Boost Team Morale With These 6 Activities
Here at Monterey Bay Food Tours, we’re all about fun activities that bring people closer together. Every so often, something brings a group of people together that either creates a memory, challenges us in some way, or does something to strengthen the bond between a group of people. Fortunately, Monterey is chalk-full of activities that are perfect for corporate events or a night out with a group of your favorite people.
Keep reading to see our list of options, and let us know your thoughts and options in the comments!
Exodus Escape Room
Looking for a way to put your brains together and creatively work toward solving a murder case? Well, look no further than the Sherlock Holmes room at the Exodus Escape Room on Lighthouse Avenue. This is a great option for a team building event! It’s got fun, it’s got mystery, it requires skill and teamwork, and the end result makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something, which can be a great booster of morale.
If murder mysteries aren’t your thing, but you’re just as interested in “busting” someone for a heist, you can also check out their Masquerade — Jewel Heist room. This, however, requires a little more skill and has a higher level of difficulty, so depending on who you’re with or what you’re trying to do, it may be a bit more “serious” than “fun.”
Escape Room 831 also offers five other escape room options, including an Alice in Wonderland theme and a time travel theme.
Jake Gives Back with Carmel Honey Company
We gave a shout-out to the Jake Gives Back program when we discussed the Carmel Honey Company and its foundation through 17-year-old Jake Reisdorf, but we think it’s worth mentioning again for those who seek a little more education behind their team-building activities. There’s a lot that goes into beekeeping, as we learned when we interviewed him, and with almost 60,000 bees per hive, there’s a lot to learn about how to handle them!
Be sure to check out his speaking options, because there’s a lot to learn about these insects! This is also a great option for teachers looking for a more interactive experience. Also, those of you joining us on our Local Seafood Tour may just be lucky enough to meet and hear Jake speak for yourself.
InterContinental Experiences
Image courtesy of InterContinental Clement Monterey
If you’re from out of town, you should first look into booking your rooms at the InterContinental Clement Monterey. Whether you stay there or not, they’ve got some killer group activities that are sure to blow your socks off. Not only do you get to enjoy a stunning view of one of the most incredible bays in the world (okay, fine, we’re biased,) but you’ve also got a wide array of activities to choose from to make the night extra special!
Want to throw down on some spicy food and put in your recipe for salsa? Try the Salsa Showdown. Want to become mixologists for the night? Let them teach you. How about a barbecue, right on the bay? No one’s stopping you. You can even play bocce ball with Italian cuisine, or have an interactive s’mores class. No matter which way you go, we’re certain you won’t regret it.
Cooking Classes with Happy Girl Kitchen
Looking to not only eat, but learn a few cooking tricks while you’re at it? We love all the products from Happy Girl Kitchen, which you know if you’ve ever joined us on our Old Monterey Food Tour. To top it all off, they’ve got a great, consistent selection of cooking workshops that are well worth checking out.
You can learn how to make vegan sandwiches and spreads. Attend a culinary camp. Learn about plant-based cooking, all the ways you can prepare different citruses, crafting locally-inspired marmalades… really, their options are endless. Their recipes also focus on local ingredients, and the classes are a fun and relaxed way to socialize (and, of course, eat.)
Also, be sure to join us on our Old Monterey Food Tour to sample some of their products at the Joseph Boston Store.
The Wine Experience
Want to add some alcohol to liven up your group activity? We love The Wine Experience, and not just because it’s an excellent tasting room — you also get to create your own wine! They offer a private, hands-on wine blending course that provides guidance and instruction on creating your own, unique blend with the base wines offered. Personalized wine for everyone? We can’t think of a better way to bond! Plus, you can have small competitions and blind tests to determine the best blend, and also craft and design your own custom label.
On top of that, they offer other courses and classes, including one that teaches you how to taste like a pro (perhaps that will help with the blind test?). If you’ve got a staff (or a group of at least ten) that loves wine, don’t pass up an opportunity to create a memory at The Wine Experience. Be sure to join us on our Local Seafood Tour to taste them for yourself!
Painte Studio Gallery
Creativity is one of the best forms of bonding, and the Painte Studio Gallery certainly delivers a night of imagination-driven fun. The general classes offer instructional painting over a two-to-three hour period and cover a wide variety of themes. If a specific class isn’t really your thing, there are also open paint nights, which let you paint something they’ve sketched without any instruction.
This is a great option for a private event, because they can also come to you if you’re in a bind on travel. We know from experience, at least, that the painting your dog instructional class is well worth it, and it’s the best option on the list for a relaxed, creative experience.
BONUS: Monterey Bay Food Tours
Of course, you could always join us on one of our tours, as well!
We offer our original Old Monterey Food Tour that explores the history and food around Downtown Monterey.
We’ve also just opened our Local Seafood Tour that showcases various Cannery Row highlights and eateries.
On Halloween, we offered a Haunted Monterey Tour that’s always an option, especially for those looking for a night tour.
And, best of all, apart from the three that we offer to the general public, we also offer completely customizable and private events, as well. Those events can incorporate team building activities and games. If you can dream it, we can do it, so be sure to book for an event now.
