If you are looking for a fun and unique holiday event for the entire family to enjoy, this is it! Element of Escape is the newest escape room to open in Bradenton, and they are currently offering a holiday-themed escape room, The Night Before Christmas. This room is guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit. Many of the escape rooms I have been in before tend to have a sinister backstory such as a robbery or breaking out of jail, so I really liked the bright and "homey" atmosphere of this room. The room was decorated with garland and holiday décor, ugly Christmas sweaters, ties and hats adorned the walls, there was a Christmas tree with presents underneath it and stockings were hung by the chimney with care. There was even Christmas music playing in the background! 
I had invited two other couples to join my husband and I, but I think this room also would have been great to do with my family. While many of the other escape rooms I have been to claim to be family friendly, this was the first one that I could totally see my 9-year-old loving. Solving all the puzzles in the room was tough (think math, patterns and logic) and we definitely needed the extra hints that were provided to us via a large screen in the room. If you do chose to bring your children, the staff will provide more hints to help them a little bit more. I'm happy to report that we did solve the mystery of the disappearance of Santa and Christmas was saved in time, with just a little more than 8 minutes left to go.
Besides this room, there are currently two other themed rooms which sound super fun!
Hotel California
The hotel closed for unknown reasons in the 1930s and someone just purchased the untouched hotel. Your great grandfather was reporting on the hotel disappearances when he went missing himself many years ago. You are intrigued so you head in to investigate yourself. When you arrive they let you inside but they are set to knock the hotel down in one hour. Can you gather the evidence left behind by your grandfather and escape before the demolition is slated to begin?
The Heist
The Venetia Diamond is one of the rarest and most valuable gems in the world. It is going up on display in your city’s museum. Through a source you have heard that the museum curator has plans of his own for the diamond. You and your team of thieves can’t bear to stand someone else cashing in on a diamond as precious as this. Can you and your covert team of thieves escape with the Venetia Diamond before the curator can put his own plan into action?
The owners, Tom and Katy, opened Element of Escape just a couple of weeks ago. They loved doing escape rooms so much that they decided to open up one of their own! They currently have the three rooms listed above but will be switching them out over time. If you want to try out the Night Before Christmas room you better hurry - it will be ending mid-January and a "date night" room will be taking its place.
I'm so excited that Element of Escape is now open! Their hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 5PM to 10PM, Friday from 5PM to 11PM and Saturday from 12PM to 11PM. They are closed on Sunday and Wednesday. Find them on Facebook HERE.
Advance reservations are strongly encouraged although walk-ins are accepted. Reservations can be made by calling Element of Escape at 941-254-1806 or by booking online HERE. When you make your reservation, be sure to use my discount code MACARONIKID10 and get 10% off each reservation!
Maximum occupancy per room is 8 people. If you do not have 8 people you may be booked with other people in the same room, but the more people, the better - and more fun - it is!
I love escape rooms and I'm super excited to have found one that I can share with my kids. Element of Escape offers unique rooms that are appropriate for the whole family, or you can make a fun night out of it with your friends, co-workers or significant other. It also is a great venue for teambuilding events and parties.
Element of Escape is located at 1007 Manatee Avenue E in downtown Bradenton. It is a close enough drive to Old Main Street that we started out our "date night" with dinner at one of the many trendy restaurants on Main Street, then did the Escape Room and then headed back downtown for some late night drinks. It made for the perfect night out and I can't wait to try out the other rooms.
* I received complimentary admission for the purpose of this review. All opinions stated are my own.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOBBI BRENDEL WHO WON TICKETS FOR HERSELF AND UP TO 7 OF HER FRIENDS TO EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE ROOMS AT ELEMENT OF ESCAPE!
