Tag Archives: Geocaching

Geocaching 101

Has your family tried Geocaching? It’s quite possibly the best, free family activity out there! According to Geocaching.com, “Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.” How to Start Geocaching First, sign up at Geocaching – The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site for a free account and access to geocaches in your area. You can pay for a premium account but I suggest holding off on that for awhile. You will not be disappointed with the free … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Geocaching Lodge

Geocaching, the high-tech scavenger hunt that uses handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units, has become so popular that one of the nation’s most well known parks is catering to followers of the relatively new craze. Whether you consider geocaching a hobby or an addiction, a hotel just outside Yosemite National Park has a package deal that is hard to resist. Tenaya Lodge is currently offering a geocaching program along with its nature hikes and horseback riding outings. The 244-room hotel consistently receives four diamonds from the AAA and is considered, “the grandest of Yosemite’s perimeter gateway hotels catering to the … Continue reading →

Intro to Geocaching 5: The Hunt

Now that you have found a local cache to search out and prepared for the trip, you are ready to head on out. You should be able to use your map or information from the cache clue to get you to the park, trail or general area of the hunt. Some cache clues provide specific details for parking so make sure you read the clue to see if there is a specific parking lot you should use. Once you get to your parking spot, fire up your GPS unit, if you haven’t already, and head on out. Continue to watch … Continue reading →

Intro to Geocaching 4: Preparing for the Hunt

Now that you have read the Overview, searched for a local cache, understand how to read the clue, you are ready to prepare to set out on your hunt! Preparation: There is just a little bit of pre-hunt preparation that needs to be done before you head out the door. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. First, check the weather. It is never fun to be caught out in bad weather in the middle of a long hike far from home! If the weather is questionable, double check that you have picked a hunt that does not have a long … Continue reading →

Intro to Geocaching 3: The Clue

So now that you have a solid understanding of the overview of Geocaching, you’ve made your way to the Geocaching.com website and tried out the search feature to locate a cache close to you that will be reasonably easy enough for your first try, it’s time to check out the clue itself. Click on the clue from the search screen at Geocaching.com and let’s take a look. At the top of a clue page, you will see the name of the cache and the cache placer’s name along with a link to his or her profile. Underneath this you will … Continue reading →

Intro to Geocaching 2: Understanding Your Search Results

So you’ve read ‘Intro to Geocaching 1: An Overview’ and are ready to start geocaching! How do you begin? You need to log on to Geocaching.com to find your clues. The easiest way to find a clue near you is to use the website’s search function. The Search: Once you bring up the geocaching.com website, click on “Hide and Seek a Cache” and search by zip code for those that are closest to you. The results of your search will show a listing of caches hidden with a variety of symbols and keys you will learn as you go along. … Continue reading →

Intro to Geocaching 1: An Overview

Have you heard of geocaching? It’s a fun and economical way for families to head outdoors, get some good exercise, face an exciting challenge that all kids and adults can meet equally and come away with some fun “stuff”. Geocaching is an adventure game, much like a real-life scavenger hunt, that uses a handheld global positioning system (GPS) and hints from a website to track down “caches” that are hidden within your community and the world, at large. The caches are hidden by regular people, like you and I, and also by parks and recreation workers, school groups and other … Continue reading →