San Francisco Treasure Hunts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

BEFORE WE BEGIN...

Q. WHAT IS THIS YEAR’S ANIMAL?
2012 is the Year of the Dragon.

TIMES, DATES AND PLACES

Q. HOW DO I GET TO THE MEETING SITE AT JUSTIN HERMAN PLAZA?
A. Justin Herman Plaza is located at the foot of Market Street at the Embarcadero, just behind the Hyatt Regency Hotel. It is just across the street from the Ferry Building.
You can take BART or Muni to the Embarcadero Station. Taking public transit is an excellent idea, because parking may be difficult. If you must drive, there are parking garages at Embarcadero Center, and at various locations South of Market.
Q. WHEN DOES THE HUNT BEGIN AND END?
A. Will Call opens at 3:00 pm to pick up pre-purchased tickets; At 3:30 p.m. we are open for players to exchange tickets for hunt materials, and the hunt should start by 4:30 p.m. The hunt officially ends at 9:00 p.m., which is the deadline for submitting scoresheets back at Justin Herman Plaza. If you return after 9:00 p.m., we'll accept your scoresheet, but you won't be eligible to win.
The winners will be announced as soon as possible after 9:00 p.m., followed by an explanation of the clues. A list of the clue locations will be distributed at 9:00 p.m., and the clue locations and solutions will be posted on this website on the day after the hunt. Team standings will be posted on the website several days later.
You don't have to remain at Justin Herman Plaza unless you think you won. And your team need not return to Justin Herman Plaza at all unless you want to submit your scoresheet to see if you’ve won. If you’re less competitive, or too tired or hungry to rush back to Justin Herman Plaza by the 9:00 p.m. deadline, then don’t! We won't rat on you.

REQUIREMENTS

Q. DO I NEED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH SAN FRANCISCO TO PLAY?
A. No. Common sense, and the ability to work effectively as a team are more important. Clues often involve references to popular culture, the arts, science or history, and most of them can be solved through intelligent use of the map and street index which you will receive.
Q. WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
A. A flashlight, a ruler, comfortable footwear and perhaps layered clothes, and maybe something to eat and drink during the hunt. For possible help in solving clues, a San Francisco telephone book could come in handy. In the past, folks have brought reference works like dictionaries, almanacs, and guidebooks. Strongly recommended: a clipboard or piece of foamcore for your answer sheets (9-1/2”x11”)
Q. I’M NOT VERY COMPETITIVE. WILL I STILL ENJOY THE HUNT?
A. Every team should set a pace they feel comfortable with. Some folks stop for refreshments. Others play for a couple of hours, then go and enjoy a leisurely dinner. It's up to you.

TICKETS »» order now

Q.WHY SHOULD I BUY A TICKET IN ADVANCE?
A. The Hunt may sell out in advance (the Beginner Division usually does). You can avoid disappointment by buying your ticket soon and save time waiting on line to pick them up at the hunt site. If you purchase before February 10th, you will receive a ticket by mail. If you purchase tickets on or after February 10th, there will be a Will Call table at the Hunt where you can pick up your tickets. If you want to enter the contest for best team name, you must purchase your tickets by February 6th.
Q. IF I DON'T BUY A TICKET IN ADVANCE, CAN I STILL SHOW UP?
A. Only if there are tickets available. You can find out if tickets are available the day of the hunt by checking this website, or by calling Trilogy Ticketing at 925-866-9599 or the treasure hunt information line, 415-564-9400 (we won’t be returning calls the day of the hunt). If tickets are available the day of the hunt, they will be more expensive: $40 per person, compared to $30 through January 31st, or $35 from Feb 1st until 4:00 PM, Feb 17th.
Q. WHAT DOES A TICKET ENTITLE ME TO?
A. Your ticket for the Beginner’s, Regular, Thinks Faster Than Runs, or Master’s hunt reserves you a spot in that hunt, and a clue packet. It’s like having a guaranteed seat for a performance.
Q. WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY TICKET?
A. Our excellent ticketing agency, Trilogy Productions, will mail tickets soon after your order is received. Tickets orders received after Feb 9th at 4:00 PM will be held at Will Call.
Q. IF I BUY A TICKET AND CANNOT ATTEND THE HUNT, WHAT HAPPENS?
A. Tickets are non-refundable. You're free to sell or give your ticket to someone else. Or you can donate the ticket back to the event.
Q. WHAT IF I LOSE MY TICKET?
A. Please don’t! You'll need your ticket to get a clue package.

For all other ticket and event-related questions, call 925-866-9599.

