Does your family go geocaching? It is so much fun! If you’re not familiar with geocaching just think of it as a treasure hunt, only instead of using a map you use GPS coordinates to find the hidden treasure aka geocache. There are millions of geocaches hidden around the world. Chances are there are some near you.
Geocaching is a very affordable way for families to go on an adventure. You don’t need any expensive equipment to do it. You can simply use a free app on your smartphone.
While some are easy to get to, you can potentially do a lot of walking, depending where your caches are located.
Recently, we went out to Hamburg State Park to find some caches. There are caches hidden in many state parks across the United States.
How to Go on a Geocaching Adventure with Your Family:
To get started geocaching, you’ll first need to take a moment to set-up a free geocaching account online. Then you’ll want to download a geocaching app. There are a variety of free apps available. I am currently using the free Geocaching Intro app. It is available for both Android or iPhone.
The app will help you locate nearby caches, and provide tips and tricks along the way. Most apps are a very user friendly, so you will quickly be on your way.
Before heading out, be sure to gather some swag. There are a variety of different caches out there. Some will be just a medicine bottle wrapped in duct tape, with a log inside for you to sign. Other caches might be a box that is filled with swag. When you find one of these, you’ll want to have some small objects (swag) that you can add to the box.
If you put some swag in the box, you can take something else that you like. Just make sure that if you take something from the geocache, that you add something of equal or greater value. Smaller children really enjoy this aspect of geocaching. The geocaching app will tell you which type of cache it is. There are currently over a dozen different types of caches, including trackables which are pretty neat. You can follow their path as them move across the country, or the world.
Geocaches can be found in a lot of different places. Some are easy and quick to find, while others require a lot of work. Your app will tell you the difficulty and distance required to find a cache.
I absolutely love geocaching in State Parks. The scenery is lovely and it’s usually a great workout. After having some record cold temperatures last month, the warmer weather that kicked off February was perfect for walking the trails at the park.
Our treasure hunt took us deep into the woods. There a few times when our cell signal dropped, but as long as we stayed on the red trail we were fine. The trail was pretty well marked, although we did get off trail a few times because of some downed trees. It just added to the adventure.
The trail took us around a scenic lake.
It was such a beautiful winter day. The scenery was breathtaking.
This was an advanced geocache and we walked A LOT to find this hidden treasure. It was totally worth it though.
The geocache was hidden just where the app said it would be, behind one of the red-marked trees.
This was a great find.
There was a lot of fun swag in the box.
The log book was full of people who had been there before us, as recently as the day before.
Once you find the geocache, sign and date the logbook, re-hide the geocache exactly how you found it. When you get home, be sure to share your experience online.
That cute little Woodstock figure pictured above now lives on the dash of Jacob’s truck.
It’s so easy to go geocaching with your smartphone. I hope you’ll take advantage of the next warm day, to get outdoors and go on a treasure hunt with your family.
Friends do this and I always talk about doing it with the kids….need to.
My boys would love this! We used to play something similar when they were little children, something like a treasure hunt. I will let them know about this and maybe we can plan a great family activity soon as the weather warms up a little.
I remember you telling me how much walking you did that day. Thank goodness you set out with a nice full stomach from a hearty breakfast!
I’ve never done Geocaching, sounds fun! The pancakes look tasty
Geocaching is a new concept to me and I will most certainly read more about it. Your post has gotten me interested in it and I was thinking of doing an event or a team-building activity that’s going to involve geocaching.
I had a friend who went geocaching in Sedona last year. She said it was a lot of fun. I didn’t know they had an app for it.
Yum to the breakfast! Also thanks for writing a post about this. I had always wanted to know more. Looks like something we will enjoy. I will sign up!!!! Thanks again and it looks like fun!
Geocaching sounds like a great activity! We often just go out in the woods and enjoy it!
I’ve seen the geocaching buzzing around a lot lately and it seems to be a really fun thing to do. Also the pecans on those waffles look ahmazing!
That would be so much fun with family, my kids were brought up pre-electronics 🙁 I would of loved to be able to do this with them.