Best Scavenger Hunt in New York City

New York City offers a variety of landmarks and culture!

Blending fun, exploration, and corporate teambuilding, SmartHunts® scavenger hunt in New York City is an experience that will have your team buzzing with excitement.

SmartHunts can customize your event to include much of what New York City has to offer, including world-class architectural marvels, top-tier museums, unique foods, and drinks, as well as highlighting the features of NYC’s mix of modern and historic culture. SmartHunts takes your team on a NYC scavenger hunt through this great city where they can discover their own New York style.

Whether your team is local to the area, or visiting from out-of-town, the SmartHunts team can create a fresh experience for your group with a fun corporate scavenger hunt. SmartHunts offers a unique corporate adventure tailored just for you and can take your group on any combination of New York City’s great neighborhoods & landmarks, including:

1. Central Park
   Central Park is a great place for a scavenger hunt in New York City. This 843-acre masterpiece was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1857 and extends from Central Park West, (8th Ave) to 5th Ave and from W 59th St to Central Park N. (110th St). It is a designated National Historic Landscape. There’s too much to see in Central Park for a full listing here, so here’s the best heading south to north.

   The Pond at Central Park – nature sanctuary – woods – rustic trails
   Central Park Zoo – over 130 species represented
   Central Park Carousel – 100+ years old, hand carved horses
   Sheep Meadow – 15-acre peaceful greenspace
   The Mall and Literary Walk – pretty Elm-lined walkway – dedicated to writers
   Bethesda Terrace and Fountain – Must- See 2 level plaza – Angel of the Waters fountain
   Cherry Hill – and fountain – overlooking Central Park Lake
   The Central Park Lake – 20-acre lake and wooded area – flora and fauna
   Loeb Boathouse – on the lake – restaurant – boat rentals
   Conservatory Water – ornamental pond – model boat racing
   Alice in Wonderland sculpture – large bronze sculpture – north of Conservatory Water
   Bow Bridge – 60’ cast iron pedestrian bridge – great views
   Strawberry Fields – home of the Imagine Mosaic – John Lennon memorial
   Ladies Pavilion – elegant cast-iron pavilion on Central Park Lake
   The Ramble – woodland area reminiscent of upstate NY. 39 acres. Good birding
   Belvedere Castle – pint sized castle up on Vista Rock – great views
   Turtle Pond – 2-acre pond – 5 species of turtles – below the Castle
   Shakespeare Garden – English cottage garden dedicated to “the bard of Avon”
   The Obelisk – 3,000-year-old 66’ tall Egyptian ruin aka Cleopatra’s Needle
   The Metropolitan Museum of Art – 36,000 pieces spanning 5,000 years
   Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir – 106 acres – stone gatehouses – views
   Bridge No 28 – ornate cast-iron pedestrian bridge led to the Reservoir running track
   North Meadow – 23-acre meadow – recreation – 12 ballparks
   Glen Span Arch – rustic stone bridge over the Loch to the Ravine
   The Loch – 3 waterfall waterway through the Ravine
   The Ravine – part of North Woods – reminiscent of the Adirondacks
   North Woods – 40 acres – woods, streams, waterfall, good bird watching
   Conservatory Garden – formal gardens – Three Dancing Maidens sculpture
   Fort Clinton – historic site – great views
   Great Hill – recreation – hiking – picnicking
   Harlem Meer – beautiful man-made lake NE corner of the park

   In addition to the above, Central Park features many more historic attractions, sculptures, statues, and memorials and plays host to numerous outdoor musical, cultural and theatrical events.
2. SOHO
   Located north of Tribeca and west of Little Italy in Lower Manhattan, SoHo, an abbreviation for South of Houston, is also known as the Cast Iron District due to its abundance of beautifully adorned cast iron fronted buildings.

   In the 1970s SoHo was an affordable place to live and many of the older industrial buildings were preserved and repurposed into artists’ lofts. Although later on, the usual gentrification occurred, the area still maintained an urban and historic vibe.

   Today SoHo is still known as an arts district but also a shopping district, a very high-end shopping district. High end everything! Independent designers are well represented here, and many shops and boutiques may be found clustered around Spring Street.

   SoHo also has its share of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, boutique hotels, spas and of course, art galleries.

   Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art – Wooster Street
   Center for Italian Modern Art – Broome Street
   Peter Freeman, Inc. – Contemporary Art Gallery on Grand Street
   Museum of Ice Cream – Yup, it’s on Broadway
3. Times Square & Broadway Theater District
   The Broadway District and Times Square are in Midtown Manhattan in an area that extends from W 40th Street to W 54th Street and from 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue. The section of Broadway that runs through the Theater District is referred to as The Great White Way (due to the abundant white marquee bulbs) and there are 41 active professional theaters to choose from as well as countless Off-Broadway venues.

   Times Square Plaza is situated where 7th Avenue and Broadway intersect, but really encompasses much of the surrounding area as well. One of the busiest and most visited sections of the city, Times Square is home to the much-celebrated New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. Midnight Moment, a digital public art program, showcases contemporary artists every night from 11:57pm – 12:00am on the gigantic electronic billboards that adorn the buildings from 41st to 49th Streets.