TEAMS AND DIVISIONS

Q. I WANT TO PLAY, BUT I DON'T HAVE A FULL TEAM.
A. There is a special area set aside at the meeting site for folks who want to link up with others to form teams. It will be marked with signs - FORM TEAMS HERE. It's a great way to meet new people. We will try to facilitate everyone joining a team, and matching up people who have similar approaches to doing the hunt, from highly competitive to interested and laid-back.
Q. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO MIGHT WANT TO JOIN MY TEAM, BUT THEY'RE NOT SURE YET. WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS?
A. You can purchase tickets for your friends, to guarantee them a place in the hunt. If they decide not to attend, you can sell the tickets to someone else on the day of the hunt. If they wait until the day of the hunt, tickets may not be available. They can check this website or call 925-866-9599 to check on ticket availability for the day of the hunt.
Q. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BEGINNER’S, REGULAR, THINKS FASTER THAN WALKS AND MASTER’S HUNTS?
Beginner’s Hunt
The Beginner’s Hunt is best for first-time treasure hunters. It features less difficult clues leading to different locations than Regular and Master’s hunters. If you have won the Beginner’s Hunt, you must advance up to the Regular Hunt. If you solved all the clues in the Beginner’s Hunt, we urge you to register for the Regular Hunt.
Regular Hunt.
The Regular Hunt is good if you have done the Beginner’s Hunt before, are more familiar with the hunt area, or want a bit more of a challenge. Regular Hunt clues are usually only moderately more challenging than those in the Beginner’s Hunt. If you have won the Regular's Hunt, you must advance up to the...
Thinks Faster Than Runs Hunt

The Thinks Faster Than Runs Hunt features Regular Hunt clues, but teams in this category will be competing against one another in a smaller and flatter playing area rather than against all the Regular Hunt teams. Separate prizes will be awarded to the top teams in this category.

Master’s Hunt.
Master’s Hunt clues are more obscure and challenging, and require familiarity with the playing area. However, there is less competition in this category, which usually draws only a dozen teams.
Q. DOES A TEAM HAVE TO SOLVE ALL THE CLUES TO WIN?
A. No. If no one solves all sixteen clues, then the first team turning in a scoresheet with fifteen correct answers wins. In some hunts, teams have won having solved only thirteen or fourteen clues.
Q. IS THE HUNT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?
A. Very much so, but only you can decide whether your youngsters will tolerate the noise and crowds present throughout much of the hunt. Kids have great fun, and are excellent at finding the tokens hidden at many of the sites; they often think to look places where adults would not.

RULES CLARIFICATION

Q. HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN I HAVE ON MY TEAM?
A. Four to nine players per team is the accepted range. Four to six is probably best. The larger the team, the more difficult it is to stay together. You must be within sight and earshot of your teammates at all times. This means that you cannot be spread out over a distance of more than thirty or forty feet.
Q. WHAT IF ONE PERSON ON MY TEAM RUNS AHEAD OF EVERYONE ELSE?
A. That is a violation of the rules. It also diminishes the fun of the hunt for the rest of the team. Everyone wants a chance to see specific objects or landmarks the clue referred to, and to search for the hidden letters. When one or two players run ahead and find the letters before the others arrive, it cheats folks of this sense of satisfaction. The "treasure" in this hunt is finding the unusual locations the clues lead to.
Q. CAN I CALL A FRIEND WHO IS AT HOME, AND ASK THEM TO DO RESEARCH TO HELP ME SOLVE A CLUE?
A. You can use resources which exist independently of the treasure hunt, such as bookstores, libraries, the internet, etc. You cannot arrange to have someone assist your team (by doing research, for instance) who is not physically present, because they would be functioning as a member of your team, and team must stay together.
Q. CAN I USE A CELLULAR PHONE, LAPTOP COMPUTER, AND OTHER GADGETS?
A. Yes, but if you're using a laptop, smartphone or other internet link, you probably ought to be competing in the Regular or Master's hunts. If you have an iPhone, get the cnyth app!
Q. WHAT IF SOMEONE ON MY TEAM DECIDES TO LEAVE DURING THE HUNT?
A. That's fine. Once they leave, they cannot continue to assist you in going to clue sites.
Q. WHAT IF SOMEONE GETS LOST?
A. They can rejoin your team later, but they cannot play on their own.

PRIZES AND SCORES

Q. WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?
A. The first place teams in each division receive a cake in the shape of a key, a bottle of champagne, and an award certificate. The second, third, fourth and fifth place teams each receive a bottle of champagne and an award certificate. See the Prizes & Team Scores page for more information about awards for the cleverest team names, best costumes and other prizes. We also award raffle prizes (San Francisco maps and guidebooks, DVDs and other fun items) before the hunt begins.
Q. CAN WE FIND OUT HOW WE DID WHEN WE TURN IN OUR SCORESHEET?
A. Probably not. The winners will be announced as soon as possible after the 9:00 pm deadline, once the scoresheets are tabulated (no recounts or resorting to the judiciary!). Scores will also be posted on this website, on the Team Scores pages.