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

5 Reviews 3.40 out of 5 stars Based on 5 reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and TripAdvisor | Los Angeles, USA
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.

70 to 100 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

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.

What's Included

  • Interactive puzzles: code-breaking, observation, logic, wordplay at real landmarks
  • Fascinating facts about Pasadena history, food, film locations, and hidden gems
  • Team play or solo on one booking
  • Live tour guide (self-guided via the Questo app)
See 3 moreSee 2 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

E Colorado Blvd & N Oak Knoll Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

85 East Holly Street
Pasadena, CA 91101, USA

You will finish at Pasadena Senior Center Public Art Einstein & Beyond.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Vroman's Bookstore

You will begin at Vroman’s Bookstore. Here you will be given your first clue to solve the challenge that awaits you, which will unlock the next part of the story and give you the directions to the next stop.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Star News

You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Pasadena Star-News Building. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

USC Pacific Asia Museum

You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Pacific Asia Museum. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

City of Pasadena City Hall

You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Pasadena City Hall. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

North Legge Alley

You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Legge Alley. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Russell's

You will be given a new clue to solve the challenge that awaits you at Russell’s. You can stop for as long as you like and continue exploring at your own pace.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Pasadena Memorial Park

You will finish at Pasadena Memorial Park. Here is where both the story and the city exploration games end.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Show 6 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Pasadena Spy Quest: Stop the Bomb (Einstein & Caltech)?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-107194P293

Traveler Photos

Reviews

3.40
5 reviews

Average 3.40 out of 5 stars based on 5 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
2
4 stars
0
3 stars
2
2 stars
0
1 star
1
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

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

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Report Product Issue

Activity name