   The plaza inconsistently features live music, comedy, dance events, performances art, DJs and even exercise classes. The pedestrian-only designated areas are great for taking a break and enjoying some people watching. Countless shops and restaurants surround the area, so you won’t get bored or go hungry!

   Speaking of which, the famous Restaurant Row that stretches from 8th to 9th Avenues along W 46th Street features every type of cuisine imaginable and a vibrant nightlife as well.
4. Midtown
   Midtown spans central Manhattan from the East River to the Hudson River from 14th St. to 59th St. and is its primary Business District.

   Listed below are just a few of Midtown’s gems:

   Times Square – Popular entertainment and New Year’s Eve destination.

   Museum of Modern Art – World class museum – 53rd St between 5th and 6th Avenues

   Chrysler Building – Exceptional sparkling Art-Deco skyscraper – Lexington and 42nd St

   Grand Central Terminal – Beaux-Arts style railroad hub – 42nd St and Park Ave

   Flatiron Building – 1902 thin triangular Beaux-Arts style terra-cotta building – 5th Ave

   Empire State Building – Iconic 102 story Art Deco skyscraper – 5th Ave and 34rd St

   Radio City Music Hall – Music and entertainment venue – 6th Ave and 50th St

   Madison Square Garden – New York Knicks – New York Rangers – Concerts.

   Top of the Rock – Rockefeller Center observation deck – 3 levels – 360 degree views

   Carnegie Hall – Prestigious Renaissance Revival concert hall – 7th Ave and 57th St

   Vessel – Fantastic interactive sculpture/landmark on west side – 11th Ave 34th St

   The High Line – Phenomenal re-imagined railroad line. See more details below

   Bryant Park – Popular Public Park – Dining – Shopping – Free events – 5th Ave & 42nd St

   Morgan Library and Museum – J.P. Morgan’s Neoclassical Estate – Madison Avenue

   St. Patrick’s Cathedral – Neo-Gothic style Roman Catholic Church – 5th Avenue

   Broadway – World class plays and musicals – Broadway from 41st St. – 53rd St
5. The High Line
   In the mid 1800’s the New York Central Railroad operated freight trains on street level to deliver food to parts of Manhattan. Several decades and many hundreds of dead pedestrians later, steps were taken to deal with the carnage on 10th “Death” Avenue.

   In 1924 the NYC Transit Commission ordered that all street level railroad crossings be removed and replaced with elevated rail lines and by 1934 the High Line was delivering millions of tons of food throughout the area.

   Train use fell off in the 1960s, the southernmost tracks were removed and in 1999 Mayor Giuliani ordered the remainder to be demolished. Thankfully, the track was saved by the Friends of the High Line, a non-profit group, and in 2009 the first section of the High Line was opened.

   Located on Manhattan’s West Side, and stretching from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, the High Line is a 1.45 mile long, 30’ high former railroad spur that has been transformed into a stunning public greenway and pedestrian walkway.

   High Line features 16 different garden zones with over 500 species of plants and trees as well as many beneficial insect species such as butterflies and honeybees.

   Along its entirety the walkway features open-air art, sculptures, installations, murals, seating areas, performances and views of the city as well as the Hudson River.

   The High Line Observation Deck is located at 10th Avenue near 17th Street and elevator access is available at 30th Street.

   Food & drink options can be found at 15th, 22nd and 30th Streets and a portion of the proceeds go to help support the maintenance of this incredible park.
6. Hell’s Kitchen
   Located on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan, Hell’s Kitchen extends from 34th Street to 59th Street and 8th Avenue to Hudson River and is a great centrally located area with easy access to everywhere and is only 1 block from Central Park.

   Also known as Clinton, named after the N.Y. Governor, who had lived there, Hell’s Kitchen was previously home to poor Irish, industries, slaughterhouses, and lumber yards. When these closed it became an affordable area for aspiring actors and eventually it turned residential and then gentrified. Today it has a diverse population with many new buildings mixed in with the older walk-ups.

   Hudson River Park along the waterfront is great for walking, biking and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum at Hudson River Pier 86, and Hearst Tower on 57th St. are worth a visit.

   You’ll also find bars, pubs, dance clubs, wine bars, cafes, shops, and boutiques but at the end of the day, in Hell’s Kitchen…

   It’s all about the food!

   There are SO many restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen, especially between 8th and 10th Avenues. Argentinian, Brazilian, Cajun, Caribbean, Cuban, Chinese, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Ethiopian, French, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Sushi and Thai are only a handful of the types of cuisine available.

   Foodie Paradise!
7. Chinatown
   Located in Lower Manhattan, Chinatown’s borders are constantly expanding and not easily defined but essentially, it’s east of Tribeca and south of Little Italy.

   Chinese immigrants began settling this area in the 1870s and were primarily Cantonese speakers from southern China and Hong Kong but today many Asian countries and languages are represented.

