Are you looking for things to do in San Francisco? Our Fisherman’s Wharf scavenger hunt is a 3-hour self-guided walking tour with challenges that takes you through Russian Hill and North Beach!
See all the major sites, as well as a few hidden gems. Moreover, face challenges and riddles and also discover much local history.
However, this activity is not wheelchair accessible nor is it an easy stroll. San Francisco comprises over 40 hills, 3 of which are on this hunt’s itinerary. You will be going up and down hills, a few of which have staircases instead of sidewalks.
If you feel up to the challenges then we definitely welcome you aboard this adventure!
On your Fisherman’s Wharf scavenger hunt you will see:
- Fishermans Wharf
- Maritime Museum
- Ghirardelli Square
- Russian Hill Park
- Lombard Street
- San Francisco Art Institute
- Washington Square
- Coit Tower
- USS Pampanito
We visited San Francisco together in 2017 and have been here in the past as well.
- Starting Location: in front of the World Famous Fishermans Wharf Sign, 2820 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
- Distance: 5km / 3.1mi (up and down hills)
- Time: 3-4 hours
- Method: Walking, you will walk up at least 3 hills.
- Needed:
- a fully charged smartphone with internet access is necessary.
- Suggested:
- Bottled water
- A local street map
San Francisco was founded in 1776. That will make it 250 years old in 2026!
The original founders of San Francisco were Spanish colonists who established themselves at the Presidio. However, that is the location of another upcoming Scavenger Hunt! The California Gold Rush of 1849 brought rapid growth to San Francisco. Consequently, San Francisco rapidly consolidated itself as a city-county in 1856.
Three-quarters of the city was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire., however, San Francisco was quickly rebuilt. Did you know this city was the birthplace of the United Nations Organization back in 1945? After WWII, returning servicemen who mixed with massive immigration and liberalizing attitudes gave way to the rise of the “hippie” counterculture. Ultimately, this kick-started the sexual revolution in America. It also launched the peace movement during the Vietnam War.
The Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood has plenty of sights to see: Pier 39, the Musée Mécanique, Ghirardelli Square, Madame Tussauds’, the Aquarium by the Bay, the Maritime National Historical Park, the Maritime Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, USS Pampanito, Coit Tower, SS Jeremiah O’Brien, Museum of Vision and plenty of shops and restaurants.
Film Fact: The SS Jeremiah O’Brien was used as a set for the engine room in the film Titanic (1997).
Afterward, the Russian Hill neighborhood immediately to the south will also present you with a few familiar sights. Here you will see the twisty Lombard Street and the San Francisco Art Institute. Finally, crossing into North Beach you will walk up Telegraph Hill to see Coit Tower and discover a few other wonderful lookout points.
Taking this 3.1-mile walking tour scavenger hunt, you will take in all of the sights below and more while being challenged with quizzes and riddles at each leg!
