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Amazing Los Angeles Race
Category: Hotels & Travel Tours Tours [Edit]
1171 S Robertson BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90035
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
(818) 942-3134
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Los Angeles Helicopter Tours, Flight Training, Charters & Aerial Services. There really is only one choice! Choose from a variety of Los Angeles… read more »
55 reviews for Amazing Los Angeles Race
55 reviews in English
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Review from Mel B.
Los Angeles, CA
3/5/2012
This was the best time I've had in I don't know how long. There were five of us in our thirties and we all loved it. L-O-V-E-D I-T! This event is well thought out, planned, organized, and executed. These people are professionals.
Everyone else on Yelp has really pretty much covered everything, so I will make this short and sweet.
1. DO IT. 2. Wear shorts, running shoes, and generally lightweight clothing. 3. Bring a backpack and pack it with water (especially in the warmer months, who cares that it's a little heavy at first, you will drink it), snacks and fruit - ah so refreshing, sunscreen, pen and paper, and hand sanitizer (thanks Yelp reviewers for this tip!)
Know before you go: You will be running and there are hills. You don't need to be in tip top shape, but you do need to be able to get around well on foot. Also, I'd recommend checking Goldstar for cheaper tickets.
Have a blast! -
Review from Steve N.
Los Angeles, CA
3/10/2012
Amazing Race Los Angeles was fun and exciting! It is extremely well organized. The clues are challenging yet not impossible. If you get stumped you can call for a hint, which comes with a penalty of course. Fortunately we did not have to use any hints.
As others have mentioned, I would definitely recommend bringing a small pocket sized notebook and a bunch a pens/pencils to help with deciphering the clues. Water is a must, especially if it is hot and some snacks will help to curb your appetite you will build up. Bring a small backpack to throw everything in and to help keep you organized so you don't lose things. Hand sanitizer is also helpful and be sure to wear comfortable shoes preferably running shoes, you will run at some point and even if you don't, there is ALOT of walking involved. So go prepared so you are comfortable and able to enjoy yourself.
The good thing about the Amazing Race LA is that you can customize it to suit your needs. It can be a fun, high-energy sightseeing tour or it can be an intense, competitive race. Whichever you chose you are guaranteed to have a fun, exciting, action-packed day.
The reason why I did not give it 5 stars is because for the amount of money it costs, you think that all the participants would get something in the end, a magnet, a bumper sticker, a key chain, a lanyard, or even a lousy certificate of completion to have as a souvenir, those things wouldn't cost too much for them to produce seeing how nearly all the money they collect is pure profit. With that said, I would NEVER pay full price because it is expensive so make sure to look around for deals on Groupon and Goldstar. -
Review from Liz B.
Los Angeles, CA
2/13/2012
Let me start by saying that I can't recall the last time I had this much fun. I am often skeptical of events like these, since many attempts at organized fun feel overly-contrived or downright hokey, and often ultimately lead to a sense of let down. I am pleased to report, however, that the experience that Amazing LA Race has created is on the exact opposite end of the spectrum.
The race started at the Hollywood Bowl, where my team met with the organizer and our competitors for the day. My crew, Team Banana (not a euphemism/12-year old boy joke, I promise) was composed of myself, my boyfriend, and my good friend who was visiting from out of town. We are all in reasonably good shape and fairly adept problem-solvers, so I felt confident that we had a chance at taking first. Still, upon arrival, I eyed my competition wearily. A group of boy scouts accompanied by a couple adult leaders seemed to pose a possible threat, but I was most concerned about a family of four who ranged in age from mid-20's to early 60's. The reason I felt threatened: they were all decked out in full-blown athletic gear, and donned walkie-talkies on hip holsters. Apparently, people take this race to varying degrees of seriousness, but after meeting my opponents, my own resolve to win was growing by the minute. Larry, the friendly organizer and co-owner of the Race, handed out the first clues to all the teams, and we were off.
I don't want to give anything away about the race itself, but I will say that I spent 3 1/2 hours hustling around Hollywood and LA with a big, stupid grin on my face. After the race, my friends and I couldn't stop talking about how much fun we had had. The race concluded with a mini-party for the group, featuring snacks and beers (or soft drinks for the boy scouts). The gathering provided an enjoyable opportunity to chat with the other teams, and it was cool to see that everyone else seemed to have had as awesome an afternoon as I had.
