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It’s a breezy fall day in San Francisco’s Presidio — and the hunt is on.
A group of four co-workers is tasked with naming two three-letter words that sound alike and start with the same letter – and the first word is something hardcore animal lovers don’t like other people wearing. It takes a few tries before they hit on “fur.”
And what word sounds exactly like fur? “Fir!” Yes, the evergreen.
Believe it or not, fur-fir offers the exact clue necessary to decode a map of the military base-turned-national park – and that map leads to a memorial with vital information for solving yet another puzzle. The group scampers off.
Meanwhile, in another part of San Francisco, hunters are puzzling out what eccentric publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst had in common with even-more-eccentric Bavarian King Ludwig II. No spoilers – but the solution leads to a secret alley offering a surprising and dramatic view of Coit Tower. Who knew?
Welcome to the fun of scavenger hunts – active, adventurous, brain-challenging games that encourage people to explore San Francisco and its famous neighborhoods, as well as museums, parks and other cultural, historic and scenic Bay Area destinations.
Whether you call them scavenger hunts, treasure hunts or “urban sleuthing adventures,” these cryptic treks have become increasingly popular in the last decade or so. They appeal to locals who want to play tourist in their own Bay Area backyards – but who want to do something more original and more hands-on and engaging than just hopping on a red sightseeing bus with a bunch of tourists.
It’s an activity for groups of players – friends celebrating a birthday or an upcoming wedding, families enjoying a reunion or, increasingly, co-workers finding a way to connect, laugh and collaborate outside the workplace. Professional game designers arm the merry hunters with maps and a series of puzzles to solve, either on paper or on apps they can download to their phones.
“I’ve worked for years as a private investigator, and I have always been interested in local history, urban topography and exploring the urban environment,” says Jayson Wechter, who owns San Francisco Treasure Hunts. “I also loved playing games with friends when I was growing up. I love showing people undiscovered parts of San Francisco and having them get that ah-ha moment of solving a puzzle or mystery.”
Wechter says he first began creating hunts in San Francisco’s Chinatown more than 30 years ago. He still organizes an annual Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt for the public – the next will be Feb. 8 – with ticket sales that benefit a local arts organization. And his hunts in the city’s Financial District or North Beach lead people to unexpected spots, that hidden Coit Tower viewpoint, for example, or an alley that houses the city’s tiniest bookstore.
The pro puzzle business began as a hobby for Dan Kleiber, of Mr. Treasure Hunt, but he soon realized he could turn the hunts into a fun side business, while he worked in banking. Kleiber now runs Mr. Treasure Hunt adventures full time, hosting more than 200 hunts a year, mostly for corporate clients looking to offer team-building activities for employees.
It’s the puzzles, exploration and teamwork that appeal to him – and the teamwork aspect is especially appealing to corporate clients, including major tech firms like Facebook and Google. Kleiber says companies see valuable morale-building benefits in letting employees get outdoors, work together in small groups and think in ways they don’t get to while looking at screens. Kleiber organized a hunt for 50 Facebook employees in the Presidio in November, for example, that took them to the Korean War Memorial.
“The Presidio is a great spot for learning and experiencing history!” he says.
It also doesn’t hurt that participants can enjoy some healthy competition, as their teams vie to be the first to solve the clues and finish the hunt.
Corporate clients are a mainstay for Josh Zipin’s Handstand hunts, too, but his company was actually inspired by the ways he and his friends liked to play when they got together.
“We were a group of friends who enjoyed going on adventures together – running, backpacking, biking and taking advantage of all the Bay Area has to offer,” Zipin says. “We realized that we were becoming much closer friends doing these adventures together.”
Like S.F. Treasure Hunts, Handstand hosts major public hunts in San Francisco – including one on Valentine’s Day and a larger, day-long San Francisco Hunt which will take place May 2. Last year’s San Francisco Hunt drew 600 people of all ages who explored locations throughout the city on foot, by bike and via public transportation. For added fun, participants were encouraged to upload photos of themselves posing at their destinations.
The San Francisco Hunt combines everything that makes for a memorable day, Zipin says: “There’s the physical challenge of walking or biking, combined with the challenge of figuring out how to get around the city, with the intellectual stimulation of solving riddles and problems. Finally there is the adventure of seeing new places and learning new stories about the place around you.”
Join the hunt
S.F. Treasure Hunts: Former private investigator Jayson Wechter offers hunts throughout San Francisco, including the Exploratorium, as well as Angel Island, Oakland, San Jose, Palo Alto and Wine Country. His annual Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt will be Feb. 8. Tickets (priced at $15-$60 last year) go on sale in January. Find details at www.sftreasurehunts.com
Mr. Treasure Hunt: Dan Kleiber designs hunts for various San Francisco locations, including museums such as the de Young and the California Academy of Sciences and the San Francisco Zoo. His hunts also explore Stanford University, Yountville wine country and downtown Walnut Creek, Burlingame, Santa Rosa and Half Moon Bay; www.mrtreasurehunt.com.
Handstand: The company designs custom hunts for corporate clients and groups that can be downloaded to participants’ smart phones and that can take place in San Francisco and other parts of the Bay Area, as well as Los Angeles, Seattle and Washington, D.C. The annual San Francisco Hunt is scheduled for May 2. Ticket prices for 2020 have not been set yet, but last year’s were $53; https://handstandwith.us.
