Escape Room

Marietta, GA: ZEscape – The Cells

June 30, 2019 Brian Gondek 0

June 9, 2019 – We visited ZEscape as a last minute stop on the way back to Atlanta after visiting family in North Carolina.  Though I didn’t have much time to read up on the place, their website showed a few clever details that suggested the overall quality of the business.  ZEscape had both a 75 minute room and an asymmetrical versus room in which a British room and a Pirates room compete against each other to be the first out, with different but complementary puzzles in both rooms.  Both of these details suggested ZEscape didn’t follow a typical formula, […]

The Advent of VR (No Escape)

June 10, 2019 Brian Gondek 0

Originally conceived as video games, escape rooms only came into mainstream awareness when designers started making real-life versions.  Now the activity is coming full circle, with advances in virtual reality opening the door to new types of video games that work to combine the best of what both real world and video games do best.  It’s a really interesting space to explore, and the people at No Escape in Buffalo Grove & Aurora IL are at the forefront of testing these new digital frontiers. I visited both locations and tried multiple experiences with their different VR rigs, and I was […]

Missoula, MT: Big Sky Breakout – Through the Looking Glass

June 2, 2019 Brian Gondek 0

November 3, 2018 – Whenever Christina and I talk about unique room designs that are immediately eye-catching and memorable, Big Sky Breakout’s Through the Looking Glass room is one of the first that comes into the discussion.  The experience takes players through the disorienting world of Wonderland, and from the very start players are thrown into an otherworldly space and have to find their bearings.

Louisville, CO: Rabbit Hole Recreation Services – Paradox

May 20, 2019 Brian Gondek 0

May 11, 2019 – When it comes to escape rooms, I really dislike using the words “favorite” and “best.”  Trying to rate rooms against each other is harder than comparing apples and oranges (apples are objectively better, by the way).  But actions sometimes speak louder than words, and I will say this- Christina and I planned our trip to Denver around Rabbit Hole Recreation Services’ room #2, with literally nothing else planned on our trip.  That should say something about what we thought of the first room, Ruins of the Mystic Temple.

Silver Springs, MD: Big Escape Rooms – Outbreak

April 7, 2019 Brian Gondek 0

July 30, 2018 – I opened the day on a somewhat tight timetable, with goals to tackle escape rooms in Maryland, Virginia, and DC on the 30th, as well as to explore many of Washington’s incredible museums and monuments. The train to Silver Springs was out of commission, but thankfully it was easy enough to get to Silver Springs on a bus and walk to Big Escape Rooms.

St. Louis Rush

March 30, 2019 Brian Gondek 0

I mentioned it in a previous post, but last weekend, March 23-24, I took a very quick journey to St. Louis and back. Between the morning of March 23 and the afternoon of March 24, I solved nine escape rooms. Even for an enthusiast, it felt like a lot, but I have no regrets!

Newark, DE: Axxiom Escape Rooms – High School Mystery

March 19, 2019 Brian Gondek 0

July 29, 2018 – After staying just a bit too long in Philadelphia, I was on a tight timetable to solve an escape room in Delaware and catch a bus to Washington DC before the night’s end. Thankfully, Axxiom has a few conveniently placed locations along the nearby public transit routes, so we had an opportunity to complete the state.

Sioux Falls, SD: Escapades – RaPunzel’s Cottage

March 13, 2019 Brian Gondek 0

May 27, 2018 – At long last, I had reached the final point of my road trip through the midwest. Chicago to St. Louis to Kansas City to Tulsa to Omaha to Sioux Falls, all before heading back to Chicago. My poor car had to get back to back oil changes with the mileage I put on it. But it was well worth it- both Escapades and the town of Sioux Falls were extremely memorable.

Snowy Trek: Do or Die

March 3, 2019 Brian Gondek 0

No, this post title isn’t an Antarctica-themed escape room. It’s a summary of my weekend. Christina and I hit the road right after work Friday and headed north, despite warnings of a serious snowstorm.

Omaha, NE: Get Out Omaha – Y2K

February 25, 2019 Brian Gondek 1

May 27, 2018 – I had a magical day on the way to Get Out Omaha. My route took me through a few small town south of Omaha, one of which (Plattsmouth) required a journey across a long, narrow toll bridge meant for only one car at a time. I grabbed a late breakfast at Mom’s Cafe in town, trying an omelet with gravy (very different!)