When I saw the Groupon for Challenge Nation I had never heard of it, but it sounded like a really fun time. So I rounded up a few friends and we all bought one. Challenge Nation is an urban race and scavenger hunt. You must have at least two members on your team, but the more people you have the longer it may take to complete the race because everyone must go to each location. Also your time isn’t stopped until your entire team is at the finish.
As the race starts one team member from each team is given an envelope with the clues. Here is the complete sheet. Clues that require answer are at the bottom so you can try and figure them out too.
READ EACH CLUE CAREFULLY – EACH HAS SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS! You MUST complete 11 out of the below 12 clues to finish the Challenge – no extra credit for doing the 12th. You MUST take a photo of all of your team members at each stop (ask someone to take the photo, or stretch an arm out to take the photo with everyone in it, when possible). Remember, your own two feet and public transportation are allowed, but no taxis, cars, bikes, rollerskates, camels, helicopters or hoverboards! All teammates must be present at the finish line.
- No, we’re not talking about this famous “first” Virginian’s ability to read an eyechart. But once you find his “vision”, find the surveyor’s tool in the middle and have you team use it in a photo to lay out the dream of the future circa the late 18th century a navigable connection from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, that is).
- Like most Americans, we’re amused that professional athletes and wealthy team owners in several pro sports have found it tough to agree just how many gazillions of dollars they’ll make from the average fan. But for this clue, find any stranger (non-Challenger, that is) wearing any professional sports gear from any team in any league. BUT: you can’t throw a hat on someone in a sports store, and this person cannot fulfill any other clue’s objective. Snap a photo with them mimicking a play from the sport they’re rocking.
- How well do you know your Richmond landmarks AND current events? Find the building that houses a branch of this entity that presidential hopeful Gov. Rick Perry said some unkind things about this week. It’s one of the tallest in Virginia – through a full 49% of its floor area is actually underground. Be sure to find a way to capture the tower top to bottom with your team in the photo!
- We promise you’ll interact with a few folks for this one – find a friendly stranger who hails from a state that starts with the letter L, M, N, O, S or P. Have them prove it by taking the picture with them and the top of their drivers license and then all of you should (approximately) for the shape of their home state with your (and their) arms.
- Somewhat ironically, one of the most beautiful views in Richmond commemorates three of the most troubled and impactful days in its history. When your team finds it – go as far out over the river as possible, then take the most picturesque photo possible 0 that’s it!
- It’s a bit warmer than we’d like out there today, so this clue is MANDATORY NON-SKIPPABLE five minute break. How can we enforce that? Clocks! Big clocks! Find this 1901 edifice that welcomed back the choo choos to downtown after a 30 year hiatus, during which time it suffered a flood and two fires. Have your team hold up its arms to match the huge clocks inside upstairs at the beginning and end of your break, five minutes apart.
- The Bard says “all the world’s a stage” in As You Like It (we’re very cultured). In this case, you’ll have to find a statue of a sitting president (we mean, he’s on a bench…not Barack Obama). This particular president likes plays all the way up until the last one he saw, we’re guessing. Once there, convince a friendly passerby or another team to act out a movie scene with your team and the statue – the goofier the better!
- Let’s play the opposites game: if you’re not bald you’re __________. If you’ve got a drought, the opposite is a __________ and if you are a fish, you sometimes wish you might be a __________. Take all of those together and you’ll find this guy that’s a Richmond 50th. When you find his statue, hop on up there with him and mimic his post with your team.
- In cities this old, we’ve thrown out the concept of finding the oldest building – there are hundreds of old building here! So we’re going with half the wedding theme of something old…something new. Instead of ancient, find shiny and new – take a photo with any building or structure completed and occupied during 2010 or 2011.
- Options, options – you’ve got options: find either a regal boot, a white house’s fountain, or a Confederate anchor. They’re all pretty close to each other! Take a fun photo with your choice.
- On this island named for a Cleveland NFL team (we’re pretty sure. 99% or so! It’s gotta be.), you’ll find bricks given by donors. Find any one of these bricks that matches a first name on your team OR any U.S. president – take a photo with the brick and all of your team’s feet. Bricks anywhere else in town don’t count.
- Now let’s play the numbers game. I’m 215 years old, but I’m the 8th. I’m one of 11 that don’t have this. And I once killed 62 people at once (my bad). Once you figure out who I am, find a picturesque spot halfway up the southwest grassy hill and construct the signature Challenge Nation pose, the human pyramid.
Answers
- Skipped
- Photo
- Federal Reserve Building
- Photo
- Bridge on Brown’s Island that goes out into the river
- Main Street Station’s clock on the 2nd floor
- Abraham Lincoln at the former Tredegar Iron Works now the Visitor’s Center of the Richmond’s National Battlefield Park
- Harry Flood Byrd. Statue is at the VA State Capital
- MeadWestvaco
- Confederate anchor sits at the entrance to MCV
- Directly in front of the bridge to Brown’s Island. We found Thomas.
- State Capital
Our time was 61:00, all of our answers and pictures were correct and we were the first team back. Challenge Discovery goes to many different cities so find out when it’s in your area and go have some fun.
ALL I DO IS WIN!
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