You’ve been planning a family day out, and you had great plans to hit the beach or go hiking. And then it rained. Never fear! There is plenty to do on a rainy day to keep the whole family busy, and one of the best activities of all is to visit an escape room.
But what are escape rooms and how do they work? Here’s what you need to know about the ultimate family activity.
What Is an Escape Room?
Escape rooms are a relatively new phenomenon. You’ve probably heard your friends talking about them and going on about how fun they are. But what exactly are they?
An escape room is an adventure game where you and your team (your family in this case) are ‘locked’ in a room, and you have to solve different puzzles to escape. You are given a time limit to escape, which is usually one hour.
You will need to find clues and solve puzzles to progress, which can involve using numbers, locks and objects. Everything could be a clue.
You are not really locked in, of course. If anyone needs to go out, they can, and if you don’t manage to escape in the time period, you still get let out at the end. But it’s a lot more satisfying when you solve the puzzle!
Why Are They So Popular?
Escape rooms have become a huge attraction in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. They are a great way to spend time with friends or family doing something completely different from normal life. They also involve challenging yourself, working together and being creative.
They provide fun experiences that you can share with other people, and it is enormously satisfying when you solve a puzzle and progress in the game. Especially if you manage to escape!
An escape room provides you with a way to experience a story where you become part of the story rather than just observing.
It’s a safe and fun way to have a real adventure, and you will have lots of fun memories at the end.
How to Get Started
Getting started is easy. First, you need to find a place near you where you can book an escape room. Then you need to decide on your group. If you are going as a family, that’s perfect, but you might want to invite along some friends as well. Usually, six people are the maximum you want in a group.
Next, choose an escape room. Exciting Escapes usually have a few to choose from with different themes and stories, including Murder Mystery, Space Adventures and even horror rooms.
There are different missions to choose from as well. It could be to escape from a prison cell or to steal a work of art.
When you go into the escape room, you become part of the story, and the elaborate decorations provide an immersive experience and make it easier to lose yourself in the game.
You will have a guide during the game who will tell you the rules and explain everything.
The guide will monitor you at all times using cameras and they can speak to you using a phone.
They will usually provide you with up to three clues to help you out, and they may give you a helping hand if you are really struggling.
How to Boost Your Chances
Not everyone manages to escape in the 60 minutes given, and that’s fine. But it’s very satisfying when you manage to crack the puzzles. You can increase your chances by not wasting any time and getting started as soon as the clock starts ticking.
Look at everything and find clues everywhere. Spread out to search everything in the room, and save time by all focusing on different areas at the same time. Let everyone know when you find something interesting, then you can work together to solve the puzzle.
When you have used an object, put it in one corner of the room so you can grab it again if you need it.
Enjoy a Superb Family Day Out
There are lots of things to do on rainy days to keep the family happy, and escape rooms are right up there at the top of the list. So what are you waiting for? Find an escape room near you, book your adventure and have a fun day out with the family!