About this experience
It's your first day as a janitor at Caltech when you stumble into an abandoned lab and press a large red button. A handwritten note appears: a nuclear bomb has been armed and eight devices are hidden across Pasadena to disarm it. You have no choice but to run.
This self-guided spy mission takes you on an 86-minute adventure through Old Town Pasadena. Using the Questo app on your smartphone, you decode secret messages, crack clues at historic landmarks, and follow a conspiracy connecting Caltech physicists, the Manhattan Project, and Albert Einstein.
Chase the trail from Vroman's Bookstore to the Pasadena Playhouse, through hidden cobblestone alleys and past City Hall, all the way to a famous mural of Einstein on his bicycle.
Start whenever you like and play entirely at your own pace across 3 kilometres of Pasadena's most storied streets.
Perfect for curious explorers, couples, and families. No prior knowledge of history needed, just a sharp mind and a sense of urgency.
At a glance
- Duration: 1 hr 10 min–1 hr 40 min
- Private experience
Plan your experience
Set aside 1 hr 10 min–1 hr 40 min for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What is included
- Self-guided nuclear thriller puzzle adventure through Old Town Pasadena
- Interactive puzzles: code-breaking, observation, logic, wordplay at real landmarks
- Fascinating facts about Pasadena history, food, film locations, and hidden gems
- Team play or solo on one booking
- Flexible scheduling, available all day, every day of the week
- Story-driven clues connected to Caltech, the Manhattan Project, and 1930s Pasadena
Not included
- Live tour guide (self-guided via the Questo app)
Itinerary and highlights
You will begin at Vroman’s Bookstore. Here you will be given your first clue to solve the challenge that awaits you, which will unlock the next part of the story and give you the directions to the next stop.
You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Pasadena Star-News Building. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Pacific Asia Museum. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Pasadena City Hall. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Legge Alley. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Russell’s. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
You will finish at Pasadena Memorial Park. Here is where both the story and the city exploration games end.
Meeting and pickup information
- The game starts at Vroman's Bookstore. After booking, we'll message you a code and activation link. Activate with your own email, then log in to the Questo app with that email. No message? Open the Questo app, tap "Bought a quest somewhere else?" and enter your booking reference number.
Languages and tickets
- English — Written
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Questo
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Questions about this experience
How long is this experience?
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What accessibility information is provided?
Service animals allowed
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