Are you looking for a unique experience that involves food and fun? AmazingCo offers a mystery picnic experience in Los Angeles & Orange County. They also offer this experience in other places besides SoCal but for this post, we will be focusing on my experience in South Bay LA. Picnic experiences have been popping up all over Instagram but this one is different. Unlike the companies that set up tables and decor for you to have an Instaworthy picnic, this is an experience and adventure that ultimately leads to a picnic. The AmazingCo mystery picnics are all about the journey.
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Mystery Picnic in Los Angeles Experience
Who is this experience best for? If you are someone who likes surprises, likes adventures, and is not a picky eater this is a great fit for you. The experience is supposed to be for two but, I feel like there was enough food for 3 or 4. If you do add extra people you’ll just have to split the items and bring extra drinks. I think this would be such a fun date, birthday treat, or proposal.
There are several different locations to chose from on the AmazingCo website. I decided on the South Bay LA experience since that is an area that I am not as familiar with. If you are new to an area or just want to explore a certain part of town more this is a really fun way to do so. The amount of planning that you have to do for this experience is minimal. Prior to starting your experience all you need to do is pick your location, pay, and use the first clue to figure out where to start your day.
I am going to share a few helpful tips that I wish I had known before I had my mystery picnic.
The recommended start time is 11 am. The first stop in my experience was to a coffee shop for lattes and bagels. For me, that is something I would have enjoyed more at 9. We were super hungry when we still had 2 stops left so starting earlier is something that I highly recommend. It took us 3.5 hours from our first stop to our final picnic destination and we did not do too many detours. So definitely keep in mind the time that you would like to be eating. *Not all experiences will have a hot beverage included. The foods & drinks included will vary depending on your package and location.
Have plenty of quarters on hand for the parking meters.
Pack sunscreen, a picnic blanket, a cooler with ice, and anything else you would like to have to set up your picnic at the end.
To find out where you are going in your experience, you will be given a set of clues to solve. You will need to look at the first clue ahead of time so that you know where you are going. If you are not familiar with local spots in the area where your picnic is the clues will be extra challenging. It is recommended to have a pen & paper handy for solving the clues. You can use a hint if you need to, and if all else fails just click the next button and the location will be revealed.
Some staff at the various stops will not know what you are talking about when you say you’re here to pick up an item for a mystery picnic. Out of the 6 locations we got food from, only 2 immediately knew what we were talking about. We had 7 stops total but one stop was for a mural. Please note that the number of stops will vary depending on the package that you chose. It worked out at each spot but it was a surprise to go to our first location and have them be confused about why we were there.
Some of the stops will have recommended photo ops or things to see nearby. You don’t have to do these things but I wanted to so that I could get some great photos & get the most out of my experience. We saw some really cool things like Light Gate, a 9/11 memorial, and even found the surfing walk of fame while searching for a mural. I would say that the extra stops added on 30 maybe 45 minutes but all in all, did not extend things too much.
I want to keep the food locations a surprise so that should you chose the South Bay experience it is not spoiled for you.
My husband and I really enjoyed this experience. It was fun for us to figure out the clues and discover new spots. This was such a wonderful way for us to get to know the South Bay area even better. Anyone can enjoy this experience but I think it is especially fun for out-of-town visitors, though locals can equally enjoy this. When you want a half-day to be planned for you, this is perfect!
Are you interested in getting more information about this?
You can check out the AmazingCo website and book your experience here.
A stop that worked out perfectly for us to add to this experience on our own is the Lighthouse Cafe from La La Land.
