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Secrets of SoMa Treasure Hunt: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)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. If you must drive, there is street parking South of Market, and garages at the Embarcadero Center.
Q. When does the hunt begin and end?
A. Ticket sales will begin at 12:00 noon. We will begin exchanging tickets for clue materials at 12:30, and the hunt will begin at 1:00. The hunt will end at 5:00 p.m., which is the deadline for submitting scoresheets back at Justin Herman Plaza. If you return after 5:00 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 5:00 p.m., followed by an explanation of the clues. A list of the clue locations will be distributed at 5:00 p.m., and the clue locations and solutions will be posted on this website soon afterwards. Team standings will also be posted on the Sftreasurehunts.com website.
Q. Do I need to be familiar with San Francisco or its history 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. 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.
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.
Q.Why should I buy a ticket in advance ?
A. The hunt could sell out in advance, as the Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt usually does. You can avoid disappointment by buying your ticket soon and save time waiting on line to buy a ticket at the hunt site.
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 the treasure hunt information line, 415-564-9400. If tickets are available the day of the hunt, they will be more expensive: $30 per person, compared to $25 before August 1.
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.
Q. What is the difference between the Regular and Master's hunts?
A. The Regular Hunt does not require extensive familiarity with the playing area or with San Francisco history. Many of the clues in this hunt will be easy, but a few will be challenging.
Master's Hunt clues are more challenging, designed for veteran treasure hunters. It may require familiarity with the playing area and with San Francisco history. However, there is less competition in this category.
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.
Q. How many people can I have on my team?
A. Four to nine players per team is the accepted range. Five or 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. 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. 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 an internet link, you might consider competing in the Master's Hunt.
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.
Q. What are the prizes?
A. The first place teams receive a cake, a bottle of champagne, and an award certificate. The second and third place teams each receive a bottle of champagne and an award certificate.
The Secrets of SoMa Treasure Hunt