Team Banana did not come in first, but we did score bronze medals. My prediction about Team Workout Gear was correct; they took first place, and apparently kicked the rest of our butts by a large margin.
Lessons learned: I would recommend signing up with a team size of 2-4 people. I really think the larger teams may have been a bit disadvantaged, just because it's harder to coordinate with that many people. When solving clues, you often have to be kind of quiet and subtle so as not to give anything away to other teams that may be close by. It seemed like this was more difficult with the larger teams. People of most ages would have fun doing the Amazing LA Race, but they'd have need to be fairly fit, since it involves a lot of walking, and some steep hills.
I would also recommend brining a backpack with some extra gear. Definitely bring snacks and water; the race is long and you will get hungry and thirsty. Sunblock is a must. I was on the fence about wearing sneakers, but I wished I had. Next time, I will probably dress in workout gear so I can actually run in between clues; if you want to really be competitive, you probably should as well. Other things that are helpful: hand sanitizer, a clipboard or two with plenty of paper and pens, a spare grease crayon could be helpful.
Now don't hesitate; sign up! (Go to http://Goldstar.com for bargain tickets.) I promise, you won't regret it. -
Review from Kim C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/23/2012
Bob and the rest of the Amazing LA Race team were generous enough to donate a truncated race to my kid's school fundraiser. We had our race last weekend and it was the most fun I've had on Hollywood Blvd for a long time!!! I participated in a similar race about two years ago, and the tasks in the Amazing LA Race were more challenging and creative. I loved that they had hidden actors as part of it. For tourists, it's a great way to visit all the sites in a different way, and for cynical Angelenos, it makes you stop and really appreciate all the crazy things we have here. Instead of driving by Grauman's, you've got your hands in the cement. Instead of walking over the stars, you're really looking at who (bought) them. We had a great time, and I look forward to participating again.
OR did I mean WINNING - AGAIN!?!?!?! -
Review from Shawn I.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
3/28/2012
What an awesome experience! We had a team of 6, which was good for us, as it gave all of us opportunities to figure out the clues, puzzles, etc. My only recommendation would be to add some other physical type obstacles to the event to make it a little more challenging. All in all a great time, and got to explore LA/Hollywood mostly on foot, which a lot of people don't get to do. I would definitely recommend!
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Review from Kelly L.
Tucson, AZ
4/6/2012
Such a great way to see Los Angeles! Great day and tons of fun!
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Review from Will G.
Montebello, CA
1/29/2012
First time doing an event of this type, was surprised with this by my coworkers and had no idea what I was getting into. The competition was stiff, and you really don't have time to stop. The puzzles are well thought out and not overly cryptic, they take a bit of time to decipher but are not impossible and keep the flow of the game moving quickly.The fast pace and intensity of it all was what made everything so fun. I am not easily impressed but Amazing Los Angeles Race is definitely worth checking out for a fun Saturday. As a native Angeleno it was refreshing to see the city in a completely different way. The beer and fries at the end are the sweetest thing after all that work. Kudos Amazing L.A. race you presented quite a fun experience.
Other comments about water,shoes and running clothes are well advised you will be running if you don't want to see your competition dust you. =) -
Review from Janet W.
Los Angeles, CA
1/8/2012
Got this as a christmas present from a friend and had no idea what a great experience this would turn out to be. I grew up in L.A. and went to places I never knew existed. Did this with my fiance and two friends we had the time of our lives. Fortunately, we read some reviews and I can not agree more; this is definitely a thing to do with really good running shoes and comfortable clothing. Looking back, I should have done some stretches before the game started. Cant say too much but this is how I would prepare:
1. Very good running shoes because boy will you run especially if you are
family and friends who are competitive
2. Hydrate well before and try to pee it all out before getting to the race.
Even though there are restrooms along the way, no one wants to wait for
you while you are taking precious minutes from the group winning the race
3. carry light
4. dont dress too heavily because you will be getting a good work out
5. bring your phone
6. bring a pen and a small notepad (not a necessity but it helped)
7. bring a snack
8. everyone said to bring water but honestly, none of us wanted to drink
and be the cause of having to have a manditory potty break.
