Updated April 20th, 2021

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Tired of your usual date nights? Want to change things up a bit? It’s easy to stick to the same old dinner dates whether you are going on a third date or have been married for three years. There are so many things to do in Atlanta for couples other than your run of the mill dinner out. How about a mystery picnic in Atlanta!?

When I first heard about AmazingCo’s experiences I couldn’t have been more happy when I discovered their mystery picnic which involves exploring a new area, while solving clues to pick up delicious food. It sounded like this experience was created just for me with all my favorite activities combined into one! 

What is a Mystery Picnic?

A mystery picnic is a fun pre-planned date where you and your partner are given clues on your phone. The clues help you figure out where to pick up food. You make several stops around one neighborhood, adding a variety of different foods to your picnic basket. The final clue takes you to a spot to enjoy your beautiful picnic spread. Everything is included, you just need to show up and start solving the clues to find your food!

We chose the Midtown neighborhood of Atlanta for our mystery picnic. You can also go on a mystery picnic in nearby Roswell, Ellijay, Helen, Marietta or Dahlonega. I highly recommend a visit to Atlanta and the surrounding area, but if you aren’t in Atlanta you can still go on a mystery picnic! AmazingCo offers mystery picnics and other fun experiences in over 25 cities in the USA and more in Australia and the UK. New locations are always being added. 

7 Reasons to Go on a Mystery Picnic in Atlanta

#1: To Have a PrePlanned Romantic Experience

Like countless women I may have watched a few too many Disney movies and chick flicks and have visions of elaborate romantic gestures. I have yet to be serenaded outside of my window. *sigh* Don’t get me wrong, I have a wonderful boyfriend who spoils me daily and goes out of his way to do things for me. But once in awhile a person wants a surprise, right? Well that’s where a mystery picnic comes in! It’s a romantic experience, that neither partner needs to stress out and plan. Both people can enjoy the surprise together.

It’s a great way to connect with your partner. There are even conversation starters and questions on your phone to talk about during the picnic. And isn’t a picnic date with the Atlanta skyline in the background so romantic?? 

If you are looking for date ideas in Atlanta I would definitely give this a try! Whether you decide together with your partner or you book it as a surprise it will definitely be something new to do together. 

#2: Because it’s Easy

Both the preparation and the actual experience are easy. I love to plan, but it takes a lot of time. As I said above it’s nice sometimes not having to do a thing and still having a fun filled day. Ahead of time I relaxed knowing no planning was needed, but I wondered what we would need to do at each stop. 

Beforehand I was worried it would be strange walking into places and asking for food because we were on a mystery picnic, but all the places knew what we were doing. All we had to say is “we are on a mystery picnic” and every single person knew exactly what we were talking about. It felt kind of silly saying it, but it was also kind of fun like we were on a secret mission that only the restaurant workers and us knew about! 

#3: For the Clues

Not only is everything planned for you, the picnic is set up in a fun game like fashion, thus the ‘mystery’ part! Yes you could go around on your own and find places to pick up food. Not only would that include more work on your part to research places and come up with a route, but you would also miss out on the surprises and games. 

For each food spot you need to solve a clue to figure out where you are going next. The clues were actually fairly tricky. We needed to get an additional hint and do a bit of googling to figure them out. I thought not knowing where or what food we would be getting really added a lot to the day. 

#4: For the Delicious Food 

The mystery picnic is so much more than just the food, but let’s face it the food is important! All the food comes from local restaurants and food markets. Each of the restaurants and shops are rated highly and have delicious food. 

Except for one stop there isn’t a choice in what you are getting so make sure to list any allergies or dietary requirements when you are booking your picnic. You receive a good variety of foods though so you don’t need to worry about not getting food you like. Some of the foods you may receive are pictured above. The food may change and I don’t want to give away everything, but with all the food together it makes more than enough for a full meal for two people. 

I always have so much fun trying new places to eat. I’m currently on a mission to try as many places in Atlanta as possible. I loved having a lunch comprised of food from several different places instead of just one. 

#5: To Support Local Businesses

Along with trying local foods, you are supporting local businesses. Now more than ever it is important to support small businesses. Over the last year I have eaten food from over 70 Atlanta restaurants! Even with all the places I have been, I hadn’t been to every stop our clues took us. I enjoyed finding more local places to eat and buy food in the future. 

#6: Because it’s Outdoors & Safe

I am someone that needs to be out and about going new places and trying new things. It’s no surprise that I have felt down from time to time the past few months with all the closures and cancelled events. That’s why the mystery picnic is such a great idea. It’s a new activity, but it’s easy to distance yourself from others. Besides going inside at a couple of stops it is all outside. Several of the stops even have outdoor pick up stations.

#7: To Explore a New Neighborhood

You can choose a neighborhood or city you have never been before or you can choose an area you are familiar with and get to know it even better. Although I have spent quite a bit of time in Atlanta, I really haven’t done a whole lot in Midtown. It was fun to walk around and see more of the area both during and after the picnic. There are a lot of murals and a couple Tiny Doors in Midtown that you can find. Plus it is near many of the best places to walk in Atlanta. 

Midtown Mystery Picnic Information

Where

You receive the exact starting point in your first clue the day before your experience is scheduled.

Transportation

The closest MARTA stations to the starting point of the Midtown picnic are the Midtown Station and the Arts Center Transit Station. If you are driving you can park in the Virginia Highland neighborhood on one of the residential streets for free. You can also check the exact location and begin closer, but I won’t give that away!

You don’t need any public transportation or a car to get between the stops to pick up the food.

Walking

We walked about 4 miles total during the experience from our car parked in Virginia Highland, to all the stops, to the picnic spot and back to the car.

Time Needed

We started slightly after 11am and it was about 2pm when we arrived at our picnic location. We spent another leisurely hour eating, talking and trying out the conversation starters. 

What to Bring

Typically a picnic basket is provided at the first stop. Due to the current situation no reusable items are given, including the basket. You may want to bring a basket or bag to carry the food. Each place gave us food in a bag and one of them gave us a large bag so we ended up not needing the bag we brought. We also were given disposable cutlery, but you may want to bring a better knife for cutting bread or cheese.  

Schedule

Mystery Picnics are available every day. The start time is flexible, but they recommend you start by 11am on your chosen day. 

BOOK A MYSTERY PICNIC IN ATLANTA

Other AmazingCo Experiences

If at this point you are thinking, this sounds fun, but I don’t have a significant other….don’t worry you can either have a mystery picnic with a friend or try one of the other experiences geared towards families or friends. There’s also other experiences for couples. See all of AmazingCo’s experiences and book one in your city today! 

BOOK AN AMAZINGCO EXPERIENCE

More in Atlanta

ACTIVITIES

• 3 Day Itinerary
• Explore the Best Neighborhoods
• Festivals
• When to Visit
• Date Ideas

ART

• Tiny Doors
• Murals by Neighborhood

FOOD

• Casual Restaurants
• BeltLine Restaurants
• Brunch Restaurants
• Breakfast Restaurants
• BBQ
• Chicken and Waffles
• Donuts

OUTDOORS 

• Chattahoochee River Trails
• Places to Walk in Atlanta
• Most Walkable Neighborhoods
• Hiking Near Atlanta

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