A city is like an English muffin: you have to cultivate an intimate knowledge of its every nook and cranny before you bury it in butter. Today’s Groupon gives you the impetus to explore your hometown's hidden corners: for $40, you get one entry into the Amazing Santa Monica Race (an $89.99 value). Races typically start at about 11:00 a.m.
Just like its reality-show namesake, The Amazing Race, the Amazing Santa Monica Race pits teams of competitors against one another in an adventure that combines sight-seeing, traveling, scavenger hunting, and the end of every Benny Hill show into one fun, competitive race. Once you and your team have signed up, you'll be sent to a secret starting line. At the sound of the figurative gun, you and your crew will take off by foot, public transportation, or corgi-back as you follow a series of cryptic clues in a mad dash around Santa Monica. Your quest will take you past some of the area's most notable sites, historical hotspots, and top hotdog stands, as well as lesser-known sites such as its subterranean kingdom of mole people. The race typically takes about four hours to complete, and once the last team stumbles across the finish line, there will be a full awards ceremony with complimentary sustenance.
Besides giving you an exhilarating excuse to team up with friends, future friends, and congresspersons, the Amazing Santa Monica Race gives you a shot at the glory of a reality show contest-winner without exposing yourself to the snarky comments of Television Without Pity or forcing you to dance with stars. Call ahead to schedule your race.
Reviews
While the Santa Monica version is too new for reviews, TripAdvisors name the Amazing Los Angeles Race one of the top five attractions in Los Angeles, awarding it an average of a perfect five owl eyes. Yelpers also give it a flawless five-star average:
- I just finished the amazing race with 8 other friends and 2 other teams. As a native to Southern California, this is hands down the most fun I've had in years. I would highly recommend it. Now Im planning to try out The Amazing Santa Monica Race! – tekmote, TripAdvisors
- The Amazing LA Race will take locals to places they never knew existed in downtown while tourists get to experience the different landmarks that reflect Los Angeles' diverse culture. – Sam W., Yelp
Fantastic Race
Fantastic Race aims to live up to its name by giving its racers more than a simple 5K ever could. Part scavenger hunt, part self-guided tour, the events send participants sprinting into the city in hot pursuit of puzzles and mystery sights. Like the popular, reality television Amazing Race for which it is sort-of-but-not-really named, the Fantastic Race sees teams of 2-8 dashing from one clue to the next, each revealing another can't-miss destination. Some locales may be on every tourists' lists, while others are as likely to delight locals as visitors. But all serve as a piece of the larger mystery each team is living—that of how to cross the finish line first and avoid not being posted on the Fantastic Race's hall of fame.
Customer Reviews
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