9. If you think you might feel pain from all the running you will do, carry an
ibuprofen
10. bring your thinking cap!!! -
Review from Ozone M.
Pasadena, CA
11/23/2011
Amazing Los Angeles Race = AWESOME!
STEP 1:
Get some friends, preferably ones that want some awesomeness in their lives, together, ideally a team of around 4. We had 5, 3 slow guys, 2 fast girls. We came in 3rd place! Yay!
STEP 2:
Say your prayers, eat your vitamins, take your steroids, and wear good, comfortable running shoes, clothes, undergarments, and sunscreen.
STEP 3:
Show up with your A game and shoes, water, snacks, fully charged cellphone and sunscreen. And ideally a loaded gun.
STEP 4:
Solve puzzles, run/fast walk around Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles while FUN ensues for the next 3-5+ hours! Talk to strangers. Try to look cool. Your team MUST WIN!
STEP 5:
Claim prizes, gloat and toast your teammates over a much deserving beer and possibly have an orgy!
TIPS:
-Have fun!
-Cheat
-and if this is your first date please make sure you bring condoms/contraceptives cause all that sweat and energy might yield an urge! ;P -
Review from Ryan B.
Canoga Park, CA
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
We did this for a friends birthday party.
It is not only fun, but it takes to parts of LA that you wouldnt normally see or know about.
Definitely recommend planning a Saturday to do this! -
Review from Garmen C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/13/2011
Are you a competitor? Do you like a challenge?Then WHAT are you waiting for?! Being an Angeleno barely gives you any kind of advantage so don't poo poo this race just cuz you think you know your city. Prepare to get schooled.
I know, I know, it's meant to be a friendly competition, you can go at your own pace, blah blah blah. SCREW that!
If you are as competitive as we are, you'll find out if you have what it takes by running this race. And you WILL run... and run, and run. This is me assuming you want to win!
This is not for the faint of heart simply because of how physical this race is. You will cover a lot of distance on your two feet. It's also a mental game, so here's my advice if coming in second is NOT an option:
-- Pee before. They'll tell you that you can find restrooms along the way, but that's precious minutes wasted, man! MOVE it!
-- Dress appropriately. Running shoes. Dri-fit clothing, backpack as opposed to a shoulder or messenger bag. You're running, remember?!?
-- Bring water, snacks, and hand sanitizer!!! You WILL thank me later.
-- More people on your team means MORE brain power, but you're also only as fast as your slowest teammate.
-- Pay attention. You know how you're always screaming at the television when AR contestants make a mistake? Yeah. Someone's screaming at you this time.
And that's all I'm giving away. I'd give this more than five stars if they'd let me. Now, make me proud. Go forth and conquer!!! -
Review from Audj Y.
Los Angeles, CA
5/3/2011
It took a little coaxing for my friends, but I boldly chose to do this for my 22nd birthday last year and ended up having the BEST time ever. It was a total blast, mentally and physically stimulating. My longtime Angeleno friends I definitely shared some unforgettable memories and "firsts".
I highly, highly recommend it. And don't worry about not being physically fit enough. If you can spend a day at the theme park, you can do this.
Go Team Audballs! -
Review from R L.
Inglewood, CA
3/13/2012
This was just so well put-together that I was still impressed even after reading all the reviews on here!!! It's getting harder to find top-notch companies offering quality entertainment these days, but this race did not disappoint in any way. I will be doing the other races they offer with my friends ASAP!
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Review from Joyce L.
Tustin, CA
12/16/2011
THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!
I've always wanted to do a scavenger hunt type of a race and I enlisted a group of my friends and we all trekked our way up to LA for the Los Angeles Amazing Race. Being a bunch of competetive people that we are, this was so ridiculously fun!
Everything was extremely well thought out and it really forces you to look outside the box. You will definitely have those moments of "OMG, it was right in front of me!!!"
Coming from Orange County, we don't usually go to LA for the touristy stuff, but the LA Amazing race did show us parts of LA that we didn't even know existed.
