HOW IT WORKS

Mystery Towns is simple. All you need is a charged mobile phone and a group of friends or family who want to have some fun.

Booking an adventure

Choose your adventure and select your intended start date. This is flexible – once selected you will be able to start on any day.

Once booked you will get an email with instructions and your access code.

Clues

We will send you a series of approximately 20 clues through the FREE App. Each clue will lead you on an easy walk to a different location where you will have to find a hidden word or solve a puzzle.

Once you solve the answer submit it. If correct you will immediately get the next clue.

The clues will lead you to local icons, fascinating businesses, and to secret places even the locals don’t know about. Along the way there are optional breaks so you can get refreshment.

Starting your adventure

Choose your adventure and select your intended start date. This is flexible – once selected you will be able to start on any day.

Once booked you will get an email with instructions and your access code.

Solving a clue

Complete a clue by submitting your answer in the space provided. All answers are ONE WORD, or NUMBER with no punctuation or spaces. Correct answers mean a new clue. Wrong answers add a 10-minute penalty to your score.

Make sure you check spelling and autocorrect carefully before sending.

Getting a hint

There's no shame in asking for a little help, but you will add a 10-minute penalty to your final time for each hint.

If you need more directions to where you are going, hit the HINT: DIRECTIONS button.

For help figuring out the answer hit the HINT: SOLVE buton.

Skipping a clue

If you're really having trouble with a clue you can skip it. Hit the PASS:SKIP CLUE button to skip to the next clue. You will receive a 30-minute penalty to your final score for each pass.

Completing your Adventure

Have you unlocked the secret? Are you sure? When you are ready to answer the final clue submit it and see if you have unlocked the mystery. If you are wrong, you will receive a time penalty and you can guess again.

Once you have solved the mystery - come back to the website and see where you ranked on the leaderboard. Celebrate if you placed well. Or laugh at those people who didn't take time to enjoy the town as much as you did!

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

MOST ASKED

Christmas Example Clue

Work out what these refer to and tell us which is the odd one out:

  1. A trio of European layers
  2. Half dozen birds upon the lake
  3. A brace of snapping love birds
  4. Third prime, first colour, in circles
Is Mystery Towns a Tour or a Game?

That is up to you – we like to think of it as an Adventure. It includes the fun clue-solving experiences of a scavenger hunt or an escape room, but also the secondary discovery of seeing parts of the town you may never have found. Whether you choose to race the clock or simply enjoy the experience as you tour the town is entirely up to you!

Do I need to know all about the town before I start?

No. Clues are written assuming no knowledge of the town, and are sequential – each clue has several components to look for to guide you toward that clue’s destination. In fact, we have witnessed locals going wrong by trying to solve the whole clue and making the wrong assumptions!

Is it a race?

There is a leaderboard on the website for those who want to race, and the clues are challenging enough to keep the most competitive Teams interested. For everyone else it is a leisurely tour of the town. In our experience over 80% of teams end up enjoying the experience just for fun!

Are children allowed on the tour?

Each adventure is written for a different target audience based on the length of walking and the venues visited. Please check the Pricing Guide for each adventure to see restrictions. Children under 18 are permitted on all adventures unless advised specifically, however some adventures may not be suitable for small children – in that case it is recommended to bring a bike or stroller for any small children accompanying you.

Do I have to buy anything?

You are not required to purchase anything along the route, however there are multiple opportunities for shopping and dining if you wish. Businesses all accept cash/debit/credit, and there are ATMs along the way. Mystery Towns does not receive any payments from any of the businesses, and whether you choose to purchase is up to you. Occasionally you may receive a text clue with a special offer from a business – again this is directly from them to you and there is no requirement or expectation to buy.

WHAT

What will I do, and what should I wear or bring?

Your tour involves between 2km and 5km of leisurely walking on flat trails and through town. You are not required to do anything more dangerous than crossing roads unless specifically advised. Please dress according to the weather and wear suitable footwear. We suggest bringing water to drink – there are places along the route to purchase refreshments, but there may be sections where there are several clues between shops.

