Pasadena Spy Quest: Stop the Bomb (Einstein & Caltech)

Overview

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.

Important Information

What's included?

Self-guided nuclear thriller puzzle adventure through Old Town Pasadena
Interactive puzzles: code-breaking, observation, logic, wordplay at real landmarks
Story-driven clues connected to Caltech, the Manhattan Project, and 1930s Pasadena
Fascinating facts about Pasadena history, food, film locations, and hidden gems
Flexible scheduling, available all day, every day of the week
Team play or solo on one booking

Exclusions

Live tour guide (self-guided via the Questo app)

Please Note

Stroller or pram accessible
Animals or pets allowed
Public transportation nearby

Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must not sit on laps
Infant seats unavailable
Thank you for booking with Questo. Your code is your booking reference number: the digits after "BR-". Here's how to play it: 1. Activate your quest. Go to the unlock page on the Questo website (questoapp.com/unlock), enter your email and your code. 2. Download the Questo app on your phone (App Store or Google Play) and create an account with the same email used for activation. 3. Once you're logged in to the Questo app, open the Quests section. Your quest will be there, ready to be played. IMPORTANT - Booked more than one ticket? You can invite the other participants right after activating, or later from the Quests section in the app. - If you don't see your quest in the Quests section in the Questo app, tap "Bought a quest somewhere else?" and enter your code again. You can also upload a screenshot of your booking confirmation there. GOOD TO KNOW - The quest is available every day, at any hour. Go to the starting point and begin whenever you're ready. - Download the story and the map before you head out. After that, it works without internet. - Start with at least 50% battery. Still have questions? Send us a message or talk to our customer support at: questoapp.com/chat