I recently did the Amazing Race Disneyland and though that was a little easier, it was still a lot of fun. I HIGHLY recommend any of the races!! -
Review from Vanessa H.
Aliso Viejo, CA
7/31/2011
I was looking for things to do for my birthday this year, and since I use TripAdvisor to plan all of my getaways, I figured why not see what's the best thing to do right here in my own backyard?
Turns out, the best thing to do in LA is the Amazing LA Race - even if you're not a tourist. It's one of a handful of scavenger hunt-type races in the LA area, the premise being that you need to solve clues that take you to your next destination.
This is a BLAST. It's mentally and physically challenging, and requires team collaboration of the highest order. You do not have to be a marathon runner (I'm not someone who runs voluntarily anyway), but you have to be in decent shape in order to hoof it all around Downtown and Hollywood, including climbing a lot of stairs. You also do not have to be a brainiac to solve all of the puzzles. Having teammates with different wiring is really a plus here; in a group of both street- and book-smart people, everyone can contribute (4-5 people is usually the best team size).
There are already lots of tips both here and other websites. Here are the ones I found most helpful:
- While it would still be worth it, there is no reason that anyone should pay full price for this activity. Between the puzzle on the website, and discount tickets through Goldstar, this can be a very affordable activity for your group.
- Wear comfortable shoes. If you are choosing between casual walking shoes (Converse/Sketchers) and athletic shoes, pick the athletic shoes.
- A lot of people have suggestions on what to bring, but the best advice is to PACK LIGHT. You have to carry all that stuff around, and you will be running, so it's better not to be weighed down.
- Bring water, but don't get intimidated by all of the reviews and think you need lots of bottles. Only bring what you can carry on your person and still be able to run.
- Bring sunscreen. Even if you start the day with it, have a bottle for re-application because you may sweat a lot of it off. I brought sweatbands as a joke, but they turned out to be really handy!
- Bring extra money for parking. Even though our team finished in just over 3 hours, we waited another 2 hours for other teams to get there and for the "ceremony" to finish. The validation provided by the Amazing LA Race still left us with a $10 parking tab.
- Pay CLOSE attention to the orientation spiel. Remembering things that were said will help you along the way.
If you want to have an experience unlike anything else, that you all will be talking about on the entire drive back home, sign up for the Amazing LA Race!!Listed in: Let's Do Something - LA
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Review from gina g.
Canoga Park, CA
6/27/2011
That was one of the BEST birthdays ever! I was shy two people to do a private race, but still ... 18 of us joined in a Sunday race with about 5 other teams.... We did the race in just over 3 hours... came in second! It was incredible. Well thought out clues, clever concepts, fun spins and a journey I will never forget!!!
We split up into groups of 4 (one team of two) which I think is a good number of people. Not too many cooks in the kitchen! We thankfully listened to other yelpers and brought water, snacks and sunscreen.. prepare to MOVE! We were all wiped out by the end of the day! Super fun day.. worth every penny.. agreed! :) -
Review from Linda T.
Los Angeles, CA
11/14/2011
This is SO MUCH FUN!!
We did this for a friends birthday bash and it was the best birthday surprise! Especially if you are looking for an event to do in LA. It's not only great for tourist but for locals as well. You will be exploring places in LA that you normally wouldn't imagine going to see or know about.
Definitely a fun activity that challenge you mentally and physically but all worth the FUN!!
We came in 2nd!! Woot! Woot!
Highly recommended!! Team of 4 works best... =) -
Review from Sam W.
Gardena, CA
9/22/2010
This was a great idea for a weekend with my friends. My buddy, who is a fan of the Amazing Race, invited me to go and I am glad I did.
Never watched the Amazing Race, but the L.A. Amazing Race is a scavenger hunt that will take you to many places in downtown Los Angeles. the object of the game is to make it to the finish line before any other team. You start off with a clue and those clues point you to other places around DTLA. The puzzles are challenging, but not enough to make you give up.
The Amazing LA Race will take locals to places they never knew existed in downtown while tourists get to experience the different landmarks that reflect Los Angeles' diverse culture.
I definitely recommend this race to all locals and tourists alike. I do not want to go into detail since I do not want to ruin this race for you, but I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
Also, this company has just opened up a new event which is the Amazing Race in Santa Monica. I will definitely be doing this event soon. It's THAT good. -
Review from Nicole V.
