They say Anderson, South Carolina holds secrets. Some are hidden in haunted houses. Others are on the football field. One is tucked away in a wintery escape room no one saw coming.

We didn’t set out to chase a mystery…
Five hours up the road, something was waiting for us. ⁴ It was a wild mix of fear and fun. There was also one frosty puzzle we barely escaped.

Let me take you on our trip. You will experience front-row football thrills and haunting encounters. See if you can solve the final riddle and claim your digital badge. 🧩✨

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🎃 Stop 1: Haunted by the Hype

We’d heard rumors…
Anderson was home to some of the scariest haunted houses in the South. And trust me, we’ve done our fair share of haunted strolls — but this? This felt different.

Our top pick? MADWORLD.

It wasn’t just a haunted house — it was an all-out terrifying playground. Actors popped out when you least expected it, and the houses were designed like movie sets. We laughed, we screamed, we ⁴ sprinted. Oh — and yes, we always go VIP fast-pass because those lines are no joke.

Food. Fire pits. Freaky photo ops. It was the kind of creepy-fun chaos that leaves you checking over your shoulder… and already planning next year’s trip.

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🏈 Stop 2: Front Row at the FSU vs. Clemson Showdown

Plot ⁸ twist: We were staying just 15 miles from Clemson.
You already know what happens when you’re married to an FSU superfan with family deep in the Florida State roots. We had to go. Shout out to my mother-in-law for scoring us front-row tickets behind the team! 🔥

It was Amaya and my first college game ever, and WHOA. The energy. The roar. The sea of orange and garnet.

Final moments:
FSU. 4 seconds left. Down by four.
They run a trick play at the 33-yard line… and fumble.
Clemson scoops it — TOUCHDOWN.
Final score: 20–30, Clemson wins.

We walked out surrounded by Clemson cheers, but honestly? We were still buzzing from the whole experience. Bucket-list-worthy.

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🥏 Stop 3: Rain, Chains, and Disc Golf Gains

We’re new to the disc golf life — and yes, we play even in the rain. 🌧️
Anderson surprised us with some beautiful courses. They were soggy. These courses challenged our throws. They also boosted our addiction to the sport. We didn’t get many pictures thanks to the weather, but trust: we laughed our way through the ¹⁴ mud.

Pro tip for fellow newbies: just embrace the chaos. Muddy shoes. Wild throws. Unexpected birdies. It’s all part of the fun.

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🎄 Final Stop: The Escape Room That Froze Time

And now…
the escape room that almost got us.

We chose one called Yuletide Magic — the site said it was cozy and festive. The site LIED.

Well… not really. It looked like Christmas cheer. Beneath the twinkly lights, it was filled with twists. There were codes and puzzles that chilled us to the core.

“It’s Christmas Eve. A snowstorm has stranded your guests. ⁹ If you don’t work some Yuletide Magic, Christmas is canceled — forever.”

Game time: 1 hour
Players: 4–8
Cost: $30 a ticket

Our 11-year-old was locked in from the moment the door closed. She led us to clue after clue, solving riddles like she was born for it. We each played our part. We crawled under tables. We spun holiday gadgets. We connected the dots that didn’t look like dots at all.

At 58 minutes, we cracked the final code.
The room lit up, and Christmas was saved.
WE ESCAPED.

Cue the celebration dance.

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Your Turn: The Final Puzzle

We experienced the wild. The weird. The wonderful.
Now it’s your turn.

🎯 Hidden ⁵ somewhere in this post is a code — your ticket to unlocking your Anderson Adventure Badge.

Can you piece together the clue?
It’s in plain sight… just like the truth.

🧩 Solve the puzzle.
🏅 Claim your badge.
💬 Drop your answer in the comments or DM me with “Escape 12 Complete.”

Let the games begin.

🔐 FINAL PUZZLE: THE ANDERSON CIPHER CHALLENGE

Somewhere in the blog above, you’ll notice bolded numbers. Example: ²¹ (We’ll place them intentionally in different sections to feel “natural.”)

Your task:
Match each number to its corresponding letter in the alphabet
(A = 1, B = 2, C = 3… Z = 26)

Put the letters together in the correct order to reveal the final secret code.

🎯 Final Clue & Farewell from Anderson

We enjoyed front-row seats at the FSU vs Clemson game. We also played rainy-day disc golf. The Christmas escape room nearly melted our brains. This trip gave us all the twists, turns, and “what just happened?” moments we could ask for.

But here’s the thing — every good adventure has one last test.

You’ve read the clues. You’ve uncovered the numbers. And now it’s your turn to crack the code.

The truth is hidden in plain sight.
Can you find it?

The next escape is already calling… You in? 🔐

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