Welcome back to Uniquely Mixed, where puzzles, adventures, and a whole lot of laughter come standard.
If you’re new here — hey friend! Grab your decoder ring and jump in. We’re on a mission to escape rooms across the country, one family memory at a time.
How It All Started
About three years ago, we played our first escape room — and just like that, I was hooked.
What began as a curious family activity quickly became a full-on tradition. Every trip to a new state means trying to escape from a brand new room.
Every trip to a new state = a brand new room to try and escape.
Lucky for me, the fam caught the bug too!
One of our most memorable adventures was Escape #4 in Gatlinburg, where the entrance alone had us wide-eyed. The room was decked out like a movie set. You instantly know, this is going to be epic. That moment set the bar for every room since.
Birthday Girl in the Game
After conquering the Atlantis room, our big girl Amaya was officially on board.
At first, like most beginners, she wandered a bit — unsure where to start or how it all worked. But once she found her first clue? Game on. The thrill of piecing puzzles together lit her up, and now she’s become one of our strongest players. She walks into rooms ready to go: flipping, searching, solving — a natural puzzler in the making.
So when Amaya asked to do an escape room for her 13th birthday, you already know I was beyond excited. I thought she’d pick the trampoline park… but nope — my girl wanted puzzles and codes.
Let the Party Begin!
She invited three of her friends. She chose The Playground room. It is perfect for a group of teens ready to celebrate with fun and adventure.
Since the room required an adult, I happily joined their mission.
At first, the girls were a little shy, unsure of what to touch or do. In five minutes, they were flipping cushions. They were opening drawers and lighting up the room with laughter and excitement.
There were secret doors, slides, and even arcade-style games that popped up mid-room. The puzzles started clicking, and soon they found their groove.
Of course, as every escapee knows… the groove always hits a snag.
One puzzle didn’t lead clearly to the next, and we hit a wall.
That’s when our awesome game master came in clutch. They provided a perfectly timed hint. This hint helped us get back on track.
Almost There…
We made it so close — just two puzzles away from victory! But more than escaping, the goal was fun. And these girls had a blast.
They even asked to play another room right after.
(Safe to say we’ve got some new escape room fans in the making.)
Pizza, Icees, & Birthday Magic
After the escape, the girls got two hours of jumping, laughing, and celebrating with pizza and Icees. It was the perfect mix of mental challenge and energetic fun.
Amaya’s 13th birthday was a huge success, and this escape made it unforgettable.
🧩 UNLOCK FRIDAY: Puzzle – Bounce Back 🎉
Solve the riddle to claim the badge!
🔐 Riddle: Up, Down, All Around
I’m not a floor, but you can stand,
I launch you up, but not by hand.
I’m full of spring, yet not a bloom,
I live where cheers and giggles zoom.I’m round or square, with netted walls,
A favorite place for birthday brawls.
For flips and tricks, I am the scene—
So jump on in… what’s the machine?
🗝️ What am I?
💬 To get your Birthday Playground Pro Badge:
DM us the answer on Instagram
🎂 Escape Room Recap
Escape #15: The Playground
📍 Location: Jacksonville, FL
👧 Players: Amaya + 3 friends (and Mom!)
🧩 Room Highlights: Secret doors, slides, arcade games
⏳ How Far We Got: 2 puzzles away from escaping
🍕 Post-Game Party: Trampoline park, pizza, Icees
🏅 Badge Earned: The Birthday Playground Pro
Uniquely Mixed 