San Pedro, CA
12/20/2010
Despite the rain and cold of a wintery LA day, this was a fantastic day to spend a Friday! I participated in the "Hollywood" running of the Amazing Los Angeles Race and I got to see parts of the city I had never before seen. (Granted, I get teased for living in my SOUTH BAY BUBBLE! ....)
The race is challenging, tricky, and as competitive as you want it to be. The course takes you through some of the most visited places in Hollywood and Downtown LA while forcing you to really use your left-brain to solve quirky and fun puzzles.
We finished with the other teams with a small ceremony, tasty snacks, and a feeling of accomplishment. Just plain fun!
I can't wait to do this again! -
Review from Kelly S.
Pasadena, CA
7/21/2010
So much fun, and the perfect way to show my visiting 17-year-old niece and her 18-year-old friend Hollywood and downtown L.A.
If we would have seen all the same things from a tour bus, or while walking or driving them around, they would have been so bored (well, not really bored since they would have been playing car games, texting, talking, etc., and generally not paying attention to any of the sights). Seeing L.A. this way was really hands on, which really worked for their short attention spans --- even if we were trying to go so quickly at some spots that we didn't pay attention to what was around us. I tried to make a conscious effort to make us stop and look around and take a picture.
And thank goodness we had my niece and her friend with us, because they were really the main puzzle-solvers! And some of the puzzles are hard --- especially when the midday heat was bearing down on us.
In fact, that's the only reason I took one star off this review. I think the summer race could be modified to include more puzzles in the shade/indoors. Downtown was roasting this past Saturday.
TIPS
- Bring water and sunscreen
- Pack a granola bar or something small. If you're competitive, you're not going to want to stop and grab anything to eat.
- WEAR RUNNING SHOES! I scoffed at another reviewer who said his Converse wouldn't hold up. MY CHUCKS DID NOT HOLD UP! My feet were SOOO hurting by the end of the race.
-- Bring at least one person who's good at solving puzzles. The race will be too long if someone isn't halfway decent. We finished by about 3 p.m. -
Review from Tova W.
Hermosa Beach, CA
4/25/2010
The Amazing LA Race is a fun and active way to spend a day with friends (or family in my case) and see a good chunk of LA at the same time. You start at the Hollywood Bowl and the clues take you to Hollywood and Highland, then to Downtown and back to Hollywood. Parts of the game are interactive where you're working with actors employed by the Amazing LA Race, and other parts you're on your own.
As an LA native, I knew the Hollywood area quite well but had never done much exploring on the underground Metro or Downtown, so the experience was entertaining and worthwhile. Its quite active, so I was definitely glad to be wearing comfy walking shoes. Even with the good shoes, my feet were sore at the end.
Best advice I can give you is don't over-think the clues. The obvious answer is probably the right one. This game isn't for rocket scientists, so don't get too fancy. Also, bring snacks! Check-in is at 10:45am and the game begins after 11 and doesn't end till about 3:30, so you're not eating lunch till 4 or so. I was running late the day of my race and didn't eat breakfast... running around the city on an empty stomach till 4 made me a little cranky. Not to mention dehydrated. So bring water too.
I've done another LA scavenger hunt (Accomplice Hollywood) and this one is definitely more intense. This is a "race," as you compete against other teams, so it's slightly more stressful. With Accomplice Hollywood, you participate just for fun. Also, AH is a bit shorter since its just Hollywood, their times are more flexible, and they feed you along the way. AH is also more of a show/entertainment with more actors and a storyline (murder mystery style). If you are looking for something for either young children (ALAR is good for kids maybe 10 and up, but might be a little much for the kiddies), older/less mobile people, I'd recommend checking it out. If you're in shape and looking for a challenge, I definitely give Amazing LA Race two big thumbs up! -
Review from Denis S.
1/19/2010
I've done several scavenger hunts around LA and this one was by far the most intense and covered the most ground. Taking you from Hollywood to Downtown and back in the span of a few hours, you accomplish more in that time than it takes most people to commute to work.