What happens if I can’t answer a clue?

Stuck on a clue? Use the HINT buttons within the App - though time penalties will be added to your final score! Along the way you may ask for DIRECTIONS, or help on how to SOLVE the puzzle (each incurs a 10-minute time penalty). You may also PASS to skip a clue, incurring a 30-minute penalty. If you are racing the clock to try and make the leaderboard, time penalties matter. If you are simply enjoying the experience you may use the clues at will! All time penalties are added to your final score - you will not be made to wait during the game.

What happens if my phone battery dies?

That would be a problem. Please ensure that your cellphone is charged before you start, and please ADD other phones if you are concerned. You are only required to use the phone for text - no photos or internet browsing is required. Bringing a phone charger is a good idea if your battery is weak – you may charge your phone by speaking to the businesses at your scheduled breaks.

What sort of businesses are involved?

Depending on your chosen adventure, you may interact with several businesses – these have been selected to showcase some of the great shopping, dining and learning experiences in the town. In each case your interaction is different – we do ask that you please be respectful of their staff and customers. None of the businesses pay to be included – they and their staff simply add to the experience.

What happens if a participating business is closed, or a road is closed?

In the rare case that a participating business is closed, or that roadworks or events cause road closures that your route, please use the DIRECT hint to take you to the destination or the PASS clue to get the answer. You may then email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the details and we will remove the penalties from your score.

HOW

How many players in a team?

Suggested team size is 2-4 players. It is most fun when working with other people to find and solve clues – we do not therefore recommend single players. We also suggest a maximum group size of 4 players players to ensure everyone is part of the clue-solving experience. If you have more we suggest you split into smaller groups and compete against each other – there are places along the way to meet and discuss progress (or poke fun at each other!)

How does the adventure work?

You will receive an email on confirmation of your booking. Download the App, go to the Start Location and input the details as instructed. From there you will receive instructions and a backstory, and when ready to go you will receive a series of clues that will lead you through your adventure. Submit your answers and when correct you will receive a new clue – or if wrong you will receive a time penalty. All answers are ONLY ONE WORD or NUMBER with no punctuation - please ensure you check spelling carefully as many players have received time penalties due to autocorrect! Complete all the clues and solve the final mystery!

How long does the adventure take?

You can travel at your own pace, and therefore the time varies significantly. Teams that are racing against the clock will take between 2-3 hours, while players leisurely enjoying the many places that the tour takes them will take between 4-6 hours. Most groups take approximately 4 hours to complete a signature adventure, and approximately half that for DISCOVERY or SCAVENGER adventures. There are two scheduled stops along the way giving you a chance to take a breather and get refreshments.

How can I share my experience?

We hope you enjoy your experience - please feel free to share your thoughts on TripAdvisor, and social media, but please do not share the clue answers. Check the online leaderboard to see how you did - or to laugh at those who clearly didn't spend enough time enjoying the journey!

How do I learn about new adventures?

New adventures will be added in different locations over the coming weeks. To learn more join our mailing list, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

WHO, WHEN & WHERE

When can I take my adventure?
Mystery Towns adventures are very flexible – we want you to play on a day that works for YOU and fits your own plans and (of course) weather conditions. You can start any time after your booking - you don’t need to tell us when – you simply go to the Start Location within the start time window in your instructions.
Why do I have a start time window?
You can start any day, but must start within a daily time window. Along the way you will interact with several businesses and the start window is set to align with their opening hours. Some adventures also have a finish time – set for the same reasons.
Where does my adventure start?
On confirmation you will be sent an email detailing your start location, with directions and parking, and confirming your start time window and instructions.
Will there be breaks along the way?
There are up to two scheduled breaks in locations where food and drinks are available. You time clock stops automatically at these points to give you time to relax. You may restart at any time by entering READY.
Who is Mystery Towns?

Mystery Towns is part of Uncorked Experiences Ltd., an Alberta-based corporation bringing many years of tourism experience. Uncorked Experiences is also the owner/operator of the multi-award-winning Canmore Uncorked Food & Drink Festival.


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