class), I couldn't pull myself away from the puzzles, clues, and gauntlets for three whole days. Some of my best memories in college happened during that time - it was challenging, engaging, exciting and exhilarating as my friends and I competed with other teams. This isn't a boring, lame scavenger hunt, so do it if you want to take pictures of neat things. Do it if you want to have a great time, make great memories, and see some places you never thought you'd see. On a personal level it taught my friends and I to work as a team, creatively using our personal and intellectual resources to find solutions to puzzles. We bonded during this time, as it created a lot of great shared memories and experiences. On a completely different note, I met my wife during the first clue of the event. (I traded the answer to it for our first date). Seriously. While that's probably a unique experience, I always look back on those three days with a lot of happiness. read more

There are few moments in my life that I look back upon and say that it was without a doubt one of the best things I have ever done. Diving into Waxwings mind was one of those things. A "real life" National Treasure, this treasure hunt kept my mind racing for hours at a time. Work became of little to no importance, and finishing this masterfully pieced puzzle became my sole priority. From crypt-o-quotes, to glow-in-the-dark messages, to Rubik's cubes with clues , this scavenger hunt for grownups captured my imagination and revealed many hidden gems in Chicago that I never knew existed. Let Waxwing take you on the trip of a lifetime that you will never forget. I promise you won't regret it. read more

I did a treasure hunt that the founder of Waxwing planned a few years back. If there is anything that is worth $20 in my book, it is a day (or in my case, several days) of adventure like this. Do away with any visions of lame mall scavenger hunts you might have. This is more like National Treasure meets The Game. My husband and I STILL talk about it. If we lived in Chicago, I'd be all over it. In the meantime, we're saving up and rallying to have the Waxwing team plan a hunt here in Portland. If you have the opportunity, I couldn't recommend it more. We all need a little reprieve from the daily grind. Here is a guaranteed taste of epic adventure and brain busting. read more

This was so fun. I played the Labyrinth game in the Pedway with some friends last winter. It was great to get out and do something new (the game's mostly underground, so no struggling through the snow). Solving the puzzles was tough but exciting (don't worry, no spoilers), and I'd loved getting to scrambe around a part of the city I didn't know very well and meet new people. After the game I may or may not have looked at every other person I saw that day and wondered if they were part of the game and/or had a clue to give me. Can't wait to try some of their other games. read more

What a blast!!! Seriously, do yourself and your group/organization a favor and sign up for one of these treasure hunts. You will not be disappointed. This would be so much fun, galavanting across Chicago, searching for the next clue and realizing "I'm smarter and better looking than Nicholas Cage and I don't even have to worry about losing my life!" Although, you wouldn't get to kiss Diane Kruger, but that's beside the point. Is it worth losing your life over? Is it? No. It's not. Waxwing Puzzle Co. The solution to boredom on vacation. read more

I participated in a treasure hunt put on by Waxwing and it was one of the most fun experiences of my life. I will say that I thought I would be able to casually participate and play at my own pace, but once the game started, I was so hooked I couldn't stop. The experience was fun, and the rush of successfully solving a clue and finding the next step was exhilarating. I look forward to the next time I participate in one of these treasure hunts, because I am addicted, and hope that winning one someday will remedy this. read more

We played the Labyrinth for a work event with about 35 people. It was a great time. The game was a perfect mix of puzzles and adventures that took us around the pedway system. We're all around 30 years old and everybody loved it. I was the organizer and had tons of people come up to me afterward telling me how great it was. Communication with Andy was easy and our Emcee Nate was great. Thanks for a good time! read more

Waxwing Puzzle Company set up an incredible treasure hunt for my friends and me. It was such a bonding experience for our friends and created lifelong memories. It was wonderfully organized and created very thoughtfully. It was mentally challenging and exciting. This is such a great organization, they will not disappoint! read more

The treasure hunt set up by Waxwing was one of the most fun things I have done. Everyone who participated won't stop talking about it. This is a great way to have a lot of fun with your friends in Chicago. read more