Don't tell the birthday honoree that his surprise is a trip or he may find the clues too easy and guess the destination. Instead, begin by giving him clues that the gift is a trip. If the birthday honoree is a child, start simply by using a model car, camper or plane to provide a clue that the gift is a trip. If the honoree is an adult, make the clues more difficult to guess. For example, give him a framed poem about travel, a membership to a roadside assistance club or a book of maps.
The next clue should offer a hint about the place. An obvious hint for a child can be a lei or a small ukulele for Hawaii or a destination in the South Pacific, or a stuffed toy of a well-known theme park mascot to indicate a trip to an amusement park. A clue for an adult can be a small scrapbook of postcards with the information that identifies the destination removed, or a gift of a product that the destination is famous for, such as a bottle of green chilies for a trip to New Mexico.
If your trip includes a special event, give her clues about the event as well. Give a child a toy fishing rig to hint that he will be fishing, for instance, or a swimsuit for a beach vacation. Give an older child or adult a CD to hint about a concert or a compass to indicate a hiking or camping trip. Make the hint more difficult, if you prefer, such as giving her a labeled picture of a rare species found only in at the destination.
Give the birthday honoree the clues directly, or put them where he will find them. If you place them around the house or at work for him to find, make sure that it is in an area where he will see them within a few hours. If he misses a clue, the treasure hunt may not make sense and he won't be able to put the clues together well enough to guess the surprise.
