Scavenger hunts are an entertainment typically reserved for parties and large groups, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t apply to couples as well! A scavenger hunt involves gathering items, clues, or information to receive a prize. Scavenger hunts can be incredibly simple or incredibly complicated, depending on the occasion, the prize, and time restraints. But no matter how you choose to put your scavenger hunt together, it is sure to put a smile on your sweetheart’s face.

Collecting Items
If your sweetheart is collecting items as a prize, include items that relate to romance, your relationship, or your date. You can have them collect romantic ambiance, like candles or flowers, or you can send them to pick up the wine or dessert. (Get the store owners involved in your hunt – it’ll make their work day more interesting!) You can also leave items around the neighborhood, at friends’ and family member’s houses, or scattered around your own backyard. When the items have been gathered, incorporate them into your prize or your plans for the evening.

Leaving Clues
A scavenger hunt doesn’t have to be only about collecting items, it can also be about collecting information or solving mysterious clues. Have your sweetheart collect clues in order to solve a secret message, send them to a rendezvous spot, or help them find a surprise gift. Information can be obtained through riddles or secret codes, or with a little legwork. Send them to the library with a list of Dewey Decimals, using the titles of each book to form a message. Or have your date gather clues from your friends and family members. Everyone loves playing a good game of detective, so make it mysterious and challenging to ensure that your sweetheart has fun collecting clues!

Scavenger Hunt Teams
If you enjoy friendly competition or simply want to get a lot more people in on the fun, consider doing a large scavenger hunt with other couples. Give each couple a list of what they need to collect, then give a prize to the first three couples that complete their lists and give consolation prizes to all the others. The prizes should be romantic in nature, such as dinner for two to a restaurant, a book of romantic ideas, or tickets to an event or show.

Prizes
Prizes are the biggest drive of a scavenger hunt. Try to make your reward equal to the amount of work your date puts into their search. Prizes can be anything from a birthday or anniversary gift to a romantic evening for two. You can also include your collected items as rewards. For example, if you wanted to take your wife to a formal event, you could pay for the dress, shoes, and hair styling in advance then make it part of the scavenger hunt.

Five Romantic Scavenger Hunt Ideas

Rendezvous Hunt
Start by leaving them a mysterious note such as, “I’m hiding. Can you find me? I have something for you if you can. Want a hint? Grab the package on the doorstep at 123 1st Street to find out more.” Have your date collect items for a picnic, such as a basket, blanket, and food before hinting to where you’re at. (Try not to make it too difficult or your date won’t find you and your food will get cold.) When they arrive, set up the picnic and give them a prize for finding you, such as an item they’ve had their eyes on or tickets to an event you plan to take them to after the picnic.

Boomerang Hunt
At a time when your spouse is at home and you’re not, text them with a message such as, “I have a surprise for you. But I need you gather a few things for me first…” The idea of this hunt is to have them leave the house to gather items, only to have them come back home to a surprise romantic dinner. Tell them to text you once they reach the first point of interest, then make your way back into the house and start to prepare dinner. (Something that will keep in the oven is a good idea.) Each time they reach a new spot, text them the next clue. Once they have collected all the items, bring them back to the house for dinner.

Photo Shoot Hunt
Have your sweetheart collect pictures of places that mean something special to the both of you. Write on your list things such as “The first place we kissed”, “Where we met”, and “Where we had our first date.” Have them collect the pictures, give them a prize for collecting them, then take those pictures and turn them into a small gift book. You can make the book yourself or use a self-publishing website like Lulu.com.

Cyberhunt
Tell your sweetheart a secret message with the help of the world wide web.

It might look something like this:
1 – open up Google search and type in “plants”
2 – click on the third item in the search bar
3 – Write down the third word in the third paragraph, etc

Your message can be anything from “I’m completely in love with you” to “Pick up chocolate cake from the bakery downtown and meet me at the park.”

Foreign Affair Hunt
Have your sweetheart collect objects or pictures of objects relating to a certain country. For example, if your theme was France, have your sweetheart take pictures of something with the Eiffel Tower, a French flag, a baguette, etc. Make the prize related to that culture, such as an authentic cultural dinner, a cultural show, or even plane tickets to the country itself!