   Some sights to see in Chinatown include:

   Columbus Park – Tai Chi and mahjong
   Collect Pond Park – green space with benches, trees and a reflecting pool
   Eldridge Street Synagogue – erected by Eastern European Jews in 1887
   Mahayana Buddhist Temple – located on Mott Street
   Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) – located on Centre Street
   Statue of Confucius – Confucius Plaza on Bowery
   Manhattan Bridge Arch and Colonnade – Canal Street
   Art Galleries – Walker Street

   Chinatown also features herb, souvenir and gift shops, bars, lounges, and nightclubs, but mostly Chinatown’s got restaurants, tea parlors, cafes and food stands, 100’s of them, everywhere. Dim sum, dumplings, noodles, hotpot, you name it, they got it and most of it is affordable. Foodies rejoice!
8. Little Italy
   Located in Lower Manhattan between SoHo, Chinatown, Nolita and the Bowery, Little Italy’s boundaries, like Chinatown’s are difficult to define but, in this case, due, not to expansion, but contraction.

   Italian immigrants began settling in this district in the late 1800s, many fleeing poverties in southern Italy, and over the next 40 years hundreds of thousands settled in Manhattan and Little Italy soon became a crowded, bustling neighborhood, especially during prohibition.

   Unlike Chinatown, whose inhabitants are primarily Asian, Little Italy’s Italian population has been dwindling over recent years and as the heyday of the New York City Mafia waned, many residents moved to Brooklyn, or the suburbs and surrounding neighborhoods encroached upon the area.

   Still, there is a plethora of Italian restaurants, cafes, and bakeries to visit as well as the
   Italian American Museum, Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Mulberry Street, which was featured in movies such as The Godfather, Mean Streets, Donnie Brasco and many more.

   If you’re visiting in September, the 11-day Feast of San Gennaro is not to be missed.
9. Tribeca
   Tribeca is located in Lower Manhattan and like the Battery Park residential area on its western border, it is one of the most expensive residential neighborhoods in which to live as evidenced by the proliferation of celebrity inhabitants.

   Originally written TriBeCa, which stands for Triangle Below Canal, the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan extends from Canal Street south down to Vesey Street and west to east from West Street to Broadway and covers a bit over 200 acres.

   It’s hip, it’s trendy, it’s historic.

   The 1886 New York Mercantile Exchange building on Harrison Street and the 1901 Textile Building on Leonard Street are just two of the landmark structures that have been converted to exceptional offices and condos. Many previously industrial buildings have been saved by conversion to residential lofts, commercial spaces and restaurants.

   Hudson River Park and Washington Market Park are both terrific green spaces to relax, recreate, exercise, play or walk the dog.

   The Tribeca Festival, previously the Tribeca Film Festival, is held here every spring and brings huge crowds and many celebrities to the area.

   Tribeca also offers many art galleries, boutiques, coffee shops, bars.

   But mostly Tribeca has restaurants. Scads and scads of restaurants. Really good ones. The kind you’d expect to find in one of the most expensive districts, in a major city, inhabited by celebrities.
10. National 911 Memorial and Museum
    The National 911 Memorial & Museum is situated on 8 acres of the original 16-acre World Trade Complex on Greenwich Street in Lower Manhattan. It was constructed to honor those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001, and 1993 terrorist attacks, as well as those who risked and lost their lives helping to save others.

    2,753 at the World Trade Center 2001
    6 at the World Trade Center 1993
    184 at the Pentagon
    40 in Pennsylvania
    In addition, 343 FDNY firefighters and countless others who later fell ill or died from exposure to the noxious smoke and fumes from the fire.

    The Memorial’s dual reflecting pools cover almost an acre each and feature the largest man-made waterfalls in the U.S. The name of each victim is inscribed within the memorial and the Memorial Glade is dedicated to the survivors and those directly and indirectly affected by the horrific events.

    The Museum is located 7 stories below at the building’s foundation and features exhibitions, history, narratives, artifacts, public programs, educational resources.
11. The Battery
    Formerly known as Battery Park, The Battery is a 25-acre public park located on the southern tip of Manhattan facing New York Harbor that affords exceptional views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island and the harbor itself.

    Built on reclaimed land this area has seen a lot of changes over the years and is now a restful oasis for recreation, relaxation, and historical illumination.

    Historical landmarks include:
    East Coast Memorial honoring WWII Atlantic casualties
    Korean War Memorial
    Netherland Monument
    Museum of Jewish Heritage
    Castle Clinton National Monument, commemorating the Castle Garden Emigration Center which was the landing point for immigrants from 1855-1890. Later on, Ellis Island became the immigrant processing station.

    The 31-mile Battery Bikeway that connects the Hudson River Park Bikeway to the East River Esplanade passes through The Battery.

    The Battery is also home to the Battery Urban Farm, SeaGlass Carousel, and largest public perennial garden in the US.
12. Pier 35
    Pier 35 is situated on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the end of Clinton Street on the East River Waterfront Esplanade.

    Originally designed for the locals, it has proved to be popular with visitors as well.
    Four large wooden swings and various seating areas offer views of the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges as well as boats on the East River.

    Manicured green spaces and a purposely designed rocky beach that encourages the repopulation of mussels on the shoreline add to the restful nature of the park and it’s a great place to have a picnic, take an evening stroll and catch the sunset over the water.