The clues were not particularly difficult, but they were fun to solve and made everyone work together. We had a group of eight (which is the largest group you can have) but there were as few as 2 people in a group. For this race I would recommend at least 4 people as some of the clues are time intensive and are finished more quickly by splitting up.
Great for all ages, though you should be pretty healthy if you want to be competitive as we ended up running all over town and my legs were definitely sore the next day.Listed in: Great for a Date!
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Review from wade l.
Huntington Beach, CA
1/5/2010
Very surprised to see only 1 other review on Yelp!
The LA Amazing Race was awarded by GoldStar as the best thing to do in LA (or something like that). After participating w/ a group of friends in December, I can totally see why!
It's fun for everyone. Our entire group of friends that participated are either from the LA area or very familiar with it, and we all saw stuff we hadn't seen before. For out-of-town visitors, it's an ABSOLUTE GREAT way to show them many of LA's trademark sites.
Per their recommendation, we broke our group of friends up into teams of 3 or 4. This size team works well as you still have enough eyes and minds figuring out their challenging puzzles, while remaining lean and mean. Groups any larger than this might have a hard time sharing the clues and feeling 'engaged'.
For logistics purposes, I'll disclose that the start line is at the Hollywood Bowl. The finish area is in the vicinity of Hollywood & Highland. Other than those destinations, I won't provide any spoilers. From the time you start the race, you'll probably be done in under 4 hours. We finished in 3 hours & 15 minutes or so (awarded 3rd place medals!). But plan to hang out at the finish area for a whiles after, as they have a little ceremony complete w/ complementary beverages (beer or soda).
If you want to be competitive - and you probably will - be sure to pack light and wear running shoes. You will run.
The puzzles & challenges are pretty diverse & challenging, but eventually solvable. They are accurately described by the hosts as puzzles that get you angry and frustrated, until you get that "AH-HAH!" moment where the light bulb goes off and you figure it out. Love those moments.
If you do get stuck w/ a puzzle or need a confirmation, they provide you a cell phone number to assist - but at a cost of time deductions from your finish time (15 minutes for clues, 5 minutes for confirmations).
Great job to the planners, they truly do a great job w/ this race. They may be creating a new LA race in early 2010, and if they do, they can totally count on us giving this another go!!! -
Review from Yi Z.
3/11/2010
Attempting to park at Hollywood & Highland cost us a chance at 1st place but we were quite excited that we received our bronze medals. I've done other "scavenger hunts" before but none of them rival the Amazing LA Race. Some scavenger hunts require you to gather (or buy) silly things that you'll never need or want again. Others ask questions that are Google-able so the advantage goes to those who are quick on their fancy phones.
The Amazing LA Race is a super fun way to spend 4 hours of your day. Although the activity is advertised as a "sightseeing" race/tour, I think it's necessary to have at least one person on your team who is familiar with LA in order to be truly successful.
Although we lost almost 30 minutes to parking, we were able to catch up to most teams by the third location. All of the clues are unique and cleverly written and none of them had questions that you could find the answers to online. I found the clues to be fun to figure out but not so challenging that you would get frustrated. It got very intense at the end. With one clue to go, three teams simultaneously arrived at the metro station. Although the two other teams dashed out in front of us, we were more prepared for the clue and beat both of those teams by a sizeable margin.
Even though we weren't first, we felt like winners. I had set the bar very low. After all, our team name was "We don't want to be last." -
Review from Mike P.
Tustin, CA
1/10/2011
There will be moments of sheer frustration, and there will be moments of utter euphoria. When you finally cross that symbolic finish line, you'll feel a rather large sense of accomplishment. Don't bother Googling answers to their puzzles, because this race really is about the process rather than getting to the finish line first.
A word of advice to first timers:
1. Wear comfortable shoes that you can sprint in. Yes sprint!
2. Bring a backpack with water, and maybe a few light snacks. Don't over pack.
3. Do not bring a DSLR camera. Unfortunately I made this mistake. I gave up trying to take pictures after the first 45 minutes. You won't really have time to stop and smell the roses, and you'll just be sorry about the extra six pounds of dead weight around your neck.
4. Bring some extra change, in case you take the wrong metro line and need to buy another ticket. -
Review from Catherine L.
