Upsides to the Down Economy/ Tropic Hunt

I LOVE the Tropic Hunt! The crazy scavenger/mental cruelty game of wits takes place in downtown Miami this Sunday with a Holiday "Bizarre Bazaar" theme. I've been participating in the Hunt since 1985 (when I was pregnant with my daughter AJ). Back in those days, the clues took you to different locations that you had to drive to and so, if you got the wrong answer you were really sent on a wild goose chase (kind of like The Amazing Race). I'm not sure if there was a fatality or traffic violations occuring, but eventually they changed the Hunt to take place in one central location in the Miami area. Consequently, I've "Hunted" in Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Coral Gables and Downtown Miami. All have been fun, exhausting, mentally challenging and a great way to check out different neighborhoods. And, of course, completely free (unless you buy a T-shirt). People hunt in teams, but only four can win the final prize (usually a cruise). One year we only solved one clue, another year we solved all four before getting stumped by the final clue. (Damn that coffin on the phone!) Personally, I don't even think a dream team of Albert Einstien, Bill Gates, Steven Hawking and Marilyn vos Savant (genius lady in Parade) could come up with some of the solutions to these hunts. Dave Barry himself admits he'd never figure it out if he hadn't (along with Tom Shroeder) demonically thought them up. BUT that's not the point. It's fun, it's free and it's going to be great weather to be out and about with friends pretending like you're Nancy Drew. So Alert Hunters, see you there!