In the most basic sense, why do people go on vacation, anyway? Sometimes, it’s to experience something new. For others, it’s a means to escape for a bit: a day, a few days, or a week.

Escape rooms provide both for their fervent fans. These activities, which lock a group of people in a themed room and challenge them to find clues, solve puzzles, and get out of the room (typically within an hour), have been all the rage since a Japanese company introduced them to the US in 2012. And with an estimated 1,800 rooms in all fifty states, you’re sure to find one close to home—making them a great activity to enjoy during your staycation.

These adventures are especially appealing because they all have different themes, difficulty levels, and backstories, so you’re sure to find one that suits your interests. Here are just a few examples of inventive escape rooms that will transport you to another place and time during your staycation.

• Escape Ship | Norfolk, Virginia

  nauticus.org/escapeship

  Set inside the World War II battleship USS Wisconsin are a pair of escape rooms, including one that traps you in the captain’s quarters. (As a staycation bonus, scavenger hunts are also offered on the ship.)

• Amaze Escape | Arlington, Massachusetts

  amazeescape.com

  Have you ever wondered what it was like to break out of jail? Here’s your chance, with this adventure that features real jail cells as settings.

• Escape the 1980s | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  steelowl.com/the-game

  The name says it all: time-travel back to a four-room mini-mall, where you have to use items like Atari and Cabbage Patch Kids to find clues. Radical!

• The Basement | Los Angeles, California

  thebasementla.com

  A trilogy of sorts, the Basement features three rooms for the 18-or-older crowd that are based on the same theme: escaping the clutches of a serial killer.

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