Long Beach, CA
3/8/2010
My co-worker/friend saw this and round up 10 people. Unfortunately, we had to split up into 2 groups. We were first and second place, neck and neck and they won by 5 seconds (something small like that).
The race was so much fun, going all over LA to try and win a race is an adrenaline rush!
I definately recommend it and when they change their routes, my friends and I will be ready to sign up again!!!!!! -
Review from JK K.
Irvine, CA
9/6/2011
My group of friends did this last weekend and it was a blast! There were total of 14 of us so we have splited into 3 groups so we can complete with each other. One of the group got 2nd place and my group almost made the 3rd place! We were so competitive, we never stopped running and took a break! There were a lot of stairs and hills so make sure to be in a good shape. Bring at least 3 bottles of water, crayon penciles, pen, and paper. I recommend this to people who are very competitive and like to solve problems :o)
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Review from Natasha S.
Fullerton, CA
7/27/2010
My husband and I are huge fans of TAR and so as a birthday surprise, he took me to do the Amazing LA Race.
We were feeling pretty confident when we walked up that we would OWN this race. We're both pretty athletic and fancy ourselves as being pretty clever. Man, were we wrong! The race was way more difficult than we anticipated. We had a ton of fun, saw a bunch of local sights, and experienced some new things (hello, red line!)
I don't want to give anything away to future racers, but I would highly, HIGHLY recommend this to both locals and tourists. Tons of fun! -
Review from jonathan d.
North Hollywood, CA
12/29/2009
What a phenomenal time!!! A group of 20 of us celebrated a friends birthday (you don't need a large group either-a cute couple joined in solo) by doing this and we could not have predicted the amount of fun we would have.
Seriously, the time you'll have is already in the name, AMAZING!!! It's a great time for all ages too, we had an eight year old who kicked butt.
What is a super fun way to explore Los Angeles, pretend your a reality super star, group problem solve and have one hell of a time.
My only word of advice: wear shoes you can run around in. My chuck taylor's failed me.
2 BIG thumbs up! -
Review from Toni V.
Redondo Beach, CA
8/17/2011
Spent my 50+ birthday last weekend doing this Amazing Race with my husband, 12 year old son, 17 yr old daughter and my friend. We all had way too much fun!! The clues were more challenging than I expected...really clever. Except for the 12 yr old, we weren't super athletic, so we had to slow down the pace on part the trip, but we finished with a decent time. A great way to spend my birthday. Can't wait to try the Santa Monica version!
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Review from Kristen W.
New York, NY
10/27/2011
We did this last Saturday for a friend's birthday. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it blew me away. Our hostess, Bernadette, was fun and lively and had us all in a great mood even before the games started. And it was just such a fun and different activity overall. I've lived in LA for the past three years, but it exposed me to so much I've never visited before. We did it on a super hot day but I'd recommend a lot of water and comfortable shoes regardless. And don't worry about being that terribly fit - I usually only run if there's ice cream involved and we still came in 2nd place. Highly recommended!
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Review from Ryan D.
Santa Monica, CA
4/11/2011
Been living in LA for a couple years and saw so many paces I've never been to to or heard of.f Lot of fun. Lot of competition. Lot of walking and running. If you have some friends visiting it's a good way to spend the day. Bring water, a snack, extra pens and paper and a back pack. GIRLS, don't wear shoes that give you blisters. Just do it! It's a lot of fun. We're doing the Santa Monica one next.
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Review from Teddie L.
Rosemead, CA
8/9/2010
Five stars isn't nearly enough praise for the LA Amazing Race. Larry and Bob, the owners, made the event life changing! (literally)
The time had come to propose to my gf, but I didn't want just any oridinary proposal. No sir! The event would have to be unique, fun, all encompassing and most importantly, a surprise! After several days of back and forth, I finally settled on the idea of a scavenger hunt. Planning one on my own was a dead giveaway. I'm not the spontaneous type, so convincing the gf to randomly try a scavenger hunt was going to set off red flags. After scouring through dozens of websites and comments, it seemed as though all of the positive reviews were pointing to one event in particular, the LA Amazing Race.
I contacted Larry at the LA Amazing Race to see if they would be willing to accommodate a special request. The plan was to compete in the race as usual, but divert us to an undisclosed location for the proposal.
Larry was so accommodating! He worked with me for several days to customize clues to get us to where we need to be and to top things off, he even gave us a special group rate.
The whole thing went off without a hitch! My friends and I met at an undisclosed location for instructions and our first clue. Bob's (the host and other owner) quick wit and personality helped set the tone for a great day. Who else would make fun of a team that names themselves "42"? 42 being the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Naturally.
Back to the race. Having lived in LA almost my entire life, I can easily say that this is one of the most entertaining ways to spend a day in Southern California. The puzzles are challenging. The competition is fierce. The locations are new and unique, so much so that my fiance and I went back to visit them over the past weekend.
I speak for my group when I say that we had a blast! Thank you LA Amazing Race for helping me create such a perfect proposal! If you're ever in LA, this is a must do. It's #1 for a reason.
And for the record, we were in first place when we got diverted to the proposal site. Oh and she said yes! =) -
Review from micah c.
Chatsworth, CA
2/7/2011
I pride myself in codebreaking and puzzle solving, but this kicked my BUTT. That said, this was one of the most infuriating (and they warned us about that), exhilerating, satisfying and enjoyable Sundays I've had in a long time. The "ah-ha" moments that they told us would come got me the closest I've ever felt to Indiana Jones and Robert Langdon in my life. Thanks TALAR! Now when's your NEXT one? Your Fan, Micah
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Review from Devon M.
Sherman Oaks, CA
7/19/2010
Spent this past Sunday running around LA like a crazy person trying to figure out the set of well thought out and interesting clues that Amazing Race LA scattered throughout Hollywood and downtown LA. Although we didn't come in first we had a blast!
I know some people think its necessary to have someone who "knows LA" on your team, I disagree. The puzzles even the playing field, the race provides a map with everything clearly marked. Also the family from Wisconsin who was just visiting came in first, beating the second place team (two locals who've lived here all their lives) by over 30 minutes. They knew nothing about LA but were able to kick all our butts.
The price may seem a little steep, but you definitely get your money's worth. -
Review from Stephen C.
Orange, CA
1/4/2011
Awesome! Don't really watch Amazing Race so I didn't really know what I was getting myself into but my friends convinced me to give it a try. Definitely a great bonding experience with your friends or family and also lots of competitive fun.
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Review from Karen C.
La Puente, CA
11/18/2010
We signed up for this not really sure what to expect, except it's a scavenger hunt and similar to the Amazing Race on TV. There was 5 of us all together in our group, which was a great number to run the race with. You'll want to wear comfortable shoes and clothes, because you will be doing a lot of walking and running. It was so much fun to run around town and figure out puzzles and clues. It's something to do instead of sitting at home, definitely a unique and fun experience to see Hollywood and LA.
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Review from maureen s.
Alexandria, VA
7/31/2010
I did this race with my 2 teenage daughters on our vacation. It was a very hot day and the race took us about 4 hours (one hour too long). The kids got eventually got uninterested in the heat and some of the clues were too hard. The people we met were great, saw alot of LA and were physically and mentally challenged. Pricey at $65 per person. Sneakers a must!
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Review from Jessica E.
Los Angeles, CA
9/14/2010
When I came across the Amazing LA Race, I knew we had to try it. I learned so much new stuff about LA because of the adventures the race took us on. It's well organized, fun-spirited, and the clues are clever but not too difficult. It takes you all around Hollywood and downtown. They change the clues once a year and they are starting a Santa Monica race I will definitely be participating in and once the clues are changed for this race, I'll gladly take on another challenge.
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Review from Janet H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/17/2010
Amazing Los Angeles Race is true to its name. My two friends and I had an amazing time competing against 9 other teams Sunday afternoon. There were many other groups who ranged from couples to large groups of 8 friends.
The organizers did a great job coming up with diverse puzzles and challenges. None of the puzzles were too difficult to solve but there were times where we had to look hard for the clues. We did a lot more running than what we anticipated, so wear running shoes and comfortable clothing.
I highly recommend this to anyone new and old to LA who are looking for a fun way to